What Shane Beamer said after first practice in Orlando

South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer spoke Friday following the Gamecocks first Citrus Bowl practice in Orlando.

Below is a quick summary of what he had to say.

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— Mike Shula will call plays for the game as Dowell Loggains is not with the team. Shula and the offensive staff have been preparing the game plan since learning they would face Illinois. The further along it got, the less sense it made for Loggains to come back and call the plays. Beamer jokes that Illinois can watch mid-2000s Bama and Cam Newton Panthers’ film for their scout.

— Today was a “Tuesday” practice for the team. Guys will get to go to an Orlando Magic game and steak dinner tonight while the staff gets back to work. Did a game week routine back in Columbia. Today’s practice was pretty good. There was the usual sloppiness after having some time off since the 22nd. Came over and broke a sweat yesterday. Good for a first day back. Needs to be better tomorrow.

— On Vershon Lee missing practice:

“Vershon’s fine. He’s a little under the weather today,” Beamer said. “I just felt like it was best to just keep him the heck away from everybody else. So he’s been in his own room at the hotel. He has rode over here separately. And I asked him if he had ever heard of the Michael Jordan flu game versus the Jazz. He’s a basketball guy. He said he had. But he’ll be fine. He just woke up today and was not good. So we just felt it was best just to keep him away from everybody. But he’ll be fine for game day.”

— On Brady Hunt’s status:

“Not great,” Beamer said when asked how he felt about Hunt being available for the game. “He didn’t do anything today. I’d say he’s doubtful for the game. I feel like he’s progressing. He just hasn’t progressed as fast as he and I would both like. We’ll see what happens between now and the 31st, but I’d say it’s unlikely right now.”

— Beamer says they would love to have Bam Martin-Scott back and believes he wants to be back too.

Doesn’t outright reference it, but alludes to what we and others have reported that he doesn’t exactly fit with the new ruling because his time at JUCO was a year earlier.

“He would love to be able to do that. We would love to be able to do that. And we’ll see what happens and hopefully the NCAA will do the right thing.”

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— The great thing about bowl games is you get a week together as a team. Have talked about all the great moments this team has had on and off the field. This week will have a lot of those moments. Talked about it in team meeting, this is the last week this team will be together. Just have to know when to have fun and when to work.

— Credit to Air Noland — all he wants is an opportunity to compete. Didn’t promise him anything but a chance to compete. He saw an opportunity to learn under LaNorris Sellers and to learn under Mike Shula.

Did not know Air personally but was really impressed with him when he was there. He took notes on a notebook about everything that was discussed. Very mature and professional.

Before the addition of Air, had just three scholarship QBs. Told Cutter Woods in Oct. that might sign two QBs in the high school class but didn’t.

Noland had reached out to Darren Uscher to get the ball rolling.

— Have rotated a bunch of guys at EDGE all year. Dylan Stewart will start at one spot. Great competition opposite him, mentions Bryan Thomas Jr. and Gilber Edmond specifically.

Oscar Adaway has done good things at running back this year and excited about the young talent at RB. Excited to see Jawarn Howell and Matt Fuller run on Tuesday. Juju McDowell is a veteran guy.

— Happy about the transfer portal offensive line additions so far. Probably aren’t done adding on the interior of the line either. Also time for the young interior linemen to step up and time for us as coaches to develop them.

— This team is very invested and motivated to try and get a 10th win. They’re hungry for that and excited to spend a week together. Excited to compete.

— Had a team meeting after the Alabama game and the team leaders told him they were going to win out. I said okay that’s great to say but we have to perform better, coach better, and play better. They’ve been on a mission to not just say it but do it.

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