Well, trust cuts the deepest, huh? Just ask Dabo Swinney, who suffered a friendly fire loss from his own guy, Shane Beamer. We all know that the Clemson-South Carolina rivalry is fierce, yet their bond is strong — recall last season’s game, where South Carolina players nearly planted their flag on the Clemson paw. That, though, wasn’t the biggest snub. Nope, Beamer’s latest recruiting move for his son casually name-dropped Dabo in a way nobody saw coming.

Let’s get straight to the point: Just like Shane Beamer and Dabo Swinney, even Marcus Freeman shares a good bond with the Gamecocks HC. And sharing a snapshot of their recent meet on X, where Freeman, Shane, and his son Hunter Beamer are giggling with all happy, smiley faces. Coach Shane thought of spicing things up a bit. So, he put up an early recruitment battle announcement on a caption between South Carolina and ND saying, “BIG recruiting battle coming over the next 7 years for this young prospect!” 

Interestingly, Shane Beamer even decided who was going to be the winner, saying, “I think his mom will be key to the decision, so I like ⁦@GamecockFB’s chances. 🤙🏻😀” Even though it’s a fun, light banter, leaving Dabo Swinney is surprising as Shane Beamer’s son, Hunter, used to be a big fan of the Clemson HC.

Now, this fandom began during Beamer’s time coaching at Oklahoma, a considerable distance from the South Carolina-Clemson rivalry. Beamer even shared a video of Hunter excelling in flag football, throwing touchdowns, and expressing his desire to play for Swinney in the future. The admiration was mutual, as evidenced by a hug shared between Swinney and Hunter before a game last season. However, after South Carolina suffered a tough 30-0 defeat in 2021, Hunter’s enthusiasm for Clemson quickly waned.

Even Shane Beamer talked about that phase saying, “I think there’s still a good, healthy respect for Dabo. My son doesn’t like to lose. So he liked Dabo a lot better before we got beat last year,” But despite that Swinney still checks in on Hunter, and there’s no bad blood. But one thing is evident – the rivalry hit home quickly.

Plus, Shane even said how well Hunter made peace with it saying, “He realized pretty quick what this rivalry is about, so there’s a healthy respect, but the love fest, I think, isn’t what it was.” Turns out, nothing ends childhood fandom faster than a tough loss. But there’s an even bigger L waiting on the sidelines for Shane’s Gamecocks.

Dark clouds surrounding Shane Beamer’s Gamecocks

Now, Shane Beamer may be taking some time off the field, but there are some significant concerns when it comes to South Carolina’s performance. Despite finishing last season with a 9-game winning streak, including a victory over ACC champion Clemson, the Playoff committee still excluded the team. As they prepare for the 2025 season, SEC Mike has delivered a harsh reality check on That SEC Football Podcast. It appears that the Gamecocks may not be as ready for the playoffs as Beamer has suggested.

“We did, uh, you know, best players in the SEC. I got both those guys in my top four. But I’m a little worried. I mean, offensive production — pretty good — 54%. That’s nothing to be ashamed about. But then 45% on defense — they’re losing a lot on defense.” And he’s got a point. The Gamecocks suffered a major blow to their defense, losing more than half their production, including star edge rusher and Bronco Nagurski winner Kyle Kennard. That’s a tough position to replace.

Looking beyond the roster, their schedule last year did not showcase dominance. While victories against teams like Akron, Old Dominion, and Wofford were commendable, losses to Alabama and Ole Miss highlighted the gap between South Carolina and the top teams in the SEC. If Beamer wants his team to be taken seriously, they will need to secure statement wins that go beyond simply adding to their record and instead impact the College Football Playoff conversation.

However, let’s be honest, South Carolina still has a powerful team. Heisman hopeful LaNorris Sellers provides a dynamic quarterback, while elite edge rusher Dylan Stewart anchors a defense that ranked third in the SEC last season. As Cousin Shane pointed out, “I feel like South Carolina can move up this list; they’ve got a Heisman quarterback, and they’ve got one of the best defenses in the country.” Bold? Absolutely. But if Beamer’s team wants to turn things around, this is their opportunity.