South Carolina's special teams embraces target on their back

When Shane Beamer was introduced as South Carolina’s head coach in 2020, I asked him if he’d be bringing “Beamer Ball” with him to Columbia.

“There’s certainly gonna be aspects of Beamer Ball,” said Beamer during his introductory press conference back in 2020. “Playing that way and having that aspect as part of our program is certainly something we’re gonna be about.”

Jump ahead to where we are today and Shane isn’t just clinging to his dad Frank’s legendary brand anymore. He’s reinvented it.

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“You realize that you do have somewhat of a target on your back now,” said Shane Beamer during SEC Media Days. “As a competitor, you love that. We have to continue to be better and we’re confident that we will be because we bring the core of our special teams units back. Snapper (Hunter Rogers), punter (Kai Kroeger), kicker (Mitch Jeter), kickoff returner (Xavier Legette). So that’s a great benefit without a doubt.”

Before Beamer arrived in Columbia, the Gamecocks ranked 74th in special teams efficiency in 2019 and 115th in 2020. Since his arrival, USC was 31st in that category in 2021 and No.1 this past season.

“Certainly when you have success on special teams it creates momentum where other guys want to be a part of it. We have guys on our team that come and want to be on special teams. Guys know that’s the quickest way to get on the field. I get it, nobody comes to South Carolina because they want to be the starting gunner on the punt team. Or the left tackle on the field goal team. But, when you have success like we had, it makes guys want to be a part of that.”

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But that doesn’t just happen over night. Beamer has shown through his actions of making special teams a priority. This offseason, Pete Lembo became the highest paid special teams coordinator in the country who doesn’t hold an additional on-field coaching responsibility. Some would still say that Lembo’s $725,000 salary isn’t enough just because of the impact special teams has had on the program.

“I think it’s honestly how much time he puts into it and how much he cares about it,” said Kroeger about Lembo. “It’s done a complete 180. I look back to my freshman year there were guys who were turning their shoulder to special teams. Now, coach Lembo can’t stop guys from coming into his office asking him if they can be on punt, kickoff return, or whatever… With coach Lembo and coach Beamer, they make sure it’s a focal point and you’ve been able to see it impact games as much as it has.”

Looking back to last season, there were a handful of games in which special teams played a major role in South Carolina winning. Three games I’m not sure if the Gamecocks win if weren’t for the play of their special teams are Georgia State, Texas A&M, and Clemson. I wasn’t great at math but if they won’t win those three games, they wouldn’t have been bowl eligible last year.

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“It gives us a lot of confidence that our coaches care so much,” added Kroeger. “(Lembo) is probably in the building more than anyone. He’s always scheming up something or asking us what we think about so we love that.”

Heading into year three with Lembo and Beamer, what other tricks do they have still up their sleeves? While we’ll have to wait and see there’s no question opposing teams will have to spend more time preparing to go up against South Carolina’s special teams. And when you’re having to spend more time on special teams in practice, it’ll take away from you being able to use that time to focus on your offense or defense.

“How are we gonna be better this year,” said Beamer. “Pete (Lembo) has already come to me with his new ideas for fake punts and fake field goals. He’s been like a mad scientist.”

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