South Carolina culture building entering year two
When Shane Beamer took over at South Carolina, one of his priorities was restoring the culture in the program from the top down.
Beamer, the minister of culture, wanted to build it as the backbone of the team to keep a roster together through the ups and downs a season brings.
And after a year and a half on the job, it’s been one of his most effective weapons.
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“First and foremost, we’re more bought in than before,” Dakereon Joyner said. “Year one we weren’t really expecting what coach was bringing into us. We saw what coach did with us in one year. It’s scary to think about what he can do in year two.”
Joyner—and the rest of South Carolina’s media days contingent—has a unique experience to speak on the culture in the building.
He saw what the culture was like before Beamer took over and the strides he’s taken since then.
Beamer and his staff want to instill a sense of responsibility and accountability while still wanting guys to enjoy walking into the building.
Year one brought some growing pains with it, but players know exactly what to expect now entering Beamer’s second preseason camp at South Carolina.
“We’re way more confident. We know what the coaches want from us,” Jovaughn Gwyn said. “We know things from last year when we were trying to figure each other out. Having a better understanding of each other going into year two is going to help out a lot.”
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Team culture always gives a good idea of where a program is. Losing teams have exhibited poor team culture in past seasons. This is why the Beamer era feels different. Almost every player has complimented the chemistry that flows throughout the building.
In Beamer’s rollercoaster first year, the Gamecocks wound up Duke’s Mayo Bowl Champions. The team never had a winning streak over two games but never lost more than two in a row as well. They capped what was a successful first year with a dominating bowl win over North Carolina.
“We were a really, really, really close-knit team last year,” Beamer said. “We started out 2-2, then we never lost two games in a row after that. If we lost a game, we were resilient and always came right back. That was because of how close and connected that team was.”
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The culture Beamer instilled within the Gamecocks shined through every high and low of last season.
Moving right along is the culture into Beamer’s second year. For veterans like Joyner and Gwyn, the last thing you can do is have a little faith.
“We’re very excited about it. We’re definitely buying into the process,” Joyner said. “We love coach and are very excited to take on the challenge this year.”
