Shane Beamer Recreates Famous Spurrier Photo, Raves About Gamecock Recruiting

New Gamecock head coach Shane Beamer sounds like a kid on Christmas, but instead of opening presents in the morning, Beamer gets to open a can of whoop-ass come September. Speaking to reporters during SEC football media days, Beamer’s excitement for the season is palpable, and to him, it all starts with recruiting.

Just how great is recruiting going so far for the son of long-time Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer?

“On a scale of 10, an 11,” he said. “Maybe 15. We didn’t get everybody that we had campus on visits, but just the response, and regardless of what happened, just being able to get young men and their families on campus was pretty cool and exciting. But then the amount of guys that decided they wanted to become Gamecocks or guys that we feel like are very close to becoming Gamecocks, based off the visits in June, it was pretty awesome also.

“Ask me again here in about a month and it may be 15.”

The 44-year-old first-time head coach paid his dues for the last 20 years before earning this opportunity. One of his stops was actually South Carolina for four years under legendary head coach Steve Spurrier. Clearly, a little of the old ball coach’s famous sense of humor rubbed off on Beamer.

According to the 247Sports Composite, South Carolina’s 2022 recruiting class is ranked No. 19 in the country. The Gamecocks are currently seventh among SEC teams.

“I’m really, really, really, really pumped about the headway that we’ve made in the class of 2023 and the class of 2024. It’s a fantastic year in South Carolina for those classes. We’ve gotten ahead in those groups as well.

“Excited for it to open back up here in a week or so, before we crank back up with football practice, to get guys on campus as well. It’s just a testament to the people we have in our program and what South Carolina is about. We’re real. We’re genuine. It’s not an act. … That’s what we’re going to be about.”

If you’re counting at home, that was 4x as pumped as your average head coach. I only poke fun because coaches like this make the game more fun—more fun to watch and more fun to write about. Beamer’s authentic personality shines through in every interview he gives, and I can’t wait to see what his product on the field looks like. If it’s anything like his energy level, the SEC East may be looking at a tougher South Carolina team than they’re used to playing.

"There have been some great days in Columbia, South Carolina, some great days for South Carolina football, but I am 100 percent convinced that the best days of South Carolina football are right in front of us,” Beamer concluded. “I couldn't more excited about that, couldn't be more excited about being the head football coach of South Carolina."

I think I speak for all football fans when I say, I can’t wait for Santa to bring all of us our cans of whoop-ass in a few weeks.