MARLER: South Carolina needs to grow up; starts with Beamer

By Chris Marler

South Carolina has some growing up to do, and it starts with Shane Beamer

South Carolina seemed to turn a corner this season. At the halfway point they stood 3-3 and were coming off back-to-back losses. One of those was a 24-point home loss off a bye week where they were dominated by Ole Miss, 27-3.

Something needed to change, and it did. That started at the top with Shane Beamer.

South Carolina caught fire in their final six games. They won all six including four against teams that were ranked at the time they played them. The offense made massive improvement averaging over 110 yards more per game in their last six games versus their first six. They scored eight more points per game. And LaNorris Sellers? LaNorris Sellers garnered Heisman talk.

Then they got to Orlando and lost as a 10-point favorite to an Illinois team who was 79th or worse in rushing offense, passing offense and total offense. They were 71st or worse in total defense and rushing defense.

By all means they were an inferior opponent, yet they took it to South Carolina.

That also started at the top with Shane Beamer.

South Carolina got bullied by Illinois. Shane Beamer got bullied by Brett Bielema. During the game Bielema took full advantage of what is a loophole in the rules for the substitution penalty. Almost every time South Carolina substituted on offense, Illinois countered on defense. However, they did it at a leisurely pace to say the least. Illinois players were averaging between :12 to :17 seconds to get off the field throughout the game.

It frustrated fans. It frustrated me as a viewer. However, it frustrated Beamer more than anyone. Bielema knew it did, too.

At one point near the end of the third quarter Bielema walked out on the field towards an injured player with both arms out taunting the South Carolina sideline with the officials signal for the substitution rule. Then he did it again on his walk back just to make sure they saw it.

Shane Beamer lost his mind.

It was good to see some fight out of Beamer. It pumped up his team and the fans. However, less than five plays later he got suckered into the substitution issue again. Illinois subbed in defenders at their own pace, and Beamer had to call a timeout. All that happened after getting stuffed on the goal line on first down and then a false start on second.

It was a timeout they needed. Trailing by four with two minutes left, South Carolina allowed a first down and couldn’t stop the clock. Illinois won the game.

To be clear, I have no issue with the emotion or reaction. I loved it. It’s one of the reasons his players love playing for him. However, for the issue to happen that many times without a single adjustment being made from Beamer? That’s a huge issue.

This issue felt like a bit of a microcosm for Beamer at times throughout the season. The inexplicable performance and scoring three points against Ole Miss after a bye week. The overzealous fourth down attempts at times in big moments. The unnecessary situations he put his team in at times happened way more than they should.

The program has turned a corner. I fully believe Beamer has turned a corner as well. Just not enough. The culture he’s instilled is real. The players believe in it. The staff believes in it. The fans absolutely believe in it.

By no means is a four-point loss to Illinois in the Cheez-It Bowl going to overshadow the incredible job Beamer did this season with this team. Let’s not forget Vegas thought they wouldn’t win six games. They finished 9-4 and were an eyelash short of making the College Football Playoff.

To get to the next step, though, the program will have to continue to grow and grow up. That starts at the top.