Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Kelly Nash Rock, come on the phone, Coach, Shame Beemer.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Hey, coach, Hey guys, great to be back on with you.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
I want you to know, have very placed. My bet
you're going to be the coach of the year. You
got the Eddie Robinson nomination Coach of the Year from
the Football Writers' Association. Congratulations, well deserved.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Now, thank you, very very humbling. And anytime you're up
for anyone and player coach is up for a major
individual award, it's because you're part of a great team.
And that's what I am. I'm blessed to be the
head coach and the leader of the program here. But
any success we're having is because of the amazing people
around me. But that's a really cool honor and very
(00:36):
surreal and humbling.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Coach Spurrier was the winningest coach in the first four
years of his career, and I think you've now passed
him by one game. I think he was twenty eight
and twenty two. You're twenty nine and twenty one.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
How does that feel surreal? As well? Just because of
the career. I mean, every time I go in that stadium,
I look up and I see his name on the
ramp for being the all time winning at coach and
somebody that gave me my opportunity here in Columbia. That's
a legend of college football. So we've got a lot
of work to do. We're just getting started. But pretty
cool to say that through four years as well.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
You mentioned the great team you have with your coaches
in particular, but also obviously with the players involved. But
then you got the other team that you're the head
of the team, of your family. And previously we talked
about some of the harshest critics you face were at
the breakfast table. How are you feeling around the breakfast
table these days, coach?
Speaker 2 (01:24):
They're good. Now that the student's over, they're able to
look back and really ramp up the criticism of some
of the games that we lost, criticism towards me of
some of the games that we lost.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Do you say, but it was the it was the refs.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
Man.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Oh well, they've got other complaints as well. So there's that.
And you know, we weren't sure what the Bold Destination
was going to look like, so I was getting all
kinds of criticism over the weekend when they had some
thinking that it might not be Orlando that was apparently
my fault as well. Oh so anytime you walk in
(01:58):
my house, you better be ready to take some criticism.
But they're great right now, excited to be going to
a great ball, excited about the way we finished the season,
and they've got to really work hard to find some complaints. Now.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Well, coach, you got them into the Citrus Ball, and
so everybody's excited to go to Orlando. I know you've
talked a lot this year. It seems more than I'm
used to you hearing talking about that experience of going
into Williams Brice and how that has been an advantage
for the game Cocks. Is this something that you're I
don't know. I know you're hopeful, but are you expecting
(02:28):
the Gamecock fans to show up and just kind of
turn that whole place garn it?
Speaker 2 (02:32):
I would hope. So they've done it all season here
in Columbia, and that's a huge part of our success,
the fact that we sold out every single home game
in Williams Brice Stadium this year, whether it be an
SEC game, whether it be a night kickoff, a noon kickoff,
whether it's against the Sun Belt team, an old dominion
mid American Conference team and Akron, a Southern Conference team,
(02:55):
and Walford. It didn't matter the opponent. Our fans showed
up and sold it out and made it a rocking
environment and was a huge recruiting tool for us with
all the recruits that we had on campus for games
this season. So thanks to them for that. And we're
not finished as a team, and I don't think they're
finished as a fan base. And what better opportunity or
what better place to go to than to have a
(03:15):
chance to go to some warm weather down in Florida.
And you know, outside the playoff, this is the best
bowl game out there. You know, it's the best of
the best in the SEC. To be able to go
down to some warm weather driving distance to Columbia if
you have kids, you know the theme parks down there
in Florida. I mean, there's just a lot of excitement
within our program about this game, and I know there
(03:36):
was a lot of excitement with game cognation about this game.
Two ranked teams going at it and an awesome environment
to be a part of. So yes, we absolutely need
to see tons of garnet and black all around central
Florida here at the end of the month, and in
the stadium on the thirty first, it'd.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Be great to see International Boulevard in Orlando completely covered
in garnet and black. And I know that this game,
as you mentioned, is the highest profile game outside of
the actual CFP, and we'll scratch our heads all the
way to Orlando trying to figure that one out. But
let's not look backwards on the rearview mirror. Let's look
forwards with that in mind. I know you're heavily involved
with the recruiting, but you have an entire staff to
take care of that as well. But this is going
(04:14):
to be an opportunity for use this momentum with this
playoff game in particular. Are there particular plans or persons
you have in mind when you're looking at the new
recruits or I know you always got to watch the
lite towards the transfer portal.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
It's a little bit of everything, obviously, you know. Right
now for us, there's the signing class that we just
signed earlier this month, which it's different this year in
college football because normally the signing day was closer to Christmas,
around December twentieth or so. It was earlier this year,
which I love. So those guys have already signed because
they've already signed. If they're graduating high school early and
(04:47):
going to be here in January, which the majority of
the class is, if they're able to get their academic
work done in school this week and next, they can
actually be a part of bowl practices and actually participate
in practice. Where for example, Cutter Woods, who's a quarterback
from Westside High and Anderson, he's playing for the state
championship this weekend, but he could realistically be practicing with
(05:09):
the South Carolina game Cocks next week potentially, So that's
an opportunity to get around our incoming freshmen. They'll all
be here in January for the most part to start school,
and then there was a signing period earlier this month,
but not everyone signs. So there's actually some high school
guys that we're still recruiting that we'll sign in February
that could be a possibility for us. And then right now,
(05:30):
obviously we're in the middle of the transfer portal. We
lose a lot of really really good players off this
year's team. We have a really good team coming back
next season, but we don't want to have to rely
on true freshmen at every single position. So there's certainly
some positions that we need to bring in some experience
and some depth at and that's what we're working on
right now with the portal. So there's a lot going
(05:50):
on the season ends, and people think it slows down
the season ends, and to me, it gets even busier
because of all the balls you're juggling in the air
in the month of December.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
Yeah. I remember one time coach Saban talking about how
there was like the day after he'd won the National
Championship and he was complaining about how much time he
had to give up to play the National Championship when
it came to recruiting.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Yeah, no, I get it.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
So you've got some incredible players that you mentioned are
going to be moving on, like Kyle Kinnard. Congratulations he
won some big awards, Nick m and Wari Are these
fellas do we know? Are they gonna play in the
Bowl game or are they just going to save themselves
for NFL stuff.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
They haven't told me that they're not, so I'm hoping
that means they are. Certainly, we have some guys that
have some decisions to make and don't understand that all
these guys they want to go compete, and they want
to go play, but there's also guys that make decisions
that they feel are best for them, and no one
has made a decision. We gave our guys some time
off this week and last week as well, just to
(06:53):
get away from things. Been a long year, refresh themselves
mentally and physically. Exams are going on at Carolina this
week and then we'll get back together and start practice
next week, so we have some time until they have
to make that decision. And certainly you're right excited about Kyle.
He won then Girsky Award up in Charlotte on Monday
night for the National Defensive Player of the Year. He's
(07:14):
a finalist for the Lombardi Award in Houston, Texas Wednesday night.
And then some other guys are going to be high
draft picks. So I know all of our guys want
to and be a part of the opportunity to compete
and go get a tenth win in Orlando. But they
all have some decisions to make as well, and like
I told them, we'll support them what they think is best.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
You know, Coach, we get excited whenever a South Carolina
player and you mentioned Cutter Woods, the phenomenal quarterback coming
out of Westside High School up in the Upstate. Maybe
he grew up as a Game Cog fan. Maybe he
just wants to stay in the state, maybe wants to
stay close to family. But you know, with the nil
on the transfer portal and all these other things coming down,
the introduced a lot of different challenges for coaching staffs
having to do with getting players to buy in. If
(07:54):
they don't come from a tradition of being a Game
Cog fan, or if they're not from our state, you've
got some time. Tis a lot of work, I would
assume to get a player to come in and be
a part of the program and then make a commitment
and help them stay in the program, because I know
a lot of programs like they claim that they don't
have to buy and trade their players. Well, so brand
new world in college football, we're going to have a
lot of that going on. What do you do to
(08:16):
try to create that atmosphere where it's like a family
to the extent where they don't want to give up
on their brothers.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Yeah, great question, And that's the big challenge for all
of us as coaches right now. For me and for us,
it starts in the recruiting process, whether it be coming
out of high school or if they're a potential transfer
coming in, making sure that they fit what we're about
and that they're going to fit into this program. And
(08:43):
we had transfers on campus last December and January that
were great players that we were interested in and they
were interested in us, But after getting to know them
and being around them a little bit more, we just
felt like, you know what, they're not quite going to
fit what we're about, and we ended up not taking
them and they went other places and had good years
this year, and that's okay. You know, we had some
(09:04):
guys last year that wanted to come here that they
wanted to be promised the starting job at their position,
and I wouldn't do that. We were about competition in
this place. So for us, trying to find guys that
are good people that love football and love to compete,
and if you do that, you got a chance to
be successful. And then once they get here, if you've
brought the right people in, once they get here, it's
(09:27):
really just you know, you rely on the leadership of
your team to make them understand this is how we
do things, and this is what we're going to be
about here at Carolina, and we had great leadership on
this year's team. And it's different because every year is
a new team and every year it's starting over. So
to me, the great teams in college football or any
sport are the ones that can come together as a
(09:49):
team the quickest between January and September when the season starts,
like who can jail and develop that chemistry the quickest.
And we try and be very intentional about the things
that we do sought our football building and outside our
football building as a team to facilitate that.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
I just saw a headline that says, Mike Shula with
Leonora Sellers equals Cam Newton? Is he gonna be as good,
if not better than Cam Newton? Is he going to
be our next Heisman Trophy winner?
Speaker 2 (10:15):
He's on the right track. I mean, he's a great
young man. He's an extremely talented player, and he works really,
really really hard. When I just describe get guys in
here that are great people that love football and love
to compete, that's Lenora's Sellers, and I think the sky's
the limit for him. And obviously he'll be the first
to tell you he's got a lot to improve on
and continue to get better at. And I know he's
(10:36):
got the work ethic to do that as well.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
He's the worth the price of admission for this ball game,
him by himself, plus Dylan Stewart plus the rest of
the crew. I'm so excited for what's going to happen
New Year's even Orlando.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Yeah, I saw him. We've got a lot of work
between now and then, but can't wait to get down.
They're going to be a great experience for our players
and great experience for our fans, and really really looking
forward to the opportunity.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
I had some great seats for the Carolina Clemson game.
Literally was waiting on the guy to come by to
see me popcorn. He was doing everything well. Coach. I'm
sad to hear that even when you're on a win
like you are, you got to show up in your
full paths because it gets a little crazy over there
with the family. But I'm glad to know you'll be
able to pack him up and taking to some sunshine,
especially this time of the year, down to Florida and
ready for you to come back. And oh, I'll go
(11:18):
ahead and tell you I'm gonna be collecting my money
soon because I made that bet you'll be the Eddie
Robinson Coach of the Year. I feel confident of it.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Well, I appreciate you saying that. Honored to be even
mentioned with so many great coaches and a legend of
the game and Eddie Robinson.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
We'll talk to you soon, coach. Happy holidays.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
Happy holidays to you guys. Thanks again,
Kelly Nash Rock, come on the phone, Coach, Shame Beemer.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Hey, coach, Hey guys, great to be back on with you.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
I want you to know, have very placed. My bet
you're going to be the coach of the year. You
got the Eddie Robinson nomination Coach of the Year from
the Football Writers' Association. Congratulations, well deserved.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Now, thank you, very very humbling. And anytime you're up
for anyone and player coach is up for a major
individual award, it's because you're part of a great team.
And that's what I am. I'm blessed to be the
head coach and the leader of the program here. But
any success we're having is because of the amazing people
around me. But that's a really cool honor and very
(00:36):
surreal and humbling.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Coach Spurrier was the winningest coach in the first four
years of his career, and I think you've now passed
him by one game. I think he was twenty eight
and twenty two. You're twenty nine and twenty one.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
How does that feel surreal? As well? Just because of
the career. I mean, every time I go in that stadium,
I look up and I see his name on the
ramp for being the all time winning at coach and
somebody that gave me my opportunity here in Columbia. That's
a legend of college football. So we've got a lot
of work to do. We're just getting started. But pretty
cool to say that through four years as well.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
You mentioned the great team you have with your coaches
in particular, but also obviously with the players involved. But
then you got the other team that you're the head
of the team, of your family. And previously we talked
about some of the harshest critics you face were at
the breakfast table. How are you feeling around the breakfast
table these days, coach?
Speaker 2 (01:24):
They're good. Now that the student's over, they're able to
look back and really ramp up the criticism of some
of the games that we lost, criticism towards me of
some of the games that we lost.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Do you say, but it was the it was the refs.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
Man.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Oh well, they've got other complaints as well. So there's that.
And you know, we weren't sure what the Bold Destination
was going to look like, so I was getting all
kinds of criticism over the weekend when they had some
thinking that it might not be Orlando that was apparently
my fault as well. Oh so anytime you walk in
(01:58):
my house, you better be ready to take some criticism.
But they're great right now, excited to be going to
a great ball, excited about the way we finished the season,
and they've got to really work hard to find some complaints. Now.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Well, coach, you got them into the Citrus Ball, and
so everybody's excited to go to Orlando. I know you've
talked a lot this year. It seems more than I'm
used to you hearing talking about that experience of going
into Williams Brice and how that has been an advantage
for the game Cocks. Is this something that you're I
don't know. I know you're hopeful, but are you expecting
(02:28):
the Gamecock fans to show up and just kind of
turn that whole place garn it?
Speaker 2 (02:32):
I would hope. So they've done it all season here
in Columbia, and that's a huge part of our success,
the fact that we sold out every single home game
in Williams Brice Stadium this year, whether it be an
SEC game, whether it be a night kickoff, a noon kickoff,
whether it's against the Sun Belt team, an old dominion
mid American Conference team and Akron, a Southern Conference team,
(02:55):
and Walford. It didn't matter the opponent. Our fans showed
up and sold it out and made it a rocking
environment and was a huge recruiting tool for us with
all the recruits that we had on campus for games
this season. So thanks to them for that. And we're
not finished as a team, and I don't think they're
finished as a fan base. And what better opportunity or
what better place to go to than to have a
(03:15):
chance to go to some warm weather down in Florida.
And you know, outside the playoff, this is the best
bowl game out there. You know, it's the best of
the best in the SEC. To be able to go
down to some warm weather driving distance to Columbia if
you have kids, you know the theme parks down there
in Florida. I mean, there's just a lot of excitement
within our program about this game, and I know there
(03:36):
was a lot of excitement with game cognation about this game.
Two ranked teams going at it and an awesome environment
to be a part of. So yes, we absolutely need
to see tons of garnet and black all around central
Florida here at the end of the month, and in
the stadium on the thirty first, it'd.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Be great to see International Boulevard in Orlando completely covered
in garnet and black. And I know that this game,
as you mentioned, is the highest profile game outside of
the actual CFP, and we'll scratch our heads all the
way to Orlando trying to figure that one out. But
let's not look backwards on the rearview mirror. Let's look
forwards with that in mind. I know you're heavily involved
with the recruiting, but you have an entire staff to
take care of that as well. But this is going
(04:14):
to be an opportunity for use this momentum with this
playoff game in particular. Are there particular plans or persons
you have in mind when you're looking at the new
recruits or I know you always got to watch the
lite towards the transfer portal.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
It's a little bit of everything, obviously, you know. Right
now for us, there's the signing class that we just
signed earlier this month, which it's different this year in
college football because normally the signing day was closer to Christmas,
around December twentieth or so. It was earlier this year,
which I love. So those guys have already signed because
they've already signed. If they're graduating high school early and
(04:47):
going to be here in January, which the majority of
the class is, if they're able to get their academic
work done in school this week and next, they can
actually be a part of bowl practices and actually participate
in practice. Where for example, Cutter Woods, who's a quarterback
from Westside High and Anderson, he's playing for the state
championship this weekend, but he could realistically be practicing with
(05:09):
the South Carolina game Cocks next week potentially, So that's
an opportunity to get around our incoming freshmen. They'll all
be here in January for the most part to start school,
and then there was a signing period earlier this month,
but not everyone signs. So there's actually some high school
guys that we're still recruiting that we'll sign in February
that could be a possibility for us. And then right now,
(05:30):
obviously we're in the middle of the transfer portal. We
lose a lot of really really good players off this
year's team. We have a really good team coming back
next season, but we don't want to have to rely
on true freshmen at every single position. So there's certainly
some positions that we need to bring in some experience
and some depth at and that's what we're working on
right now with the portal. So there's a lot going
(05:50):
on the season ends, and people think it slows down
the season ends, and to me, it gets even busier
because of all the balls you're juggling in the air
in the month of December.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
Yeah. I remember one time coach Saban talking about how
there was like the day after he'd won the National
Championship and he was complaining about how much time he
had to give up to play the National Championship when
it came to recruiting.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Yeah, no, I get it.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
So you've got some incredible players that you mentioned are
going to be moving on, like Kyle Kinnard. Congratulations he
won some big awards, Nick m and Wari Are these
fellas do we know? Are they gonna play in the
Bowl game or are they just going to save themselves
for NFL stuff.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
They haven't told me that they're not, so I'm hoping
that means they are. Certainly, we have some guys that
have some decisions to make and don't understand that all
these guys they want to go compete, and they want
to go play, but there's also guys that make decisions
that they feel are best for them, and no one
has made a decision. We gave our guys some time
off this week and last week as well, just to
(06:53):
get away from things. Been a long year, refresh themselves
mentally and physically. Exams are going on at Carolina this
week and then we'll get back together and start practice
next week, so we have some time until they have
to make that decision. And certainly you're right excited about Kyle.
He won then Girsky Award up in Charlotte on Monday
night for the National Defensive Player of the Year. He's
(07:14):
a finalist for the Lombardi Award in Houston, Texas Wednesday night.
And then some other guys are going to be high
draft picks. So I know all of our guys want
to and be a part of the opportunity to compete
and go get a tenth win in Orlando. But they
all have some decisions to make as well, and like
I told them, we'll support them what they think is best.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
You know, Coach, we get excited whenever a South Carolina
player and you mentioned Cutter Woods, the phenomenal quarterback coming
out of Westside High School up in the Upstate. Maybe
he grew up as a Game Cog fan. Maybe he
just wants to stay in the state, maybe wants to
stay close to family. But you know, with the nil
on the transfer portal and all these other things coming down,
the introduced a lot of different challenges for coaching staffs
having to do with getting players to buy in. If
(07:54):
they don't come from a tradition of being a Game
Cog fan, or if they're not from our state, you've
got some time. Tis a lot of work, I would
assume to get a player to come in and be
a part of the program and then make a commitment
and help them stay in the program, because I know
a lot of programs like they claim that they don't
have to buy and trade their players. Well, so brand
new world in college football, we're going to have a
lot of that going on. What do you do to
(08:16):
try to create that atmosphere where it's like a family
to the extent where they don't want to give up
on their brothers.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Yeah, great question, And that's the big challenge for all
of us as coaches right now. For me and for us,
it starts in the recruiting process, whether it be coming
out of high school or if they're a potential transfer
coming in, making sure that they fit what we're about
and that they're going to fit into this program. And
(08:43):
we had transfers on campus last December and January that
were great players that we were interested in and they
were interested in us, But after getting to know them
and being around them a little bit more, we just
felt like, you know what, they're not quite going to
fit what we're about, and we ended up not taking
them and they went other places and had good years
this year, and that's okay. You know, we had some
(09:04):
guys last year that wanted to come here that they
wanted to be promised the starting job at their position,
and I wouldn't do that. We were about competition in
this place. So for us, trying to find guys that
are good people that love football and love to compete,
and if you do that, you got a chance to
be successful. And then once they get here, if you've
brought the right people in, once they get here, it's
(09:27):
really just you know, you rely on the leadership of
your team to make them understand this is how we
do things, and this is what we're going to be
about here at Carolina, and we had great leadership on
this year's team. And it's different because every year is
a new team and every year it's starting over. So
to me, the great teams in college football or any
sport are the ones that can come together as a
(09:49):
team the quickest between January and September when the season starts,
like who can jail and develop that chemistry the quickest.
And we try and be very intentional about the things
that we do sought our football building and outside our
football building as a team to facilitate that.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
I just saw a headline that says, Mike Shula with
Leonora Sellers equals Cam Newton? Is he gonna be as good,
if not better than Cam Newton? Is he going to
be our next Heisman Trophy winner?
Speaker 2 (10:15):
He's on the right track. I mean, he's a great
young man. He's an extremely talented player, and he works really,
really really hard. When I just describe get guys in
here that are great people that love football and love
to compete, that's Lenora's Sellers, and I think the sky's
the limit for him. And obviously he'll be the first
to tell you he's got a lot to improve on
and continue to get better at. And I know he's
(10:36):
got the work ethic to do that as well.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
He's the worth the price of admission for this ball game,
him by himself, plus Dylan Stewart plus the rest of
the crew. I'm so excited for what's going to happen
New Year's even Orlando.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Yeah, I saw him. We've got a lot of work
between now and then, but can't wait to get down.
They're going to be a great experience for our players
and great experience for our fans, and really really looking
forward to the opportunity.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
I had some great seats for the Carolina Clemson game.
Literally was waiting on the guy to come by to
see me popcorn. He was doing everything well. Coach. I'm
sad to hear that even when you're on a win
like you are, you got to show up in your
full paths because it gets a little crazy over there
with the family. But I'm glad to know you'll be
able to pack him up and taking to some sunshine,
especially this time of the year, down to Florida and
ready for you to come back. And oh, I'll go
(11:18):
ahead and tell you I'm gonna be collecting my money
soon because I made that bet you'll be the Eddie
Robinson Coach of the Year. I feel confident of it.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Well, I appreciate you saying that. Honored to be even
mentioned with so many great coaches and a legend of
the game and Eddie Robinson.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
We'll talk to you soon, coach. Happy holidays.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
Happy holidays to you guys. Thanks again,
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If you eat, sleep, and breathe true crime, TRUE CRIME TONIGHT is serving up your nightly fix. Five nights a week, KT STUDIOS & iHEART RADIO invite listeners to pull up a seat for an unfiltered look at the biggest cases making headlines, celebrity scandals, and the trials everyone is watching. With a mix of expert analysis, hot takes, and listener call-ins, TRUE CRIME TONIGHT goes beyond the headlines to uncover the twists, turns, and unanswered questions that keep us all obsessed—because, at TRUE CRIME TONIGHT, there’s a seat for everyone. Whether breaking down crime scene forensics, scrutinizing serial killers, or debating the most binge-worthy true crime docs, True Crime Tonight is the fresh, fast-paced, and slightly addictive home for true crime lovers.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
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If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.