![]() ![]() “I always kept an eye on this place, because, truly, we always wanted to come back,” said Beamer, who tried unsuccessfully for the job after Spurrier retired. He departed South Carolina for Virginia Tech with a plan to polish his résumé and return as the Gamecocks' coach. ![]() Only then, after four seasons on Spurrier’s staff, would Beamer allow himself to take a position on his dad's staff. He became a graduate assistant for Georgia Tech, then Tennessee, before elevating to an assistant at Mississippi State, then South Carolina. View Gallery: South Carolina football schedule 2022 “I didn’t want anyone to ever say that the only reason I had a job was because my dad hired me,” he said. Still, Beamer resisted getting his coaching start at Virginia Tech. They serve to remind him how difficult breaking into this profession can be. He keeps the stack of rejection letters he received – from Bobby Bowden to Mack Brown to Carl Torbush – on a shelf in his house. While his playing career wound down, Beamer mailed inquiries about graduate assistant positions at schools throughout the country. The Hokies finished as the national runner-up in Beamer’s senior season. And he gets a kick out of seeing a prospect’s parent make the connection that, yes, he’s Frank Beamer’s son.īut while Beamer doesn’t hide his pedigree, burning within him is a desire to prove he’s earned his place in this profession on his own merit.īeamer played at Virginia Tech as a walk-on and a three-year special teams starter during the height of his dad’s tenure. While interacting with veteran high school coaches on the recruiting trail, he enjoys hearing stories of interactions they had with his dad. “I wanted to blaze my own path,” Beamer said.īeamer is proud of his dad’s career and says he never tires of answering questions about being Frank Beamer’s son. Shane Beamer knew his dad would willingly hire him as a Virginia Tech graduate assistant after his playing career ended.Īnd that’s why Shane Beamer had no interest in such a job. View Gallery: Shane Beamer: South Carolina football coach in photos He kept thinking about Beamer, the son of a legendary coach who had vowed to etch his own name. Tanner underwent regular testing but avoided infection. He called Tanner to alert him and Miller. Less than 48 hours later, Beamer received a deflating phone call from Oklahoma’s team doctor. They met, along with Miller, at a Renaissance near the Atlanta airport.įor six hours, Beamer answered their questions and pitched his plan – without even pausing for a bathroom break.īeamer exited the interview liking his chances for an offer. Tanner, the former South Carolina baseball coach who became the school’s AD in 2012, never considered that a deal-breaker.īeamer became Tanner’s first in-person interview during the search. The caveat was that Beamer had never been a head coach or an offensive or defensive coordinator. View Gallery: Steve Spurrier First Year Coach Awards “It was easy, because I was passionate about what I was saying,” Beamer said.īeamer had been an assistant coach for a who’s who list of college football coaches: Spurrier Frank Beamer, his father Kirby Smart and Lincoln Riley. He had coveted this opportunity since he was here under Spurrier. “Did that influence the decision? No, but it’s certainly good to hear it,” Gamecocks athletics director Ray Tanner said of Beamer being a popular pick.īeamer spread 10 pages of notes across his desk in Norman, Oklahoma, in preparation for his phone interview with Tanner and senior deputy AD Chance Miller at the onset of South Carolina's coaching search.īeamer never consulted his notes during the conversation. Those who were around the program during Beamer's time as an assistant coach under Steve Spurrier welcomed the hire. “It was definitely what our team and culture needed – something new and just great vibes,” Joyner said.īeamer had been the people’s choice to replace Muschamp. People like the guy.īeamer's smiles are a contrast to predecessor Will Muschamp's death stare.īeamer arrived on the heels of South Carolina’s 2-8 season in 2020 and infused an air of joy, passion and positivity to the program, says senior wide receiver Dakereon Joyner. If the coaching profession dried up tomorrow, he probably could run for office or lead tent revivals. I get the feeling Beamer knows no strangers. In truth, this will be our first time speaking one-on-one and not in a press conference. Shane Beamer brought ‘great vibes’ to South Carolinaīeamer greets me as if I’m an old friend while welcoming me inside his office on a recent June day. “We’re building something special,” senior offensive lineman Jovaughn Gwyn said.īeamer has had this planned for years. The Gamecocks won seven games.Īfter Beamer’s debut smashed expectations, where is this program headed? Last summer, multiple prominent sportsbooks set the over/under win total for Beamer’s inaugural season at 3.5. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |