Shane Beamer claims he wrote down a bunch of notes following South Carolina’s 34-30 win over Missouri to share in his postgame news conference.
There was one problem. Another thrilling win resulted in yet another Gatorade bath as time expired at Williams-Brice Stadium.
The ink on his notes smeared. Oh well.
“That whole game, guys, ladies, is a blur,” Beamer said grinning, after his son, Hunter, delivered the Mayor’s Cup to his dad’s seat. “I could talk all night and ramble and be incoherent at this point. But I’m happy for our team, happy for our fans. It’s great to have this thing in Columbia, S.C.”
Hunter Beamer delivers the Mayor’s Cup pic.twitter.com/ZMIOK7EClR
— Jordan Kaye (@jordankaye_23) November 17, 2024
The No. 21 Gamecocks are now 7-3 and have officially eliminated No. 23 Missouri from the SEC title race and — in all practicality — the College Football Playoff.
For the better part of the day, it looked as though South Carolina would have little trouble picking up its fourth straight win. The Gamecocks led 21-6 at the half and held a 21-12 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.
Then things got wacky.
The fourth quarter featured four lead changes, including three in the final five-plus minutes. Missouri seemingly delivered the decisive blow when star receiver Luther Burden scored on a 37-yard touchdown pass from Brady Cook with 1:10 to play. The ensuing two-point conversion put the Tigers on top 30-27.
That’s when South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers and his supporting cast took over.
As the Gamecocks worked their way down the field, Sellers hit sixth-year wide receiver Dalevon Campbell for 39 yards up the middle to put South Carolina at the Missouri 21-yard line with 27 seconds to play.
Following a Missouri timeout, Sellers rushed 6 yards up the middle to get the Gamecocks into the red zone. Then, with 21 seconds left, Sellers tossed a shovel pass to running back Rocket Sanders, who worked through contact and bounced off five different Missouri defenders to will his way into the end zone for the go-ahead score.
IT’S… IT’S BEAUTIFUL!!! https://t.co/AnbD9l7BOX pic.twitter.com/5PCjHrSBue
— Gamecock Football (@GamecockFB) November 17, 2024
“I think (5-3) is the best SEC record we’ve had here since 2017. I think that’s our first time since 2012 that we’ve won four straight SEC games,” Beamer said. “We talk about remembering November — and they’re putting together one heck of a story right now with what we’ve done in November. I’m just so proud to be their coach.”
The Gamecocks are still a long shot to reach the Playoff, but a case can be made they are playing as well as any team in the league over the last month. They close out their 2024 SEC schedule having defeated an AP-ranked opponent in three consecutive weeks for the first time in program history thanks to victories against Texas A&M, Vanderbilt and now Missouri.
What does that say about Beamer’s program, he was asked?
“Say that one more time. I like that,” he said laughing.
“I tell high school prospects and their families all the time that the best days of South Carolina football are right in front of us. I truly, truly believe that with the direction that we’re headed right now.”
(Photo of Shane Beamer: Jeff Blake / Imagn Images)
