South Carolina needs to be 'mentally tough' to win on the road
It’s been four years since South Carolina last played at Clemson’s Memorial Stadium. The Gamecocks lost 56-35 in that game. There are only two players — Sherrod Greene and Brad Johnson — that made the trip and are still on the team now.
Death Valley isn’t an easy place to win games. Clemson hasn’t lost at home since Pittsburgh won with a game-winning field goal on Nov. 12, 2016.
Unlike most of the players, Shane Beamer knows what it takes to win there. No. 18 South Carolina beat the Tigers 29-7 on the road in 2010, Beamer’s last trip to Clemson as a Gamecocks assistant coach.
He still remembers Antonio Allen racing down the sideline for a touchdown after intercepting Kyle Parker’s pass.
“That was a really cool night because we knew we were going to play in the SEC Championship the next week,” Beamer said. “Even though you’re going to Atlanta, you still want to beat your rival. So to be able to go up there that night and beat them in pretty good fashion was definitely a really good memory.”
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Times have changed, though. The Gamecocks haven’t beaten the Tigers on the road since 2012. This year, they’ve lost two away games, both played in the afternoon. All four of the team’s losses have come in day games.
In those road losses, South Carolina didn’t play well. It lost the conference opener to Arkansas in Fayetteville, 44-30. Then, after notching back-to-back road wins, the team faltered in the Swamp, losing to Florida 38-6.
The Gamecocks’ road struggles won’t create a disadvantage, Darius Rush said.
“It’s not about when we play, where we play — it’s all about how we do as a team,” he said. “So for us to go there, I mean, it’s going to be a great experience. They got a new jumbotron. It’s going to be electric for those guys.”
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Rush alluded to a time when the team took care of the business in a hostile environment. Earlier this season, the Gamecocks stunned Kentucky in Lexington, winning 24-14. They did it by making plays.
“We went there and executed our jobs,” Rush said. “It’s not about, ‘Oh, it’s going to be a disadvantage.’ It’s all about how does South Carolina play? Is South Carolina going to go out there and execute their job and do what they got to do?”
When South Carolina takes the field on Saturday, it will be playing in front of a tough crowd. Beamer said the team will have to better handle the road atmosphere.
“We laid an egg two weeks ago down in Gainesville, and we can’t be that team Saturday,” he said. “It’s going to be a great environment. Senior day for (Clemson). I mean, rivalry games are emotional already. You’ve got two good teams going at it. They’re trying to keep their playoff hopes alive. We’re trying to get our eighth win. So there’s a lot that both teams are playing for.”
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Based on his previous experiences, Beamer understands just wanting to win isn’t going to get the job done in Death Valley. Instead, mental toughness will be the key, he said.
“Preparing the right way during the week and just going there and playing well on Saturday afternoon will be huge,” Beamer said.
