A November To Remember? The Opportunity Ahead of Gamecock Football -

Saturday, November 2nd will mark the fourth month that the South Carolina Gamecocks have played in this year. And, just like a football game, the fourth quarter (or in this case month) is where you have to dig deep and finish strong.

The Gamecocks are sitting at 4-3 and are in a position that many thought was not possible before the season kicked off. How the team got to that 4-3 mark is a different story, but any way you slice it this team is being led by stellar defensive play and an attitude that says they won’t be intimidated by an opponent’s brand name or ranking. As such, Shane Beamer has his team in a position where, with 5 games left to play, a very respectable record and bowl
game are still very much on the table. The question is, can this team seize the opportunity?

As we look at the remaining games on the schedule, the first thing that stands out is that 3 out of 5 are at home. And while there have been disappointing losses inside Williams-Brice this season, any time you can play with the home field advantage you certainly will take it. On the road, Carolina will take on a surprisingly feisty Vanderbilt team and, of course, the team in the upstate in the season finale.

From my perspective, every game remaining on the schedule with the exception of Wofford (penciling in South Carolina doing well here) is a toss up and South Carolina stands a chance in each one.

As much as I want to write that it goes without saying that South Carolina stands a chance in each remaining game because of the defense, it needs to be called out explicitly. This defense is simply special. Since the days when names like Clowney, Swearinger, Ingram, Gilmore and more roamed the field, South Carolina fans have craved that sense of pride and confidence in their defense. That time has come back. This unit can take the burden off of the offense by not only generating points on their own, but erasing mishaps that might happen by limiting potential damage. Having a group of athletes come together and play with chemistry as a collective unit is special to watch and right now that is happening for the South Carolina defense.

Offensively, there have certainly been ups and downs. However, that is to be expected with a young quarterback. The good news is this group finally has strung together multiple games playing together and things are better than they were in week 1. The biggest thing for

this unit is game reps, and that didn’t come as easy as it should have earlier in the year. Just look at the progression that Nyck Harbor has made – it’s been very noticeable. The confidence that LaNorris Sellers is playing with is certainly higher than it was a few months ago as well. I see the chemistry in this entire unit getting better each week, even if the results aren’t necessarily there. The receivers look better, Rocket has found the endzone consistently, LaNorris has flashed his escapability. It is just a matter of this group bringing it for four quarters each game. The hope has to be that over the bye week leading into November the staff realized what this group does well and can maximize that over the next few weeks.

So that leads us to the opportunity ahead for this team. It is exactly that, an opportunity. Nothing in sports is given, especially in SEC football. A 4-3 record can turn into 9-3, 5-7, or somewhere in between. And in many ways, this moment in the Gamecocks’ seasons feels reflective of the state of the program. Perhaps beating many people’s expectations at this point in time, but still in a fragile state where it feels one wrong play could set it all back, or where one big moment can push the group over the top. Because of that, Shane Beamer has to navigate
these next few weeks incredibly well.

A fanbase watches this team with raised expectations from where it sat week 1. Walking backwards into a bowl game with 6 wins would be fine, but running into 7, 8, or 9 wins would feel like winning that tenfold based off of where many people thought this team would finish originally.

The Gamecocks are following a quarterback with the weight of the world on him and one who is growing before our very eyes. LaNorris has the talent to bring this team to the heights they want to go to, and he stands waiting with a chance to do so. He is backed by a fierce and experienced defense that is prepared to make all opponents earn every yard, and by fans who will make trips into Williams-Brice a nightmare for opposing offenses. Shane Beamer must find a way to have this team up for the challenge and ready to seize the moment. In this season
alone, this group has had multiple chances to shake up the conference and the college football world with a win, but have come up empty. There will be a few of those chances in November and how this team will be remembered will be defined by their performance in these final games. On top of that, if Beamer makes this a November to remember, it will be his best coaching job to date.

Here we go.