COLUMBIA, S.C. — College football programs across the landscape are dotted with various analysts who have been limited in what they could do due to NCAA rules.
But a recent rule passed by the NCAA Division I Council will allow any staff member to provide instruction during practice and games.
That means someone with the pedigree of Mike Shula would be allowed to provide intensive instruction to Gamecock quarterbacks.
The son of the late Don Shula who left the game as the NFL's all-time winningest coach, the younger Shula is a former Alabama quarterback and head coach. His NFL stops include stints with the Carolina Panthers as offensive coordinator and most recently, an an analyst with the Buffalo Bills.
Beamer and Shula have known each other since the time Shula was Alabama's head coach from 2003-2006 and when Beamer was at Mississippi State from 2004-2006. Both are sons of legendary head coaches and that comradery has led to Shula coming back to the SEC.
“You start talking about bringing (Shula) in and you look at his background and what he was able to do with Cam Newton and the Panthers when they went to the Super Bowl,” Beamer said at SEC Media Days,
“[as well as] some of his work with Josh Allen and what Buffalo has done with Josh Allen being a big body that can run and throw both. He’s been great, been a guy that has helped Dowell Loggains in our offensive staff room a lot.
“You’re talking about a guy that has called plays in the SEC and called plays in the NFL in his career. So he’s been a welcome addition to our staff and brings a lot of great ideas to the staff."