Updates will be in this post. Just have to refresh.
--Team is back on campus, and just wrapped up a team meeting before practice starts Friday.
--"Talking season is over. It's real."
--Mentions his family is ready to get things started and to see how he does. Jokes his son told him to "try to not get fired this year."
--Fan energy is bleeding over and creating a lot of excitement around the facility.
--Commends Luke Day on the progress he and his staff made over the course of the summer. Said players put in a lot of effort and came together as a team and players really got better. They're entering the "fourth quarter" of the offseason, which is training camp.
--Because coaches typically get some time and walk-through meetings with players in the summer they're further ahead than where they would be in years past.
--Really excited to start and players feel great from a physical standpoint and feel stronger/healthier.
--Everyone is "here and accounted for" outside of Isaiah Norris. He's finishing up some course work over the next 48 hours but will be on campus soon.
--Bam Scott is still a little hampered and finishing up some things from a physical standpoint and should be fully cleared at some point soon. Jakai Moore didn't do anything in the spring and looks "great in the summer." He's not 100 percent cleared to practice yet. Patrick Reedy is out for now. Kevin Harris had a minor back procedure and looks great and moves around great but is not fully cleared yet. He's "on track" and feels really good physically but needed to get some things cleaned up. They expect him to be ready game one. Cam Smith aggravated his foot about a week ago, had a simple procedure to get it to where he could function. He will be out as practice starts but they expect him ready for Sept. 4. None of the injuries aren't considered long term.
--Wants to build the program through competition and will instill that through practice.
--Players aren't happy about what happened the last few years from an on-field standpoint and Beamer senses a desire to have guys wash that feeling out of their mouths this season.
--Talking about culture, said he wants people to feel love, trust, accountability, toughness, etc. If guys do those over and over again that builds culture. He wants to earn players' trust. It's about consistency about doing that day in and day out in building what the program is about.
--Aaron Sterling had a "fantastic summer" and really committed to getting in shape. Trey Adkins earned the scholarship and didn't get complacent in the weight room. He was one of the "most consistent guys day in and day out." MarShawn Lloyd "trained like a man who hasn't played in a year." In terms of groups that took strides, Beamer mentions the receiver group being hungry with a chip on their shoulder and "they worked like that this summer."
--Asked about defensive back, said it's about putting those guys in as many situations as you can. They now have more bodies they can have work on two different fields so they can actually maximize reps. They can get a lot of guys reps now. He drilled into his staff this morning to not going into the spring with any preconceived notions. Have to get guys reps at a few different spots. They're not allowed to have two-a-days but will have walk-throughs daily outside of practice.
--Beamer joked he woke up at 4:15 this morning and couldn't go back to sleep so he just came into the office. Jokes at Oklahoma he was excited but just needed to remember his position meeting and practice times but now he has a little more on his plate.
--Team will have position meetings and team meetings tonight before practice starts tomorrow.
--Asked about vaccination rates, mentions they talk to players about making good decisions outside of the building specifically about COVID and staying safe and then on the flip side staying out of trouble. They have "enough guys on track for their second shot that once they get that second shot we'll be well over the 85 percent."
--Installation is a big key for the next month and they really want to develop some depth. Said defensive back they'll have some guys cross train at different spots. They're going to have to rely on everyone. Then they're trying to create as many tough situations as they can in practice from a mental and physical standpoint. Said to grow players have to be a little uncomfortable. They want to create those in August so players aren't fazed by those this season.
--Said the support around the city towards the program has been great. Mentions plenty of people have told him they've bought season tickets for the first time. They've welcomed his family throughout the state. He feels the energy wherever he goes and it's "been even more amazing than I can put into words. Everywhere I got there's excitement."
--How much has Shane Beamer thought about him being the guy calling the shots from a game plan perspective in games this season? "A lot." Said he thinks about what he would do. Beamer records college football games and thinks about those as if he was a head coach.
--Met with some of the guys entering their final seasons at South Carolina and made it clear this isn't a "two to three year rebuild where this season is a wash." Said that's not fair to them and they want to work to send the guys in their last year out the "right way." Wants what he calls the "super seniors" to know how important they are. They all have leadership roles and the staff wants them to be the guys leading the group.
--Said he and Lincoln Riley haven't talked yet about Oklahoma joining the SEC. Said they've been insanely busy but they plan to talk soon.
--Asked about his sideline presence during games, Beamer says, "me." Mentions what you see is what you get and he's a pretty energetic guy. He doesn't want to be someone else on game day, but he wants to be in control knowing he sets the tone. "I'm going to be locked in but I want to have a heck of a lot of fun."
southcarolina.rivals.com
