In the better half of the last decade, an unexpected contender went on a rapid climb in NCAA women’s basketball. Anyone with surface-level knowledge of the scene would credit the rise to Geno Auriemma. After all, sitting at the mountain top with the most wins and highest winning percentage are the UConn Huskies. But here is the thing: Geno ain’t the one you should be looking out for. 3 national title wins since 2017 and a showdown underway in 2025: The Gamecocks have created quite the hype around themselves in the last 12 years, and 2 people have assisted in achieving this feat. Gamecocks HC Dawn Staley and a very unlikely candidate, aka Gamecocks CFB HC Shane Beamer.

Now, you might be wondering how on earth Beamer played a role in Gamecocks beaming past their competition? Well, Shane revealed it himself. “We won 6 straight 🏈 games last season when we started going to Waffle House before the game,” Shane Beamer shared on X, along with a sweet picture of his son, Hunter. Man, if Gamecocks fans knew that Waffle House is blessing South Carolina with easy wins, then CFB nation would be storming every single outlet.

Oh well, jokes aside, Shane has shown full support for Dawn and her roster, and we are pretty sure they can bring this one home. Why, you ask? Revenge, of course. If there is anything college football has taught us, it’s the fact that the recipe for a natty win is getting blown out first.

For Dawn and the Gamecocks, this is the redemption game. Back in February, when UConn and Gamecocks crossed paths, the Huskies hammered the team with a 29-point win. It was devastating but also shed light on UConn’s biggest weapons: Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong.

Both monsters come in late but are ALWAYS effective. If Dawn finds a way to counter that, then maybe South Carolina can slide in a mean right hook to secure the natty with a knockout. And while that narrative unfolds, let’s hope Beamer, here, finds a secret technique to save the Gamecocks CFB franchise as well.

Time’s are desperate for Shane Beamer

If there is anything last season 9-4 proved, it’s the fact that Beamer has some idea of what he is doing. But is it enough? With the 2025 conquest inching closer, Shane has to go up against some very familiar names. OU and Alabama at home, and then a trip to Oxford for Ole Miss.

This trifecta creates a rather harsh scenario for the HC. Lane Kiffin demolished the Gamecocks with a 27-pointer bloodbath, and while Beamer’s roster almost managed to turn the Tide in Tuscaloosa, the interception at Bama’s 47 cost them the game.

Now, in the next season, both Ole Miss and Alabama are going to be much MORE dangerous than their 2024 counterparts. Credit much of that to the roster changes and the new talent at quarterback. For Beamer? He still has to find the perfect link with his QB LaNorris Sellers. Unless that romance is properly established, Sellers will never end up amounting to even LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier.

Take out your wallets, Gamecocks fans. Time for a McDonald’s trip.