Gator Bowl Press Conference with coach Beamer, ND’s Freeman and team captains video included
Dec. 29, 2022 / ALL VIDEOS COURTESY OF USC MEDIA OUTLET
Beamer extolled the virtues of the bowl system and why it’s so important to his team, “I’m a bowl guy. I love bowl games and what they mean to college football …. The fact that we were 1-2 at one point and I was getting questions on if this team had given up and quit, and since that point, we’re 7-2 and they’ve earned the right to be here with the way they’ve played. We’re here to win a football game but we want them to have some fun and have a chance to finish the season the right way.”
This bowl season has been marked by opt-outs and news of the transfer portal, but the Gamecocks are zeroed in on the Irish. USC quarterback Spencer Rattler deflected questions about his future, instead keeping the spotlight on the game, “Our focus is what we can do to help this team tomorrow. All of us are going to sharpen it up today and roll into tomorrow confident and ready to go …. the last thing I want to do is talk about my decision. We’re focused on the game tomorrow, the task at hand.”
When pressed on why he chose to play in the Gator Bowl when so many others have turned their attention to the NFL or other opportunities, Rattler said, “It’s the right thing to do. You’ve put in all this work throughout the season. This is family. These are my brothers. Playing for Coach Beamer, we want to finish this thing out right for this season, with this team.”
The Gamecocks have exuded confidence throughout the week in Jacksonville, but are there enough playmakers left on the roster to knock off Notre Dame? Dakereon Joyner, the MVP of last season’s Duke’s Mayo Bowl in Charlotte, responded with an echo of Kai Kroeger’s rallying cry, “All we got is all we need.”
Gator Bowl Press Conference with coach Beamer
Head coach Shane Beamer spoke Thursday on the transfer portal’s effects on college football in the modern era, noting that he doesn’t let anyone play in the bowl game if they decide they wanted to leave the program. “In regards to entering the portal and playing, no I don’t let them (play),” Beamer said during his Gator Bowl press conference on Thursday. “Whether that’s right, wrong or indifferent, that’s just kind how I feel. To me, I don’t want someone who’s one foot in and one foot out.
“Frankly, we had a couple players on our team that entered the portal and asked me if they could enter the portal and still play in the bowl game and I told them no, that you’re either with us or you’re not. I don’t mean that in a negative way. I wish everyone well. But I don’t want somebody down here that’s already spending half their time thinking about where their next stop is and things like that.” The Gamecocks have lost nine scholarship players to the transfer portal since the regular season ended, with four of them major contributors. Beamer did not indicate which of those players asked to play in Friday’s bowl game.
There’s no rule against someone playing for their original team despite being in the transfer portal. Coastal Carolina QB Grayson McCall played for the Chanticleers in the Birmingham Bowl even after putting his name in the portal. Beamer on Thursday also noted that senior receiver Jalen Brooks will not play in the game due to an off-field issue.
ON MARSHAWN LLOYD?
It sounds like anyone expecting a reunion between running back MarShawn Lloyd and South Carolina can likely forget about it.
Asked generally about whether players who had entered the transfer portal had an avenue back into the program, if they so choose, Beamer was rather coy Thursday during his Gator Bowl press conference. “I think each situation is different. I’ll say this, the guys that are in the portal for us or have entered the portal, I tell them that I’ll help you in any way,” Beamer said. “...But I don’t continue to have contact with them where I’m texting them and calling them and asking them to come back.” A potential return for Lloyd has been a hot topic on social media and message boards in recent weeks.
“They entered the portal for a reason,” Beamer said. “If for some reason they want to reach back out and talk about coming back, we can have that conversation. But I haven’t had that with anyone yet, and I wouldn’t say I anticipate it this year either.” Lloyd entered the transfer portal on Dec. 12 after leading the Gamecocks in rushing this year. He finished the regular season with 573 yards rushing and nine touchdowns on 111 carries. His departure came on the heels of losing do-it-all tight end Jaheim Bell as well. With Lloyd sidelined due to a thigh contusion in games against Vanderbilt and Tennessee, Bell worked as the Gamecocks’ starting running back, finishing the year as the team’s second-leading rusher.
Dec. 29, 2022 / ALL VIDEOS COURTESY OF USC MEDIA OUTLET
Beamer extolled the virtues of the bowl system and why it’s so important to his team, “I’m a bowl guy. I love bowl games and what they mean to college football …. The fact that we were 1-2 at one point and I was getting questions on if this team had given up and quit, and since that point, we’re 7-2 and they’ve earned the right to be here with the way they’ve played. We’re here to win a football game but we want them to have some fun and have a chance to finish the season the right way.”
This bowl season has been marked by opt-outs and news of the transfer portal, but the Gamecocks are zeroed in on the Irish. USC quarterback Spencer Rattler deflected questions about his future, instead keeping the spotlight on the game, “Our focus is what we can do to help this team tomorrow. All of us are going to sharpen it up today and roll into tomorrow confident and ready to go …. the last thing I want to do is talk about my decision. We’re focused on the game tomorrow, the task at hand.”
When pressed on why he chose to play in the Gator Bowl when so many others have turned their attention to the NFL or other opportunities, Rattler said, “It’s the right thing to do. You’ve put in all this work throughout the season. This is family. These are my brothers. Playing for Coach Beamer, we want to finish this thing out right for this season, with this team.”
The Gamecocks have exuded confidence throughout the week in Jacksonville, but are there enough playmakers left on the roster to knock off Notre Dame? Dakereon Joyner, the MVP of last season’s Duke’s Mayo Bowl in Charlotte, responded with an echo of Kai Kroeger’s rallying cry, “All we got is all we need.”
Gator Bowl Press Conference with coach Beamer
Head coach Shane Beamer spoke Thursday on the transfer portal’s effects on college football in the modern era, noting that he doesn’t let anyone play in the bowl game if they decide they wanted to leave the program. “In regards to entering the portal and playing, no I don’t let them (play),” Beamer said during his Gator Bowl press conference on Thursday. “Whether that’s right, wrong or indifferent, that’s just kind how I feel. To me, I don’t want someone who’s one foot in and one foot out.
“Frankly, we had a couple players on our team that entered the portal and asked me if they could enter the portal and still play in the bowl game and I told them no, that you’re either with us or you’re not. I don’t mean that in a negative way. I wish everyone well. But I don’t want somebody down here that’s already spending half their time thinking about where their next stop is and things like that.” The Gamecocks have lost nine scholarship players to the transfer portal since the regular season ended, with four of them major contributors. Beamer did not indicate which of those players asked to play in Friday’s bowl game.
There’s no rule against someone playing for their original team despite being in the transfer portal. Coastal Carolina QB Grayson McCall played for the Chanticleers in the Birmingham Bowl even after putting his name in the portal. Beamer on Thursday also noted that senior receiver Jalen Brooks will not play in the game due to an off-field issue.
ON MARSHAWN LLOYD?
It sounds like anyone expecting a reunion between running back MarShawn Lloyd and South Carolina can likely forget about it.
Asked generally about whether players who had entered the transfer portal had an avenue back into the program, if they so choose, Beamer was rather coy Thursday during his Gator Bowl press conference. “I think each situation is different. I’ll say this, the guys that are in the portal for us or have entered the portal, I tell them that I’ll help you in any way,” Beamer said. “...But I don’t continue to have contact with them where I’m texting them and calling them and asking them to come back.” A potential return for Lloyd has been a hot topic on social media and message boards in recent weeks.
“They entered the portal for a reason,” Beamer said. “If for some reason they want to reach back out and talk about coming back, we can have that conversation. But I haven’t had that with anyone yet, and I wouldn’t say I anticipate it this year either.” Lloyd entered the transfer portal on Dec. 12 after leading the Gamecocks in rushing this year. He finished the regular season with 573 yards rushing and nine touchdowns on 111 carries. His departure came on the heels of losing do-it-all tight end Jaheim Bell as well. With Lloyd sidelined due to a thigh contusion in games against Vanderbilt and Tennessee, Bell worked as the Gamecocks’ starting running back, finishing the year as the team’s second-leading rusher.
