Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] On this episode of Cox talking Gamecocks, the football team has a disappointing effort at lsu and a weekend recap from around Carolina Athletics. Okay, here we go.
[00:00:54] Okay, going to start this episode differently here. So I had a whole episode recorded about my reaction and everything to the LSU game.
[00:01:05] Then later, before I published the podcast, the big news broke from today that offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley has been let go, has been fired by Shane Beamer, and will be replaced by Sean Elliott. So I'm going to quickly give y' all a couple of my thoughts here, and then I will kick it back to myself for my breakdown and reaction to the LSU game. Now, disclaimer there. I did talk about Teasley because at the time of the recording, I didn't know he was gonna be fired in a couple of hours. So you can kind of look at that now with. With a hindsight. Right? So nonetheless, here, look. You. You never get joy from seeing a person lose their job, and there's families impacted. It's. It's tough.
[00:01:54] It's part of the business. It kind of is the. The nature of the beast with coaching. But I think while it was a tough decision, I think this was the correct decision by Shane Beamer. And not only does this send a message to the players and everyone in that building that, hey, we mean business and the results that we've had this year are not acceptable, it sends that same exact message to the administration and to the fan base. So we haven't seen Shane Beamer do anything like this before. This is very uncharacteristic of him, but I think when you look at the offensive lines performance this year in relation to the experience and recruiting level and things like that, it is just inadequate. And I talk about that a little bit in the breakdown. And while Coach Teasley has been a good recruiter, you. You have not seen the development that you would expect and that you have to have at the SEC level. So a tough call for Shane Beamer. I think, you know, he probably had this in the back of his mind going into the bye week and said, let me give it one more week. Let's see how this goes against lsu. It was a tough performance for that group, and he made his decision there. So, luckily, you do have an amazing resource with experience in Sean Elliott, and you can slide him back to where he made a name for himself in the offensive line. But it's a situation where how much can he do over the course of the next several weeks is yet to be determined. It's a fresh voice. I think that whole group is going to be open to learning, obviously with a guy that they're familiar with and who has great experience. I think they'll be open to learning knowing that Coach Beamer felt so strongly about that unit's performance that they he fired the coach. But at the same time he has not worked with these guys over an offseason, over the spring, etc. So we'll see. But yeah, I am surprised that Beamer actually did that and I don't know if this is step one of a couple other points he has, but yeah, Lonnie Teasley no longer with the program and we'll see how it goes the rest of the year. But all right, going to kick it back to myself for my reaction for the LSU game. Y', all, I am mad, I am sad, I'm disappointed, I'm frustrated.
[00:04:22] Probably.
[00:04:23] Probably like a lot of y' all out there, we're all feeling the same thing today and it just stinks. You know, when you feel like you were so close and you come up empty and you know, all of the realizations and fears are coming up and it just stinks. So, you know, gonna get into it in a second here, but we're gonna take some time and I'm gonna unpack my thoughts and loose analysis on the LSU game and really just the state of things right now with Carolina football.
[00:04:59] And then like I always say, we're gonna try and move forward as best we can and and try and get excited for the rest of the season. But before I do, let's do a quick weekend recap from around USC athletics. Got some scores to report here on Friday. Women's volleyball was an action against Oklahoma. Unfortunately they took the loss 3 to 1. Also Friday evening, men's soccer was in action and tied Old Dominion. Saturday afternoon, swimming and diving was in action, the women taking on Arkansas and they won 182 to 1 18.
[00:05:36] At least that was a bright spot from Saturday. But of course we're all here for the same reason.
[00:05:43] We're here to talk football.
[00:05:45] So Carolina coming off a very, very disappointing effort here, going to lsu looking for a big time road upset in Death Valley at night and Gamecocks coming up short, losing 20 to 10.
[00:06:03] I don't know where to begin with this one.
[00:06:06] I'm going to start with a couple of quick positives and then that way we can really focus on the rest of this here. The defense, I think, honestly did what you could have asked if you told me that we held LSU to 20 points. I'd say, oh, we are in that ball game and we might even win that.
[00:06:25] And being put on with their backs against the wall, especially right away in that first quarter, I think the defense did a really good job. Yes, there were a couple of big plays that they gave up and a couple of, you know, big scores. That's going to happen, especially when you have the talent that you're facing against lsu.
[00:06:45] But I really do think, for the most part I was pleased with the defensive effort. They really had a tough time for the most part running against us. Their average was a little high, but I think it was inflated by some of those long runs. But for the most part we did a good job defending the rush we got after Nussmeier, I said that that was a key, even though, you know, it seemed like his leg was going to fall off on one play and then the next play throws a dime 40 yards down the field, but whatever. But they created turnovers, created three turnovers and you know, you put yourself defensively in a position to win the game.
[00:07:21] Now the other side of that coin, the offense did pretty much everything possible to lose a game.
[00:07:32] I mean, I guess real quick we'll do a positive. That Matt Fuller run, that Matt Fuller run was incredible. And you thought that, okay, we're, we're winning the game here. And you know, because of the defense, that seven points really, you know, you were hanging in there at halftime too and then he disappeared.
[00:07:50] So that's going to lead into exactly what we're talking about here. This loss, in my opinion is on the coaches. This is 100% on the offensive coaching staff. And then by extension their boss, Shane Beamer. Why was Matt Fuller, Harry Houdini, he went for a couple of runs, he breaks the 70 yard touchdown, the best run we've had the entire year.
[00:08:15] And then he was basically never to be seen again.
[00:08:18] So you're just littered with head scratching decisions throughout the game. At the end of the game where you're trying to, the game is still on life support and it's the fourth down, the play call one on one curl that made no sense.
[00:08:38] First play of the game, you're under center. We're hardly ever under center. You get the bad snap, you put yourself in bad position. That made no sense.
[00:08:46] This team, the offense was simply ill prepared for this game.
[00:08:53] Coming off the bye week. I don't know how that happens, but you saw entirely way too many mental mistakes.
[00:09:03] I talked about going into this game, penalties were going to be key and if you can be, if you can limit the mental mistakes on offense pre snap, you're going to give yourself a chance.
[00:09:16] That did not happen. 13 penalties for 65 yards. That's atrocious.
[00:09:21] I think we talked about before this game how last year's matchup it was, I think 14 penalties and Shane Beamer said that's just entirely too many. Well, here you are with basically the same amount.
[00:09:33] And yes, there's the, there's the fake punt shaft of a penalty that made no sense.
[00:09:41] But aside from that, this was entirely South Carolina shooting ourselves in the foot and it just makes no sense. And it was like you would see the offense get a couple of drives where they were cooking, they were moving the chains. I did like to see that we were playing with a little more pace. I talked about that going into the game. They weren't going lightning fast, but a little bit more. And you saw it. But something happened when this team would get around midfield and it was like there was a force field up there that someone would just freak out and false start and then you're behind the sticks and then everyone would freak out that it was first and 15 and then everything would just go to hell.
[00:10:30] The mental mistakes, the pre snap penalties, it just not good.
[00:10:38] And then we talk about the offensive line and maybe there were a few good plays where they had a couple of clean pockets and they had a couple of good run blocks. You know, Sewell did get a couple. Obviously you had the Matt Fuller run, but Lenore for the most part had no time outside of the Matt Fuller run. There wasn't this massive run, you know what I mean?
[00:10:59] And so here we are again talking about the offensive line being ill prepared seemingly and having bad technique year after year after year.
[00:11:13] We talk about this, how the offensive line has just not developed despite there being highly recruited guys and returning starters on that line.
[00:11:24] So this game, to me, you know, you were in position to really make this a game, you know, 10, 10 to 7 going into the half and then it was 17 to 7 going into the fourth quarter. Like the game was with within striking distance because of the defense.
[00:11:44] And so for the offense to only put up three points after you get that big breakaway run is abysmal.
[00:11:53] And a lot of it is because you'd have these drives that were moving and then you'd have a just a drive killer penalty and then everyone would freak out.
[00:12:01] So, you know, yes, guys have to execute.
[00:12:07] But to me I'm looking at Shula and Teasley for this one because it seemed like they were just ill Prepared.
[00:12:16] And you, you know, there's a tough conversation that fans are starting to have about Shane Beamer.
[00:12:26] Because the fact of the matter is this.
[00:12:29] Y' all know, like, real quick, like, y' all know I'm a Beamer guy. I think most of the fan base still is, right? I think he is a good coach. I think the players like him. He's a good recruiter. He has a good culture in that, building all the things you want, right? But when you're not an X's and O's guy, you know, he was not an offensive defensive coordinator, and I'm okay with that. But when you're not an X's and O's guy and you can't lean back on one of those strengths to take over, you're judged by who you hire, right? And you tether yourself to these people.
[00:13:10] So when you have a coach and a position group like Teasley's, which hasn't progressed in years, you're killing yourself and you're hurting the team.
[00:13:22] When you have Sean Elliott in the building, you know, I mean, people talk about, you know, mid season shake up, mid season firings. I. I don't see that happening. You know, these guys work for months in the off season, and now we're halfway through the year. I don't see these guys making a big change, right?
[00:13:44] But then you look at Shula and, you know, I was fine with that hire. I thought it made sense to keep some continuity with Lenoris. He has the experience and everything like that, but clearly there's disconnects and I don't know, maybe there, you know, it's been a few years since he was actually calling plays. Like maybe that's rearing its head.
[00:14:06] And so you have two guys, major coaches, that Beamer has tethered himself to, and it's.
[00:14:13] It's questionable right now.
[00:14:16] It really is.
[00:14:18] You know, I just, you know, you look at the box score here. Matt Fuller was the leading rusher for South Carolina with 83 yards, seven carries.
[00:14:27] How does that happen?
[00:14:30] Like, all Kentucky game, it was clear he was the most effective runner.
[00:14:35] He has the best run you've had all year, and he has seven carries, and he had one or two before that long run.
[00:14:40] How does that happen? Like, yeah, like, Rasool had a couple of nice moments, and, you know, you're going into this year, se is your RB one. I get it, but you gotta. You gotta be able to shake this up here.
[00:14:54] Nick Harbor, 36 yards, two receptions.
[00:14:58] You know, it just. We just. There was no rhythm and Everything like that. And, you know, Lenore's made some good plays. You know, he. He had that escapability and he made some plays, but he had mistakes. You know, he's not immune to making mistakes. He's not immune to being open for criticism.
[00:15:19] You know, like, I understand you're not trying to take the bad sacks, but the intentional groundings were effectively the same. You know what I mean?
[00:15:30] And, yeah, I understand he's doing that because he's, you know, he's running for his life and things like that. But that's what I'm saying. Like, why can't we correct some of these things?
[00:15:40] Like, why are we still having the same conversation?
[00:15:43] You know, And I just think it's frustrating because we had multiple opportunities to take the lead in this game, you know, Multiple opportunities. This game was winnable. Like, this game was winnable. I understand that LSU has a really good defense, and you could point to that and say they have one of the better defenses in the sec. Like, what do you expect?
[00:16:06] Well, I would point to the fact that there were some extended drives, you know, and there were moments where South Carolina was moving the ball, and yet the second they got around midfield, it went sideways.
[00:16:25] And I think that's what's so frustrating, because it's not like it was a beat down. You know, you were. You were right there. And so it's so frustrating to see one side of this team seemingly be very well coached with everybody on the same page, you know, And I've. I've seen someone point this out where they. The defense seems like they really have taken on the personality of Clayton White.
[00:16:51] And when you listen to Clayton White's press conferences and you see him in action, he's disciplined, he's prepared, he knows his stuff.
[00:17:03] Motivated, like, all the things you want. And I think the defense plays like that. They really do play as a unit.
[00:17:11] And then offensively, you know, they're timid. And, you know, you can only get so much from press conferences. But you do see Shula in these press conferences, and he's, you know, he's a quieter guy. And, you know, you're going to be professional, these press conferences and things like that. But you see him on the sidelines. He's not fiery, you know, and it's just. I think the offense is just lacking an identity and they don't have one in their coach.
[00:17:42] And, you know, I've said it before, I hate comparing, like, different teams, you know, like last year's team to this year's team last year's. Team showed nothing but grit and fight.
[00:17:55] Even in losses, with the exception of, like the Ole Miss game, even in the losses, that team fought to the end and kept it close and never said when.
[00:18:07] I'm not seeing that in this year's team, you know, there's. There's not magic happening.
[00:18:15] And it's a problem because we're going to be underdogs.
[00:18:19] You know, we got, what, five games left. We're going to be underdogs and at least four of them.
[00:18:23] And so you're going to have to find a way to have some grit and heart and determination.
[00:18:29] You know, I mean, we've seen it in years past.
[00:18:32] Shane Beamer has pulled a rabbit out of his hat and won a couple of games that he shouldn't have. Has turned it on late in the year when the team seemed like they were stuck in the mud. So it's possible.
[00:18:46] But going off of what we've seen this year, I'm not confident in that.
[00:18:52] You know, there's a lot of season left. Like, I'm going to the Oklahoma game. I'm excited for that. But. But right now this team has bigger issues than.
[00:19:05] I don't know, this team has some big issues.
[00:19:08] Offensively, you have to figure out what the hell you're doing.
[00:19:13] And I don't know what that is. I don't know if it's a shake up and if you can have a different play caller. You know, like, something's got to give here, y'. All.
[00:19:26] It's tough. It's tough. So, yeah, so this is, this is a disappointing one and it's tricky. You know, I was talking about you got the four games between the buys and seemingly this was, in my opinion, looking at it on paper at least, was the most winnable.
[00:19:42] You know, I mean, Oklahoma got beat last weekend, but Texas has dudes. Matier is banged up, like, you know, like. But do you see Oklahoma losing two in a row now?
[00:19:55] I don't know.
[00:19:57] So that's it, really. It's just. It's a disappointing effort that we saw where you really got nobody to blame but yourselves. And a lot of the mistakes we saw, in my opinion, fall on this coaching staff.
[00:20:13] To not deliver in the big moments, to not have these guys ready to play with the mental mistakes and everything like that.
[00:20:22] So, like we do after every game, you gotta flush it as best you can.
[00:20:28] You're coming home this weekend. Finally, a little bit of an earlier kick and you see what you can do. You know, it's all we can. And you know, if we're gonna look at this still, like, putting LSU game aside, like, one good game could spark something with this team, because the. The talent is there, and I think that's why it's still so frustrating. Talent is there to. To do something here.
[00:20:53] So find a way to regroup.
[00:20:56] And let's see. You know, back half of the year, Shane Beamer's teams have tended to do well. We'll see if that can hold true once more. But with that, y', all, that wraps up this episode. Please follow me on social media, Twitter or X is Cox Gamecox.
[00:21:11] Instagram is just the name of the show. Cox Talking Gamecocks. And please, like, subscribe and review the podcast. I appreciate all y'. All. Go Cox.
