Shane Beamer talks missed opportunities, officiating after Gator Bowl loss

For South Carolina, Friday’s Gator Bowl will always be one of missed opportunities. 

The Gamecocks had plenty of chances to put the game away in the first half or extend leads in the second, but couldn’t take advantage in a 45-38 loss to Notre Dame. 

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“It was tough. A lot of it wasn’t self-inflicted by us. Notre Dame made some good plays on those plays. There were a few times when I threw one in the dirt or missed a guy here or there,” Spencer Rattler said. “We could have done more but we fought our butts off to win that game and should have won that game. We should have put the pedal on the gas and kept going. Sometimes that’s how football goes, man.” 

The Gamecocks found themselves up two touchdowns after one quarter but couldn’t find a way to extend its lead. Notre Dame chipped away to trail by just seven at half. 

It could have been more but South Carolina shot themselves in the foot on one punt when two personal foul penalties put the Gamecocks tucked back in their own territory. 

South Carolina got a stop and would have had the ball in Irish territory with just over 90 seconds left before the break and a chance to add to the lead. 

But Dakereon Joyner was called for an illegal blindside block. Officials then flagged Shane Beamer for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty while arguing the call. 

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“I didn’t see the replay, but I thought it was a tough call. If DK wanted to blow the guy up, he would have blown the guy up. DK is doing what we teach, that technique, and I was told it was a blind-side block, which maybe it was, I don’t know,” Beamer said. “But I saw DK trying to be a smart football player and not blow the guy up and kind of throw his back into it just to keep from getting a penalty. Then I’ve got to be better. Can’t cost us 15 yards there with a penalty.”

The officiating upset Beamer, particularly in the first half, and he aired some of that after the game. South Carolina finished with eight penalties for 68 yards and Notre Dame had four for 40. 

“Thank God for John McDaid and the SEC and the officiating crews we had in that league. Disappointed with some of the things that happened. A couple of those guys did our bowl game last year, as well. I’m so thankful for John and his leadership in our conference. I’ll say this, I don’t believe I deserved to get a flag. I hate to see it sometimes when officials try to make the game about them,” Beamer said. 

“I’ll be honest, I think a couple of times in the first half that took place. We got talked to more in 30 minutes than we did 12 games in the SEC this season. You know, the group of guys that were on our sideline in the second half, awesome, professional and all that. First half, disappointed with some things. But again, I’ve got to be better. I can’t get us 15-yard penalties, and I told the team that at halftime.”

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The Gamecocks also had a chance to push their lead to 14 points again after an amazing Xavier Legette touchdown grab then picking off Tyler Buchner on the ensuing drive. 

South Carolina, though, went three-and-out on their next four drives and lost 14 yards in the process. 

“Certainly, we had our opportunities. When you score twice on defense, you ought to win the football game. We had some sloppiness out there certainly at times, but just so proud of our football team,” Beamer said.

“Played with, I think, 12 guys tonight on offense and defense that played against Clemson that didn’t play tonight, so for us to be down that many players and for those guys to play their butts off like they did and leave everything out there like they did, I’m really, really, really proud to be their coach.”

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