Shane Beamer did his best Derek Dooley impression in South Carolina's season-opener
After an offseason full of moderate hype, the South Carolina Gamecocks fell flat in their season-opener on Saturday night, losing 31-17 to the North Carolina Tar Heels at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. At one point during the game, South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer, who was an assistant under Phillip Fulmer at Tennessee […]
After an offseason full of moderate hype, the South Carolina Gamecocks fell flat in their season-opener on Saturday night, losing 31-17 to the North Carolina Tar Heels at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
At one point during the game, South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer, who was an assistant under Phillip Fulmer at Tennessee from 2001 to 2003, did his best Derek Dooley impression by having 13 men on the field for a defensive snap.
To add insult to injury, North Carolina scored on the play despite the Gamecocks having two extra players on the field.
Ouch. That's an embarrassing way to start the season — especially for a team and a coach that was one of the "it programs" this offseason.
Shane Beamer probably doesn't want to be compared to Derek Dooley
Longtime Tennessee fans will certainly remember the Vols' painful loss to LSU in 2010 in Baton Rouge that ended up being one of Dooley's more infamous moments.
In LSU's 16-14 win against Vols in 2010, it appeared that Tennessee had won the game after stopping the Tigers on a third-and-goal that appeared to be the final play of the game.
After an exuberant celebration, Tennessee learned that they had 13 players on the field. LSU got another chance and running back Stevan Ridley, who would go on to win a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots, scored from one yard out to give the Tigers the win.
Beamer's moment wasn't quite as dramatic, and it didn't necessarily lose the game for South Carolina (though it was an ominous start for the Gamecocks), but it still puts him in the same category as Dooley, who was one of the most least successful SEC coaches in recent memory. And that's not a category that any SEC head coach wants to be in.
By the way, it wasn't all bad for the Gamecocks on Saturday night. Quarterback Spencer Rattler played well, completing 30 of 39 passes for 353 yards. It was the running game that really let South Carolina down as they totaled -2 rushing yards on the night.
Vols QB Joe Milton shows leadership skills by subtly sending a strong message to his teammates
Tennessee Vols QB Joe Milton showed his elite leadership skills by subtly sending a strong message to his teammates
Featured image via Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
