‘The right person in charge’: Former USC players have high praise for Shane Beamer
Shane Beamer couldn’t convince Jared Cook to come to Mississippi State when he was an assistant coach there in the mid-2000s.
Cook, who was a receiver in high school, whittled his college choices down to Mississippi State and South Carolina. He signed with the Gamecocks because of Steve Spurrier’s offense and history of working with receivers.
But the two were reunited a year later in 2007 when Beamer joined Spurrier’s staff. Beamer was USC’s co-special teams coach and worked with outside linebackers. He also worked with cornerbacks and safeties during his three-stint as an assistant with the Gamecocks.
“When he joined the staff here, I was so happy to be with him and play for him,” Cook said Friday. “We go way back, have great memories and he’s always been a cool dude. He has never changed through all these years.”
Cook was one of many former Gamecocks back in Columbia on Friday to play in DJ Swearinger’s celebrity basketball game. Beamer was there with son Hunter and caught up with many of his former players, including NFL guys such as Cook, Swearinger, Stephon Gillmore, Jadeveon Clowney and Melvin Ingram.
Those former Gamecocks raved about Beamer — the assistant coach they remember from more than a decade ago, and the head coach who’s now leading the South Carolina program.
Beamer is in his second season as the Gamecocks’ head coach. He led South Carolina to a 7-6 record last year and a win over North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, and was the co-winner of the Steve Spurrier Award by the Football Writer’s Association of America. The award is given to the most outstanding first-year head coach in college football.
Since his hire, Beamer has brought a renewed energy and excitement to the program. There’s a lot of anticipation for year two, especially with the additions of such transfers as Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler.
“I’m proud of what he did in his first year and I think he is going to continue to build on it. I have been a big fan of coach Beamer. I’m going to continue to root for him because he is such a great dude.”
“I think we got the right person in charge,” said Gilmore, who reportedly signed a free agent deal with the Indianapolis Colts. “He was a good coach and always brought good energy. I think he will do a good job.”
Swearinger also raved about Beamer’s enthusiasm and remembers his high-energy approach as an assistant coach. That approach hasn’t changed since Beamer took over as head coach.
During games last season, Beamer wasn’t afraid to show his emotions — whether the Gamecocks were winning or losing. Both former and current players appreciate that.
“Loved playing special teams for coach Beamer. I just remember him always ballin’, always being fired up, always being an uplifting guy. He always had the players ready to play, and you’ve got to love his enthusiasm,” Swearinger said. “Love coach Beamer, love what he is doing. ... And we had the winningest senior class in school history, and we were coached by coach Beamer.
“He understands the culture, what his team needs and he is bringing that. It is only a matter of time before we get back to the top.”
This story was originally published April 16, 2022 at 11:33 AM.
