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'Beamerball' bounces every which way
Spurrier plans to take a more active role in the offense
Special teams coordinator Shane Beamer (middle) celebrates with cornerback Akeem Auguste (3) after a Darian Stewart fumble recovery during the first quarter against N.C. State.
Erik Campos/ecampos@thestate.com
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RALEIGH — South Carolina’s brand of “Beamerball” special teams ran hot and cold Thursday in the Gamecocks’ 7-3 win at N.C. State.
After defensive end Devin Taylor blocked a Wolfpack punt in the first quarter, USC special teams coordinator Shane Beamer celebrated by jumping and coming down in the arms of an assistant coach.
But Beamer was not thrilled with the troubles in the kicking game: USC had two drives reach the N.C. State 10-yard that didn’t produce any points.
The Gamecocks botched a field-goal attempt in the second quarter when Charles Turner one-hopped a snap to holder Stephen Flint, who was thrown for a loss when he tried to run. In the third quarter, Spencer Lanning pulled a 27-yard field-goal attempt wide left.
“We need to get our field-goal operation better,” said Beamer, whose father, Frank Beamer, traditionally fields strong special teams units at Virginia Tech. “We were fortunate to win. We can’t leave points out there.”
Lanning had a good night punting until has last one — a low liner that traveled 29 yards and was returned 31 yards by Rashard Smith to midfield with 4:15 remaining. Adam Yates, who missed time in the preseason with a groin injury, handled kickoffs.
Calling an audible. After watching the offense struggle at times out of the shotgun formation, USC coach Steve Spurrier said he plans to take a more active role in the offense. Receivers coach Steve Spurrier Jr. sent in plays Thursday from the press box.
“I like the shotgun, but you can’t audible. We’re sitting there and we’re running right into them. It doesn’t make sense to me,” Spurrier said. “So I’m going to try to get more involved with the offense. We’ve got some good coaches, and sometimes we’re (running) plays that don’t have a chance. And I don’t like that.”
Celebrate good times. USC tight end Weslye Saunders didn’t get to do the end-zone celebration he envisioned, but the Durham, N.C., native had a solid game in his return to the Research Triangle area.
Saunders, who caused a bit of a stir by saying he planned to ask Spurrier if he could take a celebration penalty if he scored against the Wolfpack, caught four passes for 50 yards. After an 11-yard catch in the fourth quarter, an enthusiastic Saunders pumped his arm along the USC sideline.
“After you break off four tackles and we’re trying to win the game and there’s so much adrenaline pumping, I had to do something,” he said.
N.C. State connections. Thursday’s game was a homecoming of sorts for USC athletics director Eric Hyman and Kevin O’Connell, USC’s executive associate AD.
Hyman was an associate AD at N.C. State in the early 1990s, and O’Connell had an eight-year stint at State before Hyman’s arrival. Hyman said it was neat to see the projects he worked on while they were in the planning stages, such as the $66 million RBC Center, home of N.C. State’s basketball team and the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes.
Travel planner. USC bused to Raleigh on Wednesday to save money rather than charter flight, then flew home so players could attend class today. Hyman said there was “a silver lining” to the bus ride beyond the financial savings.
“It really gives a team a chance to spend time together,” Hyman said. “It took a little more time, and you get a little more bonding.”
Staying power. While USC brought in five new assistant coaches during the offseason, N.C. State was one of six BCS schools that returned its entire staff for the third year in a row. The others were Skip Holtz’s East Carolina staff, Michigan State, Penn State, Alabama Birmingham and Virginia Tech.
Extra points. All-SEC linebacker Eric Norwood had two sacks to move past John Abraham into second place on USC’s all-time list with 24. Norwood needs three more to surpass career leader Andrew Provence. ... USC fullback Patrick DiMarco entered the game with one career rushing attempt. He had five carries for 19 yards against the ‘Pack. ... Taylor’s blocked punt in the first quarter was USC’s first since Chris Hail’s block against LSU last October.
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