What Shane Beamer said during his Tuesday press conference previewing Texas A&M

Fresh off a bye week, South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer met with the media on Tuesday to preview his team’s matchup with Texas A&M this weekend. Here’s what he had to say.

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— The off week was really good for the team, now question about it. Got some good work in. Got some great recruiting done as well. There was great energy and excitement about Gamecock football.

— The players had a long weekend, which they needed mentally and physically. Everybody got back here on Sunday full speed ahead on Texas A&M.

— Mike Elko has done a phenomenal job in year one at A&M. Coming off a huge win over LSU. They’re doing all the things you’re supposed to do to win football games. Credit to their coaching staff and players. Optimistic about the challenge South Carolina will face.

— They’re in pretty good shape from a health standpoint. Jared Brown will be back this week, DeAndre Jules probably won’t be.

— Every coach probably uses the “Remember November” line. They’ve done a lot of good to this point. But this team will be judged by November. That’s the way people will remember this team. They have five huge games coming up but it’s about a 1-0 mentality.

— With the performance they had against Oklahoma, he hopes the team would be able to roll into the next game, even with the bye week. But the off week was good. You can really analyze everything and see where you’re good and bad at. They tried to stay sharp and keep that momentum going.

— The season is a long grind, especially in this conference. It’s helpful when you’re able to have two bye weeks this year. Had some comments from other coaches that they looked like a team with extra time off when they beat Oklahoma. There’s no question they’re a better team right now.

— What you do in practice and in the meeting room gives you an opportunity to go play well on Saturday. It doesn’t guarantee you’re going to play well. Told the players the Oklahoma win was a direct reflection of the way they prepared. You have to play and coach well. Didn’t do a good job of either of those coming off the first bye week. Need to minimize the distractions, especially with being back home this week. Can’t look at his phone without someone wanting tickets. Knows if he’s getting those texts, the players probably are as well.

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— SC prides itself on being a tough, physical football team. There’s no question A&M is the same way. Their running back is physical and a downhill back. They’re a physical team. That’s what he thinks Elko wants their team to be about.

— Really excited about recruiting right now. There will be a bunch of players here on Saturday night. It always starts with the state of South Carolina and keeping the best players here. Sent a video to all recruits about the MBB team talking about how important it was for the players to stay in their home state from their media day.

— With A&M’s two quarterbacks, it’s different preparing for them compared to Oklahoma. Marcel Reed has made defensive players look silly. He can do that well in the open field. He’s a talented guy that can make throws. Connor Weigman is also very talented. You have to have a good plan for both of them.

— They pride themselves as being a team that gets better as the year goes on. It’s always been that way. It would be a shame if the team were the same from September to now. They work to get better. They do a ton of good on good in practice, not a ton of scout team. That’s more of the reason they’ve had a lot of success in November. Hopefully they’re at their best in November. They’re going to need to be with these five games coming up.

— The biggest thing that stands out about when recruiting Alshon Jeffery, and this is the way it is for the big-time recruits, the recruiting hoopla doesn’t go to their heads. Jeffery didn’t get caught up in all that. It was the same thing with Marcus Lattimore. They see some of the same qualities in the receivers they’re recruiting now compared to Jeffery. Thinks Jeffery will be coming to the game this weekend.

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— They’ll show high school highlights in some of the Friday night team meetings. Beamer’s high school highlights were snuck into the meeting before the Kentucky team. Didn’t know his high school highlights would be posted on X on Saturday. Appreciates some of the references and compliments he received.

— You’re always looking at how you can be better and more efficient in all areas. You’re looking at the next step. Are they going to look like a completely different football team on Saturday? Doesn’t think so. But there will absolutely be tweaks.

— Beamer encourages the players to vote. Doesn’t try to get into it too much from a political standpoint. But the players have pretty much the whole day to go vote after practice on Tuesday.

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