South Carolina’s season is already hitting the meltdown button, plain and simple. After blowing a 17-0 lead at home to Kentucky and losing 35-34 in overtime, the Gamecocks are now sitting at a brutal 0-3 in the SEC. Remember, the league’s preseason Media Days pegged them for 11th, but this kind of start after a 4-8 season and two losing records in three years? That’s just rough.
Beamer’s Struggles Mount With Player Drama
It’s not just the on-field collapses either. The team’s best player, defensive end Dylan Stewart, a projected Top 10 NFL Draft pick, is suspended indefinitely. He punched an Alabama player last week and reportedly had altercations with the South Carolina coaching staff. Beamer himself says he’s the one who will decide when Stewart returns, but for now, their top talent isn’t even with the team. That’s a mess. Shane Beamer’s now 35-33 in five-plus years there, and with the way things are going, that record isn’t exactly a job security blanket. The big kicker, though? His buyout is approximately $24 million, and he’s under contract through 2030. That’s a massive price tag if South Carolina decides to move on, but you have to wonder how much more of this they can take.
Who Could Be Next For South Carolina?
So, if South Carolina does pull the trigger, who could step into this pressure cooker? A few names are already making the rounds. Buster Faulkner, Florida’s offensive coordinator, is a hot name right now with how good the Gators’ offense looks. He was Georgia’s QB coach from 2020-2022 and spent three years as OC at Georgia Tech. He’s 45 but has never been a head coach, so that’s a question mark.
Then there’s Charles Huff, who’s already 4-1 in his first season at Memphis. This guy knows how to turn a program around; he took Southern Miss from 1-11 to 7-5 in just one season and won the Sun Belt at Marshall in his fourth year. He even got Marshall to upset Notre Dame 26-21 in his second season after leaving Nick Saban’s Alabama staff. That’s a resume. Shannon Dawson, Miami’s offensive coordinator since 2023, also has an offense that’s been top five in the nation in scoring in two of the last four seasons. He’s 49 and a Louisiana native, but like Faulkner, he’s never been a head coach. Jason Eck at New Mexico is another one to watch. He went 9-4 last year in his first season, matching the school’s best record since 1982. He played offensive line at Wisconsin and was previously the head coach at Idaho for three years.
South Carolina faces a huge decision here. With the season spiraling and their best player gone, do they ride out the $24 million contract, or do they decide it’s time for a new direction? Whatever they choose, it’s going to be a wild ride.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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