Paul Finebaum dishes on Beamer and Staley, Clemson fans, more in USC chat
Paul Finebaum was the guest speaker at the annual Buchheit Family Lecture hosted by the University of South Carolina’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication on campus Wednesday night.
The SEC Network TV and radio host covered everything from the beginnings of his career to his thoughts on the state of college athletics.
Here’s a bit of what Finebaum had to say:
Tough act to follow
The guest speaker at last year’s Buchheit Family Lecture was Bob Woodward.
Yes that Bob Woodward, the journalist famous for uncovering the Watergate scandal alongside Carl Berstein at the Washington Post.
“I found out today that Bob Woodward was here a year ago,” Finebaum said. “As a 15-year-old, being a news hound and a political hound, Watergate was breaking. Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein were breaking what seemed like at the time, the story of the century. And that’s who I wanted to be. So I’m a little bit uptight. I usually don’t get that way.”
Finebaum joked he wasn’t sure why “such a great school” like South Carolina would invite him to speak.
“I guess LaNorris Sellers wasn’t available,” he quipped.
Paul Finebaum on Clemson fans
At one point, Finebaum brought up the change from doing radio in Alabama to working for the SEC Network.
Working for the SEC Network was more of a challenge because he was no longer just covering two rival schools in Alabama and Auburn. He joked that covering schools that “hate each other” is the “easiest job in the world.”
Then the noted Tennessee graduate said this, unprompted:
“By the way, I have to confess, if I had to do over again, I would come to South Carolina because I did not realize how intense this rivalry was,” Finebaum said. “I can’t do it over again. But I have made a living now out of hating Clemson.”
Then, much to the delight of the South Carolina fans in the room, Finebuam said this (again, unprompted) about Clemson:
“Clemson fans are so naive that every time I go after Dabo Swinney or Clemson, I’ll read on their message board sites and on social media, ‘Well, he’s still bitter about Clemson being Alabama in 2018 by 28 points.’ Like I would really let a football game affect (me), it’s no big deal. I’ve seen Clemson lose plenty of games since then, like especially the last two times South Carolina has played at Clemson. Those have been to the most satisfying afternoons ... and I mean that.”
Officiating in South Carolina vs. LSU
South Carolina fans know the situation all too well. During the Gamecocks’ 36-33 loss to LSU, some questionable penalties were called late in the game.
Roughly seven months later, the calls still baffle Finebaum.
“What happened here last year was so remarkable, because South Carolina was on the on the cusp of the playoffs,” Finebaum said. “By the way, I am not a vindictive person. I don’t want anybody to be hurt, but the officiating crew in the South Carolina-LSU game ought to be doing Pee Wee (football) this fall.”
He continued his point on college football officiating later, saying he used to defend the officials but has found nowadays he just can’t.
“I try to avoid the subject because it’s a loser, but I can’t get around that,” Finebaum said. “... But I think really in the end, the best officials go to the NFL. They’re full-time jobs. These guys are — they’re insurance people, they’re sales people, they’re lawyers. I mean, they this is not what they do, and they parachute into a college town on a Friday and try to get it right, and unfortunately, the game is probably too fast for them.”
Thoughts on South Carolina football
Finebaum isn’t predicting a national title for the Gamecocks this coming season, but he does think South Carolina has a shot at continuing its success from last year.
“I’m not a politician. And if I was, I would come here and say that South Carolina won the national championship next year,” Finebaum said. “... I think South Carolina really has a shot. Now, one thing they can’t do is just waste the game. And last year they wasted the LSU game. So that can’t happen if you’re going to get in the playoffs, because there’s too many complex games.”
He also praised South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers, saying he’s “one of the two or three best quarterbacks in the country.”
Praise for Shane Beamer
Finebaum called Beamer on of the “most personal” coaches in the SEC and praised how he connects with South Carolina fans.
“I really think he’s a genuine coach,” Finebaum said. “... We interview every coach and some are absolutely painful. Beamer is great. ... I would say that Beamer probably connects as well with the fan base here, as anybody in the SEC.”
Money and women’s sports
With the revenue share age of college sports on the near horizon, Finebaum thinks women’s sports could be at a disadvantage when the money is divided up once the House vs. NCAA settlement is finalized.
“I think women’s sports is a big issue,” Finebaum said. “I know a few attorneys who are just waiting by the door as soon as this thing is finalized to start filing lawsuits. And that is going to happen, because I don’t think women are going to be treated equitably.”
Finebaum thinks things could be slightly different at South Carolina because of the success Dawn Staley has had with the women’s basketball program. He praised the standard of success Staley has set at South Carolina.
“Dawn Staley, who is one of my favorite coaches, I heard that she didn’t think her team deserved NIL money this year,” Finebaum said. “I mean, they only came second the country. I don’t know what her standards are, but that’s why you have the best program in the country here. Because, she doesn’t care about everybody else’s standards, she has her own.”
