Finebaum’s forecast: What success looks like for Shane Beamer at USC in Year 2
Talking Season is in full swing.
The Southeastern Conference held its annual Media Days event this week, where South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer drew plenty of headlines for his work in Year 1 guiding the Gamecocks.
ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum sat down with The State to break down several topics related to Beamer and the Gamecocks.
Some answers have been edited for clarity and length.
Ben Portnoy: What’s the perception of South Carolina heading into Year 2 under Shane Beamer?
Paul Finebaum: “I think the problem now is meeting expectations. If I can be blunt, Shane Beamer screwed up last year. He did too well. The only guy I’ve seen do it worse was a guy I covered in Auburn — Terry Bowden — he went 11-0 in his first year. He never did it again and got fired.
“I’m not suggesting that (for Beamer). I think he could’ve won two less games than he did. But everything about it now, there’s pressure from exceeding (expectations). ... I think it’s a real issue.
“I think he’s capable. But I will say this, if he’s going to be successful — and lets cut through the glossy platitudes of how energizing he is and all that — you better beat Georgia or Clemson, or you’re not going to be taken seriously. I‘m not saying that is immediate but it better be in the future.”
BP: To that end, by overachieving last year, does that almost put South Carolina in a trickier position for an encore?
PF: “Good for him. I mean, he did what he had to do. He made it fun. I’ll never forget being there last year and it was not the same South Carolina.
“It was painful to go there under (Will) Muschamp. You knew Muschamp was going to make a bunch of excuses, be Will Muschamp.
“Everybody loves Beamer — and they should. But I’ve seen a lot of coaches in their second year, who were beloved, and they were fired in three years.”
BP: How does adding Spencer Rattler to the fold affect what you think South Carolina can be in 2022?
PF: “There’s a big debate on Spencer, but would you rather not have him? Yeah, I’ll take a shot. I’ll take a shot at a guy that a year ago was the leading candidate to win the Heisman. If you can correct some things, the world is his oyster.
“We were talking in an ‘SEC Nation’ meeting yesterday that we could do Georgia-South Carolina, and I think it was Jordan Rodgers said, ‘Man, that’ll be an incredible game.’ I kind of joked, ‘That’s what they said four years ago when we were there’ ... a 41-17 Georgia win.
“I’ve been to a lot of Georgia-South Carolina games during ‘SEC Nation’ and I know about the game in Athens (that USC won in 2019) and we were there too, but, all I’m saying is reality check.”
BP: What’s best-case scenario for South Carolina in Year 2 under Beamer?
PF: “I think make it look like the program is continuing on. I mean, I don’t expect nine or 10 wins. I know South Carolina fans do, because I hear from them every day. No fan base in America is more bullish on their team than South Carolina. But that’s OK.
“I felt last year was a missed opportunity with Clemson. It was a chance to show that we’re (South Carolina) on the same level. That didn’t happen. So, I mean, I think just continuing the arc is all that matters.”
BP: What does South Carolina have to do to close that perceived gap with Clemson?
“Let’s be honest — I don’t care what Dabo Swinney says, don’t care what (commissioner) Jim Phillips says — the ACC is in a season of freefall. And Clemson is going to wake up in a couple of years and realize that they’re not in the same league any longer from a financial standpoint than South Carolina. And that will drive them wild.
“I think if you’re a recruit, you have to be worried about them. You know South Carolina isn’t the best program in the country. You (do) know they have a better position. Clemson is in an inferior league and I think that gives South Carolina its greatest advantage in this rivalry since the middle years of Steve Spurrier.”
This story was originally published July 22, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
