Shane Beamer believes Gamecocks will benefit from two bye weeks
With the addition of Oklahoma and Texas to the SEC, the Gamecocks’ 2024 schedule looks a lot different than in years past. South Carolina will receive two bye weeks built into their schedule, and Shane Beamer believes this will benefit the Gamecocks especially from a recruiting standpoint.
“I like it, it’s been a while, I think early in my career I had that somewhere,” Beamer said. “I like it personally just from being able to have a little break in there as well. From a recruiting standpoint, that’s an extra week where you can out on the road recruiting. Typically for us if it’s an off week, we go out recruiting two days of that week, well now you’re able to go out four times potentially which is awesome.”
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A longer and more SEC-filled schedule will pose a new and difficult challenge for the Gamecocks and other teams. But the two weeks off will provide a cushion of comfort to adjust to a new, harder schedule.
“Because of the 12 team playoff the season is going to be longer so yes it makes it longer if you have two off weeks,” Beamer said. “If you’re a team that has an off week in week three then you make the National Championship, that’s 13 straight weeks of playing and that’s tough on your bodies”
One of the more obvious benefits is the mental and physical break it will bring to players and coaches during a tough SEC filled season.
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“He (Alex “Boogie” Huntley) said he was a fan obviously from a physical standpoint,” Beamer said. “I think our players like it so it’ll be something we will have to manage and make sure we have a good plan to maximize it from a mental and physical standpoint.”
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As student athletes, there is also an academic advantage to having two bye weeks spread out throughout the season. Players will have a chance to catch up on school work and study during off weeks.
“When you’re talking about college kids and balancing academics, I like it,” Beamer said.
A brand new conference also means new teams added to the schedule. The Gamecocks will travel to Oklahoma for the first time in school history and will host Ole Miss and LSU at Williams-Brice Stadium. Two bye weeks will allow the Gamecocks to adjust and prepare for this new competition.
The first bye week is scheduled for Sept. 28 following the game against Akron and the second is Oct. 26 in-between Oklahoma and Texas A&M.
