SerpApi.Org
TAMPA, Fla. — Yes, expectations are low. That’s the price of a 4-8 season.
Shane Beamer had the same shrug he did a year ago in Atlanta, when asked about the sky-high expectations after a 9-4 season. All of that stuff is offseason fodder, and for anyone smirking and thinking, “Sure, he says that now with the pressure on,” no. He said it last year, too, remarking that USC won nine games and returned its quarterback, so of course expectations were going to be high.
He is paying as much attention to the skepticism this year as the radiance last year. Which is, he’s not.
“Certainly I’d be lying to you, and I think all of our players would be lying to you if we didn’t hear what people thought about us on the outside. Nobody thinks we’re worth a … shoot, and that’s OK. I mean, all you guys picked us high last year, and the same reasons you picked us high last year … those same players are back this year, which just blows my mind,” Beamer said at SEC Media Days on Tuesday. “Last year, we were going to be pretty good because we had a good season and we had guys like the three that are here today and Dylan Stewart and whoever else returning, and you picked us high.
“Well, all those guys are back, and they’re a year older, but everybody thinks we suck.”
The official preseason order of finish and picks for SEC champion (which the media almost always gets wrong) will be released Friday, but the Gamecocks won’t rank very high in the former and will be non-existent in the latter.
That’s cool. Gives Beamer much more room to implement what he’d like from all the August prognosticators.
“Just kind of leave us alone,” Beamer said. “Let us go to work, and we’ll see everybody in September.”
Beamer was joined by QB LaNorris Sellers, receiver Nyck Harbor and safety Peyton Williams in Tampa, all taking their turn through the carnival and all brushing aside any questions about how they plan to answer following such a poor campaign. They answered, all right, but much like their coach did — people are gonna talk.
Let ‘em.
“It’s the only offseason I’ve had that’s gotten harder as the weeks have gone. Usually, you get accustomed to them,” Sellers said. “We’re attacking every day. We’re confident in ourselves.”
Beamer updated his team as it prepares to begin preseason camp. The players report on Aug. 6 and the first day of practice is Aug. 7.
• Stewart and Jacarrius Peak continue to improve in their rehabilitation from injuries. Peak is running, and Beamer watched him do 40 reps of a “walk-and-press” drill that all the players hate.
Stewart will take another step in his journey next week and “should crank it up,” Beamer said. As for any fan thoughts about limiting the two players or holding them out for Weeks 1-2 when the Gamecocks host Kent State and Towson, the two will play when they’re able to play, no matter the opponent.
“They both want to play Game 1 and get out there and compete. So for us, it’ll be communication with our medical team, the outside doctors, and when they say they’re ready to go, then they’ll be ready to go, and we’ll put them out there regardless of when and who,” Beamer said.
• Newcomer Malik Orsan has added another name to the place-kicking competition. He didn’t arrive until the summer, but he is fully in the mix with Upton Bellenfant and Max Kelley.
If there are position battles, they’re usually settled two weeks before the first game. This one may go later.
Beamer pointed out he’s had a couple of battles at kicker since he’s been at USC, and those lasted until nearly the first game.
“I don’t think it’s super critical to name a starting kicker before two weeks out or whatever. I like where all three of those guys are. (New special teams coordinator Matthew Smiley) and I have talked already about how to manufacture more live kicks in practices without staying out on the field longer than we need to.”
