How South Carolina’s Head Coaching Affects Georgia’s Football Program

How South Carolina’s Head Coaching Affects Georgia’s Football Program

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How South Carolina’s Grand Opening Affects Georgia’s Football Program

On Sunday night, South Carolina changed coach after separating from Will Muschamp. Gamecocks had started 2-5 this year and the wheels had come loose on the defensive side of the ball, as they had conceded 159 points in the last three games.

The decision to leave Muschamp has several repercussions on the college football scene. A new technical team will be hired, which affects a variety of programs across the country.

But the opening of an annual opponent, and an opponent that Georgia has routinely recruited for the past few seasons, has had a significant impact on the program. With Muschamp no longer in South Carolina and the Gamecocks still on Georgia’s 2020 schedule, the change will already have an impact on Georgia this season.

The 2020 game

The game against South Carolina was defined as a revenge game for the Bulldogs in 2020, given the 20-17 defeat in Athens last season. Muschamp’s victory was sweet, as he is a former student of Georgia and his friendship with Kirby Smart.

Smart was asked about Muschamp on Monday and South Carolina’s decision to part ways with him.

“It is part of our business. They both know and understand this, ”said Smart. “I respect them both (Will Muschamp and Mike Bobo) as coaches and as friends. They know as well as I do when you enter this profession, it’s a possibility that it will happen ”.

Before the Bulldogs and Gamecocks meet, they both have opponents this weekend. South Carolina faces Missouri, while Georgia is expected to host the state of Mississippi. Smart added that he is really focused only on the state of Mississippi right now, not looking forward.

But the game against South Carolina looks somehow even better now that Muschamp is out. That’s because Bobo is South Carolina’s acting coach.

Mike Bobo

Georgia fans know Bobo very well. He played as a quarterback at school and then served as a quarterback coach and offensive coordinator for the Bulldogs under Mark Richt.

Bobo was an easy target for criticism, but at the end of his stay in Athens, he became one of the country’s best call center players. His attack in 2014 led the SEC to score 41.3 points per game and he was then hired to be Colorado State’s head coach.

After a 28-35 record over five seasons in Colorado State, Bobo returned to the SEC to work as an offensive coordinator in South Carolina. His previous coaching experience has undoubtedly made him the top candidate for the interim position. Gamecocks have games against Missouri, Georgia and Kentucky remaining on the lineup.

Bobo was introduced as the team’s interim coach on Monday and a press conference took place later.

“I think my biggest job is morale, preparing these guys to play, playing for each other and for South Carolina,” said Bobo. “I will probably be more active with morale, talking to the kids today and talking to them individually about where their heads are and making sure that we are emotionally ready to go to this game.

“Our job as coaches and teachers is to show them how you conduct your business and work when things are not ideal. We are not in an ideal moment, we are not in an ideal situation, but we still have a job to do ”.

Like Muschamp, Smart is Bobo’s friend. The game seems to be one of the most interesting iterations of that rivalry in recent seasons.

Especially because of the possible motivation Bobo may have to show what he can do as an interim head coach in South Carolina. The school’s sports director, Ray Tanner, said on Monday that the next head coach of the program will be offensive.

“It is important that we can get an attack-oriented situation or maybe a fantastic coordinator to move the needle in that capacity,” said Tanner. “The other things we had, with passion and dedication. You just want to find the right person. You want the guys to have fun. It is much more fun when you are winning. “

Possible substitutions

So, who fits that description? Some names came up immediately. The most prominent is that of Hugh Freeze.

Freeze is now the head coach of Liberty, where he led Flames to an 8-0 record this season, with wins over Syracuse and Virginia Tech. He has experience as a head coach at the SEC since his time at Ole Miss and has several victories over Nick Saban.

But Freeze also comes with a ton of luggage after his departure from Ole Miss. He also recently signed a contract extension with Liberty. Would he return so quickly to the first big job offer he could get?

Freeze was asked about the opening on Monday.

“I have been honest with them and our government here in saying that it would take something very, very special for me to even consider leaving here – and I mean that,” said Freeze. “I have no idea if anyone would like to speak to me, and that’s okay, I’m at peace with that. So I am happy where I am and in complete peace. “

If South Carolina fails to land on the Freeze, some of the other names that have come up include Louisiana-Lafayette coach Billy Napier, Coastal Carolina coach Jamey Chadwell and Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Joe Brady.

There is also a name with some ties to Georgia that has been released and that is Shane Beamer. He is the son of legendary Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer, but he has an impressive track record as a coach. In addition to working as a sharp-tipped technician with Smart in Georgia and Lincoln Riley in Oklahoma, he also worked in South Carolina as a defense assistant to Steve Spurrier from 2007-10.

His school background and ties to Spurrier could make him an interesting hire in Arkansas, bringing back Sam Pittman. Whoever South Carolina comes to hire, will have a big challenge on their hands.

In addition to playing in Georgia, Florida, Texas A&M and Clemson annually, Gamecocks now have a 2022 appointment, 5-star quarterback Gunner Stockton. And keeping you committed will help you get started successfully.

Gunner Stockton

Like Bobo, keen Georgia fans know who Stockton is. He is the best-placed double threat defender in the country for the 2022 cycle and the number 27 player overall in the 247Sports Composite ranking.

Stockton defeated Georgia quarterback Brock Vandagriff in 2021 earlier this year, showing off his arm and legs in victory. And the Bulldogs ended up as runners-up for Stockton when he committed to Gamecocks earlier this year.

Related: Gunner Stockton: The next day, the 5-star QB chose South Carolina

Stockton’s recruitment will obviously be one of the most interesting in the coming weeks and months. If Georgia successfully tries to beat him, what will that say about the team’s belief in Vandagriff? And if Stockton remains committed to South Carolina, what will that mean for the future of the South Carolina program?

In any case, it must be fascinating to watch this recruitment battle unfold again in the coming months.

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