COLUMBIA -- Shane Beamer wanted this problem on Oct. 13.
Then, his South Carolina Gamecocks were 3-3 and everyone was discouraged. They had a win over Alabama, in Tuscaloosa no less, in their sights ... and let it slip away. That was on the heels of the only truly bad game USC has played all season, a 27-3 home loss to Ole Miss.
Another win over a then-ranked LSU team disappeared in the yellow flash of a referee's flag, and the 2024 Gamecocks were looking like a lot of other Gamecock teams -- coulda, woulda, shoulda had a strong season, but ... no.
Back then, Beamer would have at least strongly considered sacrificing a limb to do what he did this week. He would have loved at 3-3 to tell his Gamecocks to not overlook the next opponent, to not let its confidence get affected.
After four straight wins and a stellar season back in play, now he had to trot it out. He warned his players and everyone else to not overlook Wofford, a 5-6 team but one with four losses (and one win) against FCS Top 25 squads.
"It always starts with us and there is a lot for us to be better at," Beamer said. "As great as the last month has been and as good as Saturday night was, there is a lot for us to be better at in all three phases."
What to watch as USC looks to pad its chances for a nice bowl destination:
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Beamer preached about not overlooking any opponent, but that should be ingrained. When a program's closest chance at playing for a national championship slipped away 40 years ago due to a loss against a 3-5-1 team, any Gamecock should know that USC will never win a game before the kickoff due to the strength of its name.
None of these players were alive -- and many of the coaches couldn't yet grip a regulation football -- when Navy '84 became a thing. But it will forever serve as a reminder not to lackadaisically prepare for anybody.
New day
Beamer spoke about Wofford's pride and tradition of winning, and up until the COVID season, he was right. Mike Ayers retired in 2017 after 30 years and five Southern Conference championships, including a trip to the FCS semifinals, then Josh Conklin won two more league titles in 2018 and 2019.
Since then, it's been disastrous. The offensive system that made Wofford so feared -- the triple option -- is no longer the Terriers' staple. The current team likes to run the evolved spread option -- a lot of runs but much more passing -- and redshirt freshman quarterback Amari Odom has a big arm.
But he's also thrown as many interceptions as touchdowns (six) and in a loss to The Citadel last week, Wofford had less than 100 yards of offense in the second half.
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Some won't play this week due to injury (Brady Hunt). Some will probably be cleared to play but will sit out as a precaution (Judge Collier, Michael Smith).
Whoever plays in their stead has their chance this week. They can prove they're worthy of more playing time either next week, or as NFL and graduation ceremonies commence, next year.
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People discussed it after 3-3, because it was mathematically possible. Sure, the Gamecocks could win out and be 9-3.
They'd just have to do it against four ranked teams, with four games on the road, beat one team for the first time in six years and another for the second time ever. "Possible" does not mean "likely."
Yet here the Gamecocks are, two wins from doing just what they said they could. And a really, really, really good chance to do so.
Destiny and karma and all that stuff don't apply. It's just good, strong football. That will win these next two games, as it has the four before them.
As long as the Gamecocks don't lose sight of that, they'll be more peachy keen than that spot along I-85.
Prediction
South Carolina 44, Wofford 10