South Carolina football: Auburn trying to lure Mike Bobo away from Columbia
By Jacob Elsey
South Carolina football’s play caller is a top target for an SEC rival.
South Carolina’s new head coach Shane Beamer has completed his offensive staff in Columbia, but a report from Football Scoop says that a key piece of that staff is being contacted by a rival school in the Southeastern Conference.
According to the report, offensive coordinator Mike Bobo is the top target for new Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin. Bobo was a holdover from the previous staff at South Carolina, after the Gamecocks showed marked improvement in a variety of areas along the offensive unit.
With Bobo leading the group, the Gamecocks saw starting tailback Kevin Harris lead the SEC in rushing, and had a top ten receiver in senior Shi Smith. Their were questions about his keeping transfer quarterback Collin Hill in the lineup throughout a season of struggles, but for the most part, the offense seemed to be ticking up.
Now, that progress could be in jeopardy.
Bobo led the Gamecocks as interim head coach in its final three games following the firing of former leader Will Muschamp. He also signed a two-year, $1.2 million deal earlier this week to stay on as offensive coordinator for South Carolina through 2022.
Before joining the Gamecocks’ staff, Bobo was at Colorado State, where he posted a 28-35 record over five seasons. Though things didn’t work out as a head coach, he is still regarded as one of the top play callers in college football, particularly in the SEC. He led Georgia’s offenses from 2007-2014, and tutored Bulldog quarterbacks like Matt Stafford and Aaron Murray.
This will be a huge test for Shane Beamer, as he now needs to keep coaches from being poached before the staff is even fully assembled. The loss of Bobo could be detrimental to a program that’s in flux, as it would halt the progression of an offense that’s just getting familiar with its new coach, and could impact the commitment status of Gunner Stockton, the nation’s top signal caller in the class of 2022.
It would also leave the Gamecocks without either an offensive or defensive coordinator, which would certainly affect recruiting efforts and the decisions of prospects that are potentially interested in playing for South Carolina.
One thing working in the direction of the Gamecocks is Drew Bobo, Mike Bobo’s son, who’s a rising senior at Hammond High in Columbia. He may not be willing to uproot his family twice in as many years, and when paired with the recent contract extension, the Gamecocks may be safe.
Bobo’s message to South Carolina after taking over midseason was one of commitment and playing for the guys next to you. Let’s see if that message stays true as rival teams try to lure the play caller away from Columbia.