COLUMBIA, S.C. — Back in August, no one in the Carolina camp thought it would have just two wins when October ended but that is where the Gamecocks currently stand.
Saturday's 30-17 loss at Texas A&M marked Carolina's fourth consecutive loss. The next chance for that next win is Saturday when Jacksonville State comes to Columbia in a battle of the Gamecocks.
For head coach Shane Beamer, practices have been energetic and productive, not the easiest accomplishment when the players can see many of their goals disappear with each passing loss.
"Does it suck on Sunday coming in here after a loss. Yeah. Does it really stink being 2-6 right now? Yes. Are our guys still excited to come out here and work each day in practice and be with one another? Yes. Because there is nothing like being on a team and being in a locker room with guys and having that togetherness," Beamer said at his Tuesday news conference.
"Whether it is in the locker room, in the meeting room, those memories, those moments. Certainly, we have four guaranteed games left and hopefully a fifth one after that. We are going to make the most out of every single day. Our guys are going to be excited about coming into this building each and every day. You would have thought we were playing for the freaking Super Bowl the way we practiced out there today. It is because we have great kids. I love coaching them and have their backs and we have each other’s backs. Know the real fans out there understand that as well. We are not proud of the record, certainly. I am proud as hell of the kids in this program and proud to be their coach and can’t wait to have four more guaranteed games with them and see if we can be a better team than we have been these first eight games.”
Kickoff against Rick Rodriguez's Gamecocks is set for high noon Saturday.