South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer spoke with the media Tuesday afternoon, breaking down the Gamecocks' bye week adjustments, staff updates, and what lies ahead as the team prepares to face No. 3 Texas A&M in College Station.
Beamer said the bye week offered " a really good three days of work," followed by the time on the recruiting trail. He praised the Aggies, calling them " a team that, in my opinion, is playing better than any team in the nation. They are clicking on all cylinders."
Tweaking the Offense and Leadership Shift
Following the firing of offensive coordinator Mike Shula and offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley, Beamer said South Carolina's offense has undergone "pretty good tweaking."
“There have been some take out, but there has also been some additions,” Beamer said. “Certainly, there’s different voices in there now leading the way.”
Those voices belong to wide receivers coach Mike Furrey, tight ends coach Shawn Elliott, and offensive analyst Davis Koetter, who are all working collaboratively to run the offense for the remainder of the season. Beamer noted that wiled the overall number of plays may stay the same, the emphasis is shifting toward what this group "wants to run."
Beamer praised Furrey's energy, saying he's brought "a different approach" to the field. “He’s out there talking trash to the DBs, bragging what his receivers are going to do to them,” Beamer laughed.
Koetter has continued to work closely with quarterbacks and remains in every QB meeting, while Furrey has taken a more active role with the group. Beamer said it's still "to be determined" whether Furrey will be on the field or in the booth on Saturday.
Furrey’s Future and the OC Search
When asked what it would take to consider Mike Furrey for the permanent offensive coordinator position, Beamer left the door wide open. “He’s a great coach. I’m not closing the door on anything,” Beamer said. “The next three weeks are his offensively, so we’ll see what happens.”
Beamer added that Furrey had offers to coach elsewhere after last season but chose to stay at South Carolina, something that has not gone unnoticed. During the bye week, Beamer said he "got a head start on some staffing things," noting that he is already evaluating potential candidates for both the offensive line and offensive coordinator positions.
NFL Background vs. College Fit
Beamer also addressed questions about his past hires at the OC position, each of whom came from NFL backgrounds, including Marcus Satterfield, Dowell Loggains, and Mike Shula. Some have questioned whether or not he is too tied to a "pro-style" approach.
Beamer pushed back on that narrative. “It hasn’t been what we wanted, surely,” he said. “But there were good points with all of them. The results haven’t been good enough overall, and that’s on me.”
As for his next hire, Beamer said he's not married to any particular background. “Whoever gives us the best chance to be successful,” he said. “That’s what matters.”
Injury Updates
Beamer provided a detailed look at South Carolina's injury situation. Some long-term injuries, inluding Jaron Brown, Grayson Wilson, and Kobe Sakyi-Prah, are all "trending in the right direction," but none are expected to return this season.
Offensive lineman Ryan Brubaker, however, is back practicing, a positive development after what could have been a much longer recovery.
Respect for Texas A&M’s Atmosphere
Beamer once again praised the pageantry and energy of Texas A&M's game day experience, specifically the "12th Man" and the unique environment at Kyle Field. “It’s one of the best atmospheres in college football,” Beamer said. “I always love it there; except I have to watch where I’m walking because of the horses. You don’t want to step in horse poop going onto the field.”
Optimism and Effort Remain High
When asked why fans should feel optimistic heading into his weekend's matchup, Beamer's answer was direct:
“Have you seen us play this year?”
Beamer highlighted how the Gamecocks have been competitive throughout one of the nation's toughest schedules, staying in games deep into the fourth quarter. “There’s no question about the want-to,” Beamer said. “My loyalty is to this team and doing everything that I can to help us play our best.”
Game Details
- Matchup: South Carolina (3–6, 1–6 SEC) at No. 3 Texas A&M (9–0, 6–0 SEC)
- Date: Saturday, November 15, 2025
- Kickoff Time: 12:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. CT)
- Location: Kyle Field, College Station, Texas
- Series History: Texas A&M leads 9–2; South Carolina won last year’s meeting 44–20 in Columbia.