What Does History Say About How Beamer's Third Season Could Unfold

History can be memorable, but sometimes not. How have previous Head Coaches managed in their 3rd year over this South Carolina football program?

The University of South Carolina has had some memorable coaches, including Lou Holtz, Steve Spurrier, and others. Coach Spurrier is the all-time leader in school history for wins with 86, and the late Joe Morrison led the 84' Gamecocks to a memorable 10-2 record, as season remembered best by the Gamecock faithful as the year of "Black Magic." How well has history treated the third season for these former head coaches?

Will Muschamp

In Muschamp's third year, the Gamecocks took a turn for the worst after having a great year in 2017 which witnessed the team go 9-4—Muschamp's third year started the inevitable downfall of his head coaching tenure, going 7-6, with a rather embarrassing loss in the Belk Bowl against Virginia, being shut out 28-0.

Steve Spurrier

Despite the success he accumulated throughout his tenure, Steve Spurrier didn't have much in his third year, going 6-6 during the season and not making a bowl game. There were highlights, however, such as beating the No. 11 Georgia Bulldogs and No. 8 Kentucky Wildcats.

Lou Holtz

Coach Holtz has by far had the most successful 3rd year of the former coaches listed in this piece, going 9-3 in 2001. Coach Holtz steadily improved from his first year, where the Gamecocks went 0-11, to his third season, beating three Top 25 teams, Georgia, Mississippi State, and Ohio State, the latter of which took place at the Outback Bowl

Joe Morrison

After leading the Gamecocks to a 10-2 record in 1984, Coach Morrison's team took a step back in his third year, going 5-6 and not making a bowl game.

While history may not be on the side of head coach Shane Beamer, the Gamecock faithful may not have to worry. Coach Beamer has recruited at a much higher level after the Gamecocks finished 80th in recruiting in 2021, landing just 13 high school commits. The buy-in, coach Beamer, has also gotten these young athletes to commit to has not gone unnoticed. History and records are always meant to be broken, and Shane Beamer may break through that "3rd-year curse" stint for the Gamecocks. 

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