How a voicemail from Steve Spurrier made Shane Beamer’s rivalry win that much sweeter
Shane Beamer’s week started out with a voicemail from Steve Spurrier and ended with something the Head Ball Coach did a lot while at South Carolina — beating rival Clemson.
The Gamecocks pulled out a 17-14 rivalry win over the Tigers on Saturday at Memorial Stadium as Demetrius Knight picked off Cade Klubnik at the Gamecocks’ 15 with Clemson driving for possibly a game-tying or winning score.
“I got a voicemail from Coach Spurrier (on Tuesday),” Beamer said after the game. “He said it might be the biggest game ever in the history of Carolina and Clemson and what-not.
“I appreciate him reaching out and giving me the opportunity to coach at South Carolina in 2007. God has got an unbelievable plan. He brought me and my wife to Columbia in 2007 with just a dog and no children. Here we are with a dog and three children later. It is pretty special. I love this place and am so blessed to be the football coach here.”
Saturday’s stakes in the annual game between the two Palmetto State rivals were heightened as both teams were chasing a spot in the College Football Playoff. While Beamer made his case for his team after the game, he also was reflective on getting to coach at USC first as an assistant coach under Spurrier and then as a head coach.
Spurrier went 6-4 against the Tigers from 2005-15, including five straight wins from 2009-13. The five straight victories are tied for the longest winning streak in USC history against their rival.
Spurrier went 86-49 at USC, winning 64% of his games, the highest of any person who coached the Gamecocks for more than 20 games.
Beamer, who is now 2-2 against Clemson in his four seasons, one-upped the HBC on Saturday by winning his 29th game at South Carolina, one more than Spurrier did in his first four years in Columbia.
“I have so much respect for Coach Spurrier as a coach,” Beamer said. “With this team, I have won more games in four seasons than he did. It is a great accomplishment with everyone associated with our football team.”
