** One of the key factors that South Carolina is considering in hiring its next coach is someone that values building a culture and has the ability and plan to follow through with that. Part of building that culture will be to try and help bridge the gap between the current program and the former players.
With that in mind, Ray Tanner held a Zoom call with 90+ former players on Saturday afternoon to not only give them an update on how the search is going (in general terms) but to also open up a dialog about their beliefs about what the important qualities are in a future head coach.
We're told that the former players were able to submit questions to Tanner and that it was a very productive meeting. Multiple players have expressed that it was appreciated and is a positive step in the right direction for the future of the program.
** While the effects of COVID on athletic departments across the country was believed to be a deterrent from coaching changes that would have otherwise taken place this season -- and South Carolina was the first Power 5 school to pull the plug -- there are rumblings around the coaching community about other jobs potentially opening up.
Is the South Carolina move the domino that emboldens other programs to potentially do the same?
One potential job opening that's had coaches talking this weekend is the Virginia Tech job, which interestingly enough was last open at the same time as Carolina's last coaching search.
Justin Fuente, an early name for Carolina's first search that never got much traction past that, is on the hot seat and VT got drilled by Pitt on Saturday.
The buzz we have heard from multiple industry sources is not only that the job could open this offseason but also that, if it does, that Beamer will be a candidate there. The Hokies higher-ups have no doubt taken notice of the Gamecocks' interest in Beamer.
Just something else to keep an eye on as the search carries on over the next couple of weeks.
** Meanwhile, in Knoxville, Jeremy Pruitt's seat has gone from him sitting on an ice pack to scorching hot. The Vols have lost five conference games in a row by double digits for the first time in school history, and multiple SEC sources tell us that there are considerations of a change. More than one person believes that if Tennessee loses to Vanderbilt on Saturday that it will be the end.
That is one job with which there could be some carryover with South Carolina's search. Most prominently, we would not be surprised - if Tennessee does move on - if Billy Napier comes up for that gig as well.
** Here’s a familiar name we have heard has involvement in the search: former Gamecock defensive lineman Chris Rumph. The Orangeburg native has coached at multiple SEC programs, plus Clemson and Texas, and is currently with the Houston Texans in the NFL.
Interestingly, Rumph is someone who could also surface on a coaching staff, depending on the candidate, in Columbia once a hire is made as well. We don’t get the sense that he’s high in the pecking order at this juncture for the head coaching position.
*** We have also been informed that Florida offensive coordinator Brian Johnson is a candidate that has been discussed by the administration. Gators head coach Dan Mullen has gone to bat for him, and Johnson was even asked in a media setting about the job.
We do not believe he’s among the upper echelon of candidates for the position, however.
*** One of our most recent updates mentioned that, while his actual candidacy for the position does not appear strong, that it would not be a surprise if South Carolina spoke with Army coach Jeff Monken due to his ties with university president Bob Caslen, who hired him at West Point.
We do understand that Monken, who also came up for the Missouri job when it was open last year, is interested in the South Carolina job. He’s also pitched, according to what we’ve heard, the following: transitioning from an option style to a pro-style system (we've heard Boise State's offensive coordinator as a preference for him) in Columbia, and making an effort to reunite with former Army defensive coordinator Jay Bateman. The aforementioned Caslen thinks quite highly of Bateman, from our understanding. At this time, we still do not believe to be Monken a leading candidate in this process.
** South Carolina has been progressing as planned in terms of meeting with candidates, and others are set for this week.
One candidate we have told you about is West Virginia’s Neal Brown, but our earlier reports indicated that we were not quite sure yet as to his level of interest. To double back to him, we do expect Brown to be one of the coaches to speak with South Carolina this week about the job, so there’s at least enough interest there to listen.
With that in mind, Ray Tanner held a Zoom call with 90+ former players on Saturday afternoon to not only give them an update on how the search is going (in general terms) but to also open up a dialog about their beliefs about what the important qualities are in a future head coach.
We're told that the former players were able to submit questions to Tanner and that it was a very productive meeting. Multiple players have expressed that it was appreciated and is a positive step in the right direction for the future of the program.
** While the effects of COVID on athletic departments across the country was believed to be a deterrent from coaching changes that would have otherwise taken place this season -- and South Carolina was the first Power 5 school to pull the plug -- there are rumblings around the coaching community about other jobs potentially opening up.
Is the South Carolina move the domino that emboldens other programs to potentially do the same?
One potential job opening that's had coaches talking this weekend is the Virginia Tech job, which interestingly enough was last open at the same time as Carolina's last coaching search.
Justin Fuente, an early name for Carolina's first search that never got much traction past that, is on the hot seat and VT got drilled by Pitt on Saturday.
The buzz we have heard from multiple industry sources is not only that the job could open this offseason but also that, if it does, that Beamer will be a candidate there. The Hokies higher-ups have no doubt taken notice of the Gamecocks' interest in Beamer.
Just something else to keep an eye on as the search carries on over the next couple of weeks.
** Meanwhile, in Knoxville, Jeremy Pruitt's seat has gone from him sitting on an ice pack to scorching hot. The Vols have lost five conference games in a row by double digits for the first time in school history, and multiple SEC sources tell us that there are considerations of a change. More than one person believes that if Tennessee loses to Vanderbilt on Saturday that it will be the end.
That is one job with which there could be some carryover with South Carolina's search. Most prominently, we would not be surprised - if Tennessee does move on - if Billy Napier comes up for that gig as well.
** Here’s a familiar name we have heard has involvement in the search: former Gamecock defensive lineman Chris Rumph. The Orangeburg native has coached at multiple SEC programs, plus Clemson and Texas, and is currently with the Houston Texans in the NFL.
Interestingly, Rumph is someone who could also surface on a coaching staff, depending on the candidate, in Columbia once a hire is made as well. We don’t get the sense that he’s high in the pecking order at this juncture for the head coaching position.
*** We have also been informed that Florida offensive coordinator Brian Johnson is a candidate that has been discussed by the administration. Gators head coach Dan Mullen has gone to bat for him, and Johnson was even asked in a media setting about the job.
We do not believe he’s among the upper echelon of candidates for the position, however.
*** One of our most recent updates mentioned that, while his actual candidacy for the position does not appear strong, that it would not be a surprise if South Carolina spoke with Army coach Jeff Monken due to his ties with university president Bob Caslen, who hired him at West Point.
We do understand that Monken, who also came up for the Missouri job when it was open last year, is interested in the South Carolina job. He’s also pitched, according to what we’ve heard, the following: transitioning from an option style to a pro-style system (we've heard Boise State's offensive coordinator as a preference for him) in Columbia, and making an effort to reunite with former Army defensive coordinator Jay Bateman. The aforementioned Caslen thinks quite highly of Bateman, from our understanding. At this time, we still do not believe to be Monken a leading candidate in this process.
** South Carolina has been progressing as planned in terms of meeting with candidates, and others are set for this week.
One candidate we have told you about is West Virginia’s Neal Brown, but our earlier reports indicated that we were not quite sure yet as to his level of interest. To double back to him, we do expect Brown to be one of the coaches to speak with South Carolina this week about the job, so there’s at least enough interest there to listen.
