The elder Beamer used special teams as a cornerstone of turning a moribund Virginia Tech program into a consistent force. Pete Lembo: Roundly considered one of the top special teams coaches in the sport, who built Memphis into a fearsome unit and was a former successful head coach.įrank Beamer: Not an on-staff coach, but a presence with the program who was in the building on Saturday.

Also a former Gamecocks special teams coordinator. Shane Beamer: The heir to the tradition of Beamer Ball, his father’s philosophy that big special teams plays change games. It’s a big point of emphasis and pleased with what they did.Ĭonsider for a moment the trio of folks in or around the Gamecocks program. “They’ve bought in and we spend a crazy amount of time on it,” Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer said. Williams added a partial block later in the game, and something that’s the new head coach’s legacy seemed to pay off. The Gamecocks coaching staff loaded up on special teams expertise this offseason. South Carolina linebacker Debo Williams’ move of knocking an offensive lineman into the punter, ball and all, on Saturday night night didn’t follow that path, but it was nonetheless effective. South Carolina was penalized eight times for 61 yards, including a holding call that nullified a 65-yard-touchdown run and an offside call that eliminated an interception.The usual technique to block a punt involved shooting arms out at the ball, running through a point but not into the kicker. South Carolina: One way the Gamecocks didn’t look like Beamer Ball were all the flags. They drop to 0-2 against Southeastern Conference teams. “It was fun to watch all the backs tonight,” White said.Įastern Illinois: The Panthers fall to 6-37 against Football Bowl Subdivision teams and last beat one in 2016 with a 21-17 win over Miami of Ohio. The three main Gamecocks running backs shared 36 carries. ZaQuandre White had 12 carries for 133 yards and a touchdown and also led the Gamecocks with four catches, including a 10-yard touchdown that made it 29-0 just before halftime. He’s just very cool, calm, collected, confident, poised,” Beamer said. “I didn’t even worry once about the quarterback. He threw for five TDs last season n seven games at North Dakota State. Noland was 13-for-22 for 121 yards and four touchdowns. “It just hits different in the SEC,“ said Noland, who played high school football in Georgia. Beamer asked Noland to turn in his whistle and grab pads and a helmet a few weeks ago. Noland got that chance Saturday when expected starter Luke Doty sprained his foot in fall practice and couldn’t play in the opener. Noland came to Columbia this spring to be a graduate assistant after playing seven games for North Dakota State in a season delayed to spring 2021 because of COVID-19.Ĭhris Katrenick was 13-for-22 for 78 yards and Tyler Hamilton caught five passes for 32 yards for Eastern Illinois. We want to have that mentality,” Shane Beamer said.īeamer, 44, brought joy and enthusiasm to a team that had lost six in a row and 11 of its past 14 games - at least for a night and against a Football Championship Subdivision opponent.īeamer won his opener with an unusual quarterback. You have the ability to score on offense, defense or special teams no matter who is on the field. “People talk about Beamer Ball - that’s what it was. The Gamecocks version of Beamer Ball blocked two punts, picked off two passes with one going back for a 61-yard touchdown, ran a successful two-point trick play with the kicking team on the field after their first touchdown, converted all three fourth downs it tried including a fourth-and-goal from the 3, had two sacks and hit hard. He promised “Beamer Ball” just like his dad Frank Beamer played at Virginia Tech and his team delivered, holding the Panthers (0-2) to 109 yards and getting its first shutout in 13 years, It was the debut for South Carolina coach Shane Beamer. (AP) - South Carolina coach turned quarterback Zeb Noland threw for four touchdowns on 13 completions as the Gamecocks beat Eastern Illinois 46-0 on Saturday night.

Beamer ball