Former co-workers set to meet again this weekend

Two co-workers, who shared a sideline together for a year, will meet again Saturday as Shane Beamer and Sam Pittman will square off for the first time as head coaches when South Carolina plays Arkansas.

Both worked together under Kirby Smart at Georgia from 2016-17. Beamer coached tight ends and special teams while Pittman coached the offensive line, two positions linked tightly.

They even lived in the same neighborhood in Athens and frequently ran into each other outside of work.

“Obviously we worked together in the same meetings for 14 hours a day so we knew each other well,” Pittman said. “He has a wonderful family—beautiful family—he’d always go on bike rides and walks through the neighborhood and stop in and say hello. He’s just a really good man, really good energetic guy.”

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There’s a great deal of respect that goes both ways, dating back to their earlier years of coaching.

“Sam Pittman has done an amazing job there elevating that program since he came in,” Beamer said. “Ton of respect for Sam, even before we coached together at Georgia, I always heard the name Sam Pittman going back to when I was here at Carolina.”

Pittman is a yeoman of a coach with stops at Kansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas and plenty others as an assistant. But Pittman first caught Beamer’s eye in 2008 as the offensive line coach at North Carolina.

“We were recruiting Robert Quinn from Fort Dorchester and we lost him to North Carolina. The guy recruiting him was Sam Pittman,” Beamer said. “I remember thinking, ‘How in the heck did the offensive line coach at North Carolina just get Robert Quinn to come to Chapel Hill?’ And he did. So knew of him then and got the opportunity to work with him at Georgia.”

Since leaving Georgia, both coaches have found success at their respective schools. Pittman has turned his No. 16 Razorbacks into an SEC West contender in just his third year. Meanwhile, Beamer led South Carolina to its first winning season since 2018 and a Duke’s Mayo Bowl win.

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Beamer said Pittman has been a huge help in his coaching career.

“Sam helped me so much just being the offensive line coach. The offensive line coach and tight ends coach worked very closely together,” Beamer said. “He was very patient and taught me a lot about offensive line play and tight end play and learned a lot from him. Got a lot of respect for him.”

When South Carolina hired Beamer in 2020, Pittman immediately congratulated his former colleague. He said he’s always admired the passion Beamer brings to the Gamecocks.

“I do think there’s something to be said for that. You don’t have to have the love like I do for Arkansas to have success here, I get that,” Pittman said. “I’m sure every coach that’s coaching out there is passionate about their place. It’s just easier when you’re myself or Kirby or Shane, where they’ve been there and they understand how good the place can be.”

“Most of those coaches just go to work because they know what they can have if they go to work and I think Shane’s a lot like that as well.”

As kickoff approaches, the two friends will put their relationship aside and try to win their first SEC matchup.

“He’s a good friend and someone that I’ve always pulled for,” Beamer said. “So happy for his success. He’s got a really good team that plays really hard and taken on his personality. It’d be a big challenge for us Saturday. We know it’s going to be a great atmosphere.”

The Gamecocks and Razorbacks will kick off from Razorback Stadium at noon ET on ESPN Saturday.

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