Calling all Gamecocks: Shane Beamer wants to see you in Charlotte for Duke’s Mayo Bowl
Shane Beamer says South Carolina football fans shouldn’t let the Gamecocks’ recent history in Bank of America Stadium deter them from traveling to Charlotte for the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Dec. 30.
South Carolina carries a 3-2 record when playing at the home of the Carolina Panthers, but its last two trips were met with back-to-back losses. This includes the 28-0 shutout loss against Virginia in the 2018 Belk Bowl — the Gamecocks’ last bowl appearance, and in the same venue as this season’s Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
The Gamecocks’ most recent appearance in Bank of America Stadium directly followed that bowl game. USC lost to North Carolina — this year’s bowl opponent — 24-20 in its 2019 season opener.
“Whatever has happened at Bank of America Stadium in the past has zero to do with the 2021 Carolina football team,” Beamer said in a Wednesday press conference. “I’m sure that not every experience in Clemson, South Carolina has been enjoyable, or Gainesville, Florida or Knoxville, Tennessee or Athens, Georgia — and our fans travel in droves to those places.
“I don’t know why it would be any different in Charlotte, particularly with the opportunity to go to such a fantastic city, after Christmas, afternoon game, going to be an amazing environment.”
South Carolina has played four season openers and one bowl game at Bank of America Stadium, all since 2011. Fan attendance at these five games averaged at 52,150 (69.7% of the stadium’s 74,867 capacity).
The Gamecocks’ most attended game in Charlotte was their 2011 season opener against East Carolina, where USC won 56-37 before a crowd of 58,272. The 2018 Belk Bowl had the least amount of fans for a South Carolina game at Bank of America Stadium, with 48,263 in attendance.
South Carolina’s first-year head coach has made a number of fan pleas throughout the season to encourage attendance at Williams-Brice Stadium. South Carolina averaged 89.9% capacity in 2021 and reported its highest attendance figure of the year for the regular season finale vs. Clemson, a 30-0 Gamecocks loss in front of 79,897.
Beamer said he’s spoken with a number of fans since the bowl announcement Sunday, and they have told him they’ve bought tickets to see the Gamecocks play their first postseason game in three years.
“They need to be there to support this football team, because these young men have played their butts off all season and have earned this opportunity,” Beamer said. “We’re going to need a great environment out there in Charlotte that day.”
The Duke’s Mayo Bowl, which has been held in Charlotte each season since 2002 and gone through four different sponsorships and name changes, recorded peak attendance for the 2008 Meineke Car Care Bowl played between West Virginia and North Carolina.
The bowl counted 73,712 in attendance that year, though it averaged 52,365 fans through its first 18 years, not counting the 2020 game that was restricted to 1,500 fans due to COVID-19 protocols.
Beamer said the upcoming meeting with North Carolina in the 2021 Duke’s Mayo Bowl, his first as head coach, will be one fans won’t want to miss.
“I would say if they chose not to come they’re gonna miss a heck of a game, a heck of an atmosphere and a heck of a bowl game,” Beamer said.
South Carolina plays North Carolina on Dec. 30 at 11:30 a.m. The game will be televised by ESPN.
Attendance for South Carolina games held at Bank of America Stadium
- vs. East Carolina in 2011 season opener: 58,272 (56-37, W)
- vs. North Carolina in 2015 season opener: 51,664 (17-13, W)
- vs. N.C. State in 2017 season opener: 50,367 (35-28, W)
- vs. Virginia in 2018 Belk Bowl: 48,263 (28-0, L)
- vs. North Carolina in 2019 season opener: 52,183 (24-20, L)
