Shane Beamer responds to criticisms of Dowell Loggains hire

Shane Beamer didn’t shy away from knowing how big of a hire this was for the South Carolina program. The Gamecocks’ head coach said this offensive coordinator hiring was “humungous” in terms of what was next for this program, a search that ultimately landed him with Dowell Loggains. 

South Carolina fans met the hire of Loggains–who was on the initial list of candidates–with plenty of blowback and consternation. Wednesday morning Beamer had a chance to respond to some of that criticism.

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“I’m not interested in winning the press conference, guys. I’m interested in hiring the best coach available for what we need as a program,” Beamer said. 

“There are a lot of hot names last year in college football that got hired places. People who are not as aware of what’s going on in college football said, ‘Oh my god, that’s a home run hire by that school.’ Well, some of those schools are sitting home for Christmas right now ’cause they’re not in a bowl game with what they did.”

Some of the objections to the hiring are certainly fair. Loggains was the coordinator for multiple NFL offenses that–while strapped for talent–finished at or near the bottom in scoring. 

Loggains has only been in college for two seasons in his almost two decades as a coach with no collegiate coordinator experience. But, Beamer doubled down on his hire and the process that led Loggains to South Carolina.

Beamer said there was ample interest for the job–including NFL and Power 5 coordinators along with sitting head coaches–but the Gamecocks went with Loggains. 

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“I’m sure you guys knew Dowell Loggains turned down a coordinator job in the SEC last year, correct? Everyone knew that right?” Beamer said. “I’m sure you guys know I’m the fourth SEC head coach that’s reached out to him in the last two weeks about coming to work for him. We were fortunate to hire Dowell Loggains that were interested in Dowell Loggains.”

Beamer also threw out names like Bill Parcelles, Sean Payton and Kyle Shanahan as coaches who worked with Loggains that had positive things to say about him.

South Carolina’s head coach said he spoke with Gamecock greats Connor Shaw and Alshon Jeffery, who played under Loggains. He also spoke with former Chicago Bears head coach John Fox, current Tampa Bay quarterbacks coach Clyde Christensen, former Mississippi State head coach Sylvester Croom, Penn State head coach James Franklin and Temple head coach Stan Drayton. 

All of those guys spoke glowingly, Beamer said, of Loggains. But the fact still remains he didn’t have a great track record as an NFL coordinator. 

When asked about that, Beamer said people have to look at “every circumstance.” 

You can take stats and shape them any way you shape them. There’s a deeper story as well. I really didn’t dive into exactly every game he coached in that 16-game season. I know from talking to John Fox, the former coach of the Bears, he talked about some of the struggles he faced the year Dowell was up there. Jay Cutler got hurt as their starting quarterback. When you lose your starting quarterback in the NFL, it’s tough. Kyle Shannahan is considered arguably one of the best offensive coaches in the NFL right now,” Beamer said.

“He was the offensive coordinator with the Cleveland Browns when Dowell was the quarterbacks’ coach. They worked together. I don’t really know the history of the Cleveland Browns or the details of that particular season. But I don’t think it was very good that year. Nobody questions Kyle Shanahan’s ability. He’ll be the first to tell you there are things they could have been better. When you’re bottom of the NFL in statistical rankings, surely you don’t want to be there. But you can take any stat and shape it any way you want. There’s a deeper investigation that goes into that as well. I know enough by talking to people and knowing how football smart he is that I have total confidence in him as well.” 

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The other qualm or question still needing answering is how Loggains is as a collegiate play caller. 

Loggains has never called plays at this level, and his ability to do it won’t be answered until September. Beamer, though, did not seem worried.

“He’s done it in the NFL. Yes the NFL and college games are different. But you don’t last as long as he did in the NFL and be a coordinator for multiple teams starting with the Tennessee Titans and one head coach then the Chicago Bears with a second head coach as well, Miami Dolphins and New York Jets without knowing what you’re doing,” Beamer said.

“Certainly, it’s different but he’ll tell you so much of the game planning and play calling is done during the week as well as a staff. Certainly, you have a feel for it on game days. But knowing what a football junky he is and how intelligent he is, I have no concerns with that either.”

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