‘Worry about how we play, not what we’re wearing’: Beamer sounds off on uniform hype
Shane Beamer announced South Carolina’s first uniform combination of 2021 on Tuesday afternoon, but don’t expect him to make a fuss about it in the coming weeks.
The Gamecocks will suit up in white pants, garnet jerseys and white helmets. Beamer had a jovial attitude about the first reveal, but he’s adamant that his team won’t be making a big deal about uniform combinations like the program has done in previous seasons.
“We’re not going to get into every single week, spending time and wasting a whole lot of time as a team trying to figure out what we’re wearing on Saturdays,” Beamer said. “Let’s worry about how we play, not what we’re wearing. I’ve told the players that, and they’re on board.
“It does not mean we won’t mix it up from time to time, but let’s worry about preparing ourselves to play the very best, and the 10 or 15 minutes that they spent last year and in previous years figuring out what they’re wearing, it could’ve been spent preparing for the opponent, getting themselves ready to play.
“We’ll certainly mix it up. Our players will have a say in what they’re wearing, but we’re not going to come out there wearing a different uniform for the next 12 weeks, I can assure you of that.”
The football team for years put some level of production and hype around what combination of colors would be worn in a given week, often with an end-of-week reveal via social media.
The Gamecocks will host FCS opponent Eastern Illinois to open up the 2021 season. The Panthers have already played a game this season, falling 26-21 to Indiana State in a “Week Zero” contest last Saturday.
South Carolina looks for a fresh start under Beamer and his new staff after a difficult 2-8 season in 2020. There are plenty of changes on the roster, too, including a retooled secondary following the departures of staple cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Israel Mukuamu to the NFL. The Gamecocks are also likely to break in a new quarterback for their first game while Luke Doty continues to recover from a left foot sprain injured in fall camp.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at Williams-Brice Stadium, which will allow full capacity. The game will not be available on traditional TV, but it will be available for streaming on SEC Network Plus and ESPN+.
2020 Uniform Combos
Kentucky: garnet pants, white jerseys and black helmets
Georgia: garnet pants, garnet jerseys and white helmets
Missouri: garnet pants, black jerseys and garnet helmets
Ole Miss: white pants, white jerseys and black helmets
Texas A&M: white pants, garnet jerseys and white helmets
LSU: white pants, black jerseys and white helmets
Auburn: garnet pants, garnet jerseys and black helmets
Vanderbilt: black pants, white jerseys and white helmets
Florida: white pants, white jerseys and white helmets
Tennessee: black pants, black jerseys and black helmets
2019 Uniform Combos
Clemson: black pants, black jerseys and black helmets
Texas A&M: black pants, white jerseys and white helmets
Appalachian State: black pants, garnet jerseys and black helmets
Vanderbilt: white pants, garnet jerseys and white helmets
Tennessee: white pants, white jerseys and garnet helmets
Florida: white pants, black jerseys and white helmets
Georgia: garnet pants, white jerseys and garnet helmets
Kentucky: white pants, black throwback jerseys and garnet helmets
Missouri: black pants, white jerseys and black helmets
Alabama: garnet pants, garnet jerseys and white helmets
Charleston Southern: white pants, black throwback jerseys and garnet helmets
North Carolina: white pants, white jerseys and white helmets
2018 Uniform Combos
Virginia: black pants, white jerseys and black helmets
Akron: garnet pants, black jerseys and garnet helmets
Clemson: white pants, white jerseys and white helmets
Florida: black pants, white jerseys and garnet helmets
Ole Miss: black pants, white jerseys and black helmets
Tennessee: black pants, black jerseys and black helmets
Texas A&M: black pants, black jerseys and white helmets
Missouri: garnet pants, garnet jerseys and garnet helmets
Kentucky: garnet pants, white jerseys and white helmets
Vanderbilt: white pants, white jerseys and white helmets
Georgia: black pants, garnet jerseys and garnet helmets
Coastal Carolina: white pants, garnet jerseys and garnet helmets
