South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer did not mince words in Tuesday's media availability, setting a bold tone for rivalry week and making it clear that he believes the Palmetto Bowl is headed back to national prominence. With Clemson coming to Columbia and both programs sitting far below their respective preseason expectations, Beamer insisted this season is an "outlier" and far from the new norm. He projected confidence, conviction, and a forward-leaning belief in the Gamecocks. Here are the biggest storylines from the press conference.
Beamer Says This Season Is the Exception, Not the Rule
Beamer leaned in when discussing the state of both Clemson and South Carolina, calling the 2025 season a temporary dip, not a trend. He said he is “100 percent convinced this year is a little bit of an outlier with South Carolina and Clemson not living up to their expectations.”
Beamer doubled down that the rivalry between the Gamecocks and the Tigers is only going to strengthen, saying he fully expects the game to have "playoff implications every year moving forward." And he didn't hesitate to elevate the magnitude of the match up nationally: “This rivalry doesn’t take a backseat to any rivalry in the country.” Beamer added that when both teams are performing at a high level, like last season, it puts the Palmetto State directly on the national stage and raises the profile of the game.
Injury Updates
Beamer confirmed that both Dylan Stewart and Nyck Harbor, both of which missed the Coastal Carolina game, are expected to be available this weekend against Clemson. Their return adds a major boost to South Carolina’s depth on both sides of the ball.
Luke Doty Reflects on the End of His College Journey
Senior quarterback Luke Doty stepped to the podium for the final time as a player on Tuesday and delivered a heartfelt reflection on his tenure at South Carolina.
“It’s been a long journey, it’s been a fun journey,” Doty said, adding that he’s trying to savor every moment of his last week as a college football player.
Doty already holds his college degree in coaching and said it’s something he is strongly considering as a next step. Beamer lit up at the idea of Doty joining the staff in the future. “It would be awesome to have Luke Doty as a coach at South Carolina,” he said. “If that’s something he ever wants to do. Sign me up." I think Gamecock Nation would agree.
Staffing Updates
When asked about the timeline for hiring both an offensive coordinator and an offensive line coach, Beamer said he will not force the process. He expressed not wanting to take forever, but also will not rush a hire.
Gamecock Fans Urged to Bring the Noise
As always, Beamer made a direct appeal to the South Carolina fan base, praising the energy they’ve brought all season before asking for another full-throttle effort on Saturday: loud, early, and relentless. GO GAMECOCKS!