What Shane Beamer said today on 107.5 The Game

South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer joined The Postgame Show with Jay Philips and Elijah Campbell on 107.5 The Game today to discuss how the Gamecocks’ offseason was going and to look ahead to spring ball.

Below is a transcript of that appearance which has only been slightly edited for brevity or clarity.

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On recent SEC meetings in New Orleans…

Yeah, I thought it was a really beneficial trip. We as head coaches in the SEC always meet in person in February, and it’s always been in Birmingham and it’s just the head coaches meeting with Commissioner Sankey and some of the other higher-ups in the SEC office.

Last year, when we were in Destin for league meetings in May, they came to us and said they’d like to do a meeting in New Orleans after the season that also involves the athletic directors. It’s important because sometimes we, as head coaches, sit in a room and come up with all these great ideas and thoughts, but the athletic directors and the presidents—who are the decision-makers—aren’t in there with us. Commissioner Sankey, and I’m glad he did, felt it would be beneficial for all of us to be in a room together.

So, Jeremiah Donati, our athletic director and I flew down there Sunday afternoon after the women’s basketball game against Connecticut. That night, the head coaches had a meeting with just us and Commissioner Sankey, and then we did a dinner with the athletic directors. It was a very relaxed setting, and we were able to socialize with those guys and ladies.

The next day was a full day of meetings where every head football coach in the SEC and every athletic director in the SEC, along with people from the SEC office, gathered in one room. From 8 a.m. until about 4 p.m., we talked about every issue you can imagine—transfer portal, NIL, revenue sharing, future scheduling, officiating, recruiting calendar—you name it, we talked about it.

I thought it was really beneficial. It was good to hear where the athletic directors are coming from, and I think they would say the same about us. We’re all trying to accomplish the same thing, and that’s continuing to make this game better.

On potential nine-game SEC schedule…

I thought that was a discussion we had in New Orleans that probably had more—what’s the word I’m looking for?—more people injecting their opinions into it, both ADs and coaches, than maybe any other topic we talked about. There are a lot of strong opinions in that room regarding scheduling, and certainly a lot of questions.

What does the future of the College Football Playoff look like? Does it stay at 12 teams? Does it go to 16 teams? What does the SEC Championship Game look like? A lot of things were brought up and discussed.

As coaches, we understand why there’s a push for a ninth conference game. Some athletic directors were certainly on board with that, and frankly, some weren’t. I think the same goes for coaches. It was a healthy discussion, there’s no question about it.

But like I told you, I think everybody feels the same way—if we’re playing nine conference games plus Clemson, plus another (Power Four opponent) like Miami next year or Virginia Tech this season, and other teams in the league aren’t, that doesn’t make a lot of sense. But if we’re all playing nine conference games plus two other Power Four games, then sure, come on, we’re competitors and bring it on. I just want to make sure we’re all in the same boat, because if not, you’re not doing what’s best for your program.

On potential for an SEC vs. Big Ten challenge…

No, that was something we discussed. I actually asked that question specifically myself to Commissioner Sankey because I had read one of the articles about that being a potential thing, and I think it’s something we’ll continue to look at going down the road. There’s no question about it.

I think our fans would like it. Williams-Brice Stadium is an amazing environment, no matter who we’re playing. Whether it’s Clemson or, like this year, when Wofford came to town, it was great. Last year, when Furman came to town, it was great. We know it’s going to be an amazing environment no matter who we’re playing but our fans want to see us play those big games. They want to see teams like Miami come to Columbia next year or a Big Ten team come every year or every other year. I’m certainly in favor of it as well.

Again, as long as that’s something everybody else is doing—if every other team is playing nine conference games, a Big Ten team, and then two money games—let’s make sure it’s right for everybody as well. The other question is trying to get some answers on what the selection criteria will look like for the College Football Playoff going forward.

It’s great to bring marquee matchups into Williams-Brice Stadium, but if strength of schedule isn’t going to matter—which it clearly didn’t this year—then you also need to look at if we’re doing what’s best for our program and giving our team the best chance to compete for championships.

On the number of South Carolina guys at this year’s NFL Draft and how well they’ve developed in the program…

Yeah, no, it’s really cool, and I appreciate you saying that. First, credit to them and the way they worked when they were here. We’re really, really proud of what our guys have accomplished.

In the last few years since I’ve been back as head coach, we’ve gone into some NFL Draft weekends knowing we might have three or four guys get drafted, but probably not until Saturday, and we’d just see what happens. Then last year, Xavier Legette went in the first round, which was a great great. But to now have 11 guys at the NFL Combine, along with others who aren’t at the Combine but will still get opportunities with NFL teams, that’s what it’s all about.

That’s why I love college coaching—to bring young men into the program, watch them develop on and off the field, get their degrees, and then have a chance to chase their dreams in the NFL. Just today, I walked into the training room, and there was Xavier Legette, back visiting with the trainers and getting some treatment. To have him come back after everything he accomplished is special. Here’s a guy from South Carolina who came here out of high school and accomplished his dreams.

Or literally right before I got on this call, Marcellas Dial is back in town and he just popped into my office. To be able to see a young man from South Carolina who went the junior college route but came here, developed, and just had a great season with the New England Patriots.

And to have so many other guys getting that opportunity this year, whether they came here out of high school and developed—like T.J. Sanders, Tonka Hemingway, and Boogie Huntley—or were only here for one year, like Kyle Kennard, Rocket Sanders, and D Knight, I’m just so happy for all of them. I’m so proud that we were able to help them chase their dreams here.

On the differences this year vs. coming off the 5-7 season last year…

I think honestly very similar. Obviously, let’s be real—it’s different when you’ve just won nine games as opposed to five. It’s a different feeling. But at the same time, the hunger is still the same, and the drive to make 2025 even better than 2024 is as strong as ever.

That’s one thing that we’ve talked about as a team this year. We did some really good stuff in 2024, but by no means are we satisfied. Our whole thing is taking this thig even farther in 2025 than we did in 2024. Making sure our guys understand the work that went into 2024 and it didn’t just happen. There was a lot of work and intentional moments to make that happen and that’s what we’ve got to be doing this year as well. We’re hard at work on that.

Last year, in February 2024, I knew we had a lot of leadership and experience coming back. We had an old football team. February 2025 is a lot different. We’re talented—there’s no question about it—but we’re also really, really young. That leadership we had last year, so many of those guys, they’re now gone. The key for us right now is developing leadership and working really, really hard, who are the leaders on this team?

Last year, you knew guys like Debo Williams, Boogie Huntley, D. Knight as he came on, and Torricelli Simpkins, and on and on, and on, that those guys had a voice, and guys were going to follow them. We’ve got guys like that now, but it’s just different. So it’s certainly different from that standpoint but a lot of similarities too.

You’re never satisfied. By no means are we walking around the building looking at trophies of games that we won last year or patting ourselves on the back about what we did. There’s a great hunger to be even better in 2025.

On the differences this year for LaNorris Sellers…

Yeah, it’s different.

Here’s a guy that, last year at this time, nobody was really talking about. f you looked at some of those preseason rankings of quarterbacks, most of them I think had him 16th in the league going into last season. Now, it’s the complete opposite.

The great news is he’s such a great young man. He’s got a great humility about himself. He’s hungry and driven to work and get better, he doesn’t let that go to his head, but certainly that’s something that’s different because of the attention that’s on him nationally. His life has certainly changed in the last year just in regards to how recognizable he is and what he’s accomplished. He’s got a great family and support system around him, for sure.

Somebody was in my office literally before I got on the phone with you, and we were talking about the team. I told them I’m excited because anytime you have a quarterback, you’ve got a chance to be successful—and we certainly have a quarterback in him. The great news is he’s just scratching the surface.

He continued to get better as the season went on last year, and he’s just going to continue to get better thoughout this offseason into 2025. I really like the relationship that he and Mike Shula, our new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, have and the way that they’ve been working. Really fired up to see what’s next for LaNorris and how he continues to grow as a quarterback and football player.

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