12/30/2023 0 Comments Beamer ball vineAggressive to say the least and maybe too aggressive at times (the offense threw a lot of interceptions and though not often, the defense could give up big plays in the passing game when it blitzed… see the Gator Bowl against LSU that year), but it was one of the more memorable seasons in program history.įast-forward to the Lou Holtz era. The Gamecocks ran the Run ’N Shoot on offense and Joe Lee Dunn ran a 3-3-5, blitz happy defense that earned the moniker Black Death. In what some consider to be Morrison’s second big year and one of the more talented teams in program history, 1987, South Carolina was cutting edge on offense and defense as well. They also had a knack for forcing mistakes/turnovers. Defensively, it was the “Fire Ants”… an aggressive, though somewhat undersized bunch, that got after the opposing offense and attacked. Raynard Brown’s touchdown on a second half kickoff return during Carolina’s 38-26 win against Florida State that year is one of the most iconic plays in program history, complete with the legendary Keith Jackson on the call for ABC in the nationally-televised contest. That team featured a strong running game and heroics in the passing game from quarterback Mike Hold and big play receivers. Morrison ran the veer in 1984, which was the best season in program history (10-2) until 2011 under Spurrier. That’s not to say there have not been other good seasons through the years or eras where the program spiked, but for the sake of debate, let’s look at these three eras and what each head coach was doing at the time scheme/plan wise on both sides of the ball. In my lifetime following South Carolina, there are three fun periods that stand out that featured plenty of winning and exciting games where you could head into a contest confident about both sides of the football and in many cases most of the special teams units. Based on recent performances on the field by the 2022 South Carolina football team, it’s a good time to take a look back in time and to look forward a bit when it comes to the Gamecocks program. “My players understood that and Shane's do, too.” ![]() “It's something we felt like could help us win,” Frank Beamer said. There are no secret documents or Ark of the Covenant filled with parchments detailing punt returns, two-point plays or gunner lanes stored away on family property, they say. Neither Beamer had the answer to the family's legacy of special teams success. They'll go for five straight on Saturday against Missouri (3-4, 1-3). It's worked so far for the Gamecocks, who haven't won four in a row since a six-game victory streak to close the 2013 season. “Coach (Shane) Beamer was a special teams coach, his dad was a big special teams coach, so we take that very importantly." “A lot of teams aren’t going to focus on special teams as much as we do,” tailback MarShawn Lloyd said after the win over Texas A&M. Lembo also might throw in a lecture about World War II or the Oscar-winning movie “Rocky” for his much younger players. Vann said Lembo, a head coach for 15 years at Lehigh, Elon and Ball State, schemes plays for his units just like offensive and defensive coordinators do. South Carolina receiver Josh Vann, who also returns punts, told his punt team rushers: “Y'all should stop blocking the kicks so I can get one back” to the end zone,' "he said. 29 and one more as the Gamecocks surprised then-13th-ranked Kentucky 24-14. There were two more blocked punts in a win over FCS opponent South Carolina State on Sept. 1 Georgia with the Gamecocks down 14-0 early in what turned into a 48-7 defeat. Two weeks later, punter Kai Kroeger threw a successful pass on fourth-and-long to keep a drive alive against No. The Gamecocks blocked two punts, both resulting in scoop-and-score touchdowns, in the season-opening 35-14 win over Georgia State. ![]() Legette's end zone to end zone dash on Saturday had the Gamecocks in front before many had settled into their seats at Williams-Brice Stadium and set the tone for what was South Carolina's first-ever victory against the Aggies. ![]() Just like at Virginia Tech, South Carolina's players have bought into the game's third phase, excelling at returns, blocking schemes and changing games. His son carried that into his first head coaching job with the Gamecocks and made sure to have his hands on special teams alongside the unit's coordinator, Pete Lembo. “They loved taking part on those teams for us,” Frank Beamer said. Soon enough, Virginia Tech starters were there on kickoff and punt returns as their coach counseled them being skilled on special teams might enhance their NFL chances. So he made sure he emphasized special teams and took part in meetings and practices. When Frank Beamer got to Virginia Tech in 1987, his early teams struggled and needed a game-altering identity the Hokies could get behind.
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