College GameDay hosts talk Beamer Ball, Spencer Rattler’s 2023 prospects

South Carolina football is back in the national spotlight to kick off the 2023 campaign. Not only was the Gamecocks’ season opener against North Carolina chosen as the host of College GameDay, but the game itself occupies a prime-time 7:30 p.m. slot on ABC.

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During ESPN’s broadcast, Pat McAfee talked to Shane Beamer about South Carolina’s fanbase and special teams, as well as the influence his father has had on his head coaching career:

McAfee: “I think that’s what a lot of people were scared of with realignment is that we’re going to lose things like this. You know, we’re already in Oklahoma losing a game. Hopefully, we’ll be able to figure this one out because this crowd – there’s a lot of Cocks out there, coach.”

Beamer: “I heard you this morning when you said that GameDay was going to be in Charlotte, you expected to see a lot of Tar Heels. And we do. But you were surprised by the Gamecocks. You clearly don’t know Gamecock nation.”

McAfee: “I did not. It was a welcome surprise to see the burgundy and black. But let’s talk about another burgundy that you were around. Coach Mack Brown mentioned your family. You grew up at Virginia Tech. 28 years, your dad being the head coach, now you’re a head coach entering another year with a little bit more expectation. What do you lean on from your dad? And how does that whole thing transition from being a kid in the sport to now running a team?

Beamer: It’s great. Coach Brown alluded to it – just the respect that my family, and myself personally, has for Coach Brown and his career and his success, but also the way that he does things as a leader of his program. I learned a lot from him and rely on him a lot.

“And then as far as my dad, for me, the thing that stays with me is just the consistency, day in and day out, that you have to have a head coach, as a leader. There’s highs and lows in this profession. And also just realizing what a thin line it is between winning and losing. Winning is hard, and to appreciate all the wins and have fun along the way, those are probably the two biggest things of meaning that I took from him.”

McAfee: “We’ll dive into Spencer Rattler later because obviously, playing phenomenal, and I think you’ve been quoted as saying this dude’s playing really well right now, but the thing I love – Beamer Ball, baby. On special teams, you have been dominant. First games of seasons the last two years, you brought two punts.

“But also, your punter is a freak athlete, Kai. I think you really respect and appreciate the third angle of a football game, which is special teams. Elaborate a little bit about the weapons that you have.”

​[Win a Spencer Rattler-autographed football]

Beamer: “Yeah, I probably should have alluded to that or mentioned that when I talked about what I learned from my dad. It was just the importance of special teams. We put a huge emphasis on it – he did at Virginia Tech, we do at South Carolina. The meeting time and the time on the field that we spend, and it helps to have really good players.

“And you mentioned it – “Kai Kroeger, to me, is the best punter in the country. He’s a great punter, but he’s a great athlete, and he’s thrown touchdown passes as a punter. You [Pat McAfee] and I have talked about it before, the best specialists that I’ve been around are the guys that are ‘dudes’ and football players. Kai’s a great athlete, a great person, and glad he’s our punter.”

College GameDay’s panel of hosts also spent some time previewing tonight’s quarterback battle between Drake Maye and Spencer Rattler. Here’s what they had to say about Rattler:

Kirk Herbstreit: “I think Spencer Rattler finished as hot as any quarterback in college football, but he’s got some new players around him.”

Desmond Howard: “He started the season kind of shaky. Was this the right move? Was it a good fit? And then he caught fire late in the season.

“I think he’s going to be able to continue that. I spoke to his new offensive coordinator, Dowell Loggains. He said he loves Spencer Rattler’s leadership. Now, I think it’s going to be a big night for Spencer.”

McAfee: “It feels like Spencer Rattler just matured. I think he had a certain stage where he just kind of took over. I talked to Coach Beamer. He said he’s playing the best football he’s ever seen him play. They want to get him off to a hot start so that the ‘Cocks can maintain this energy.”

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