COLOMBIA – Shane Beamer remains one of the top candidates to be South Carolina’s next football coach, but no offers have been made and no announcements are imminent.
Sources close to the situation said on Sunday afternoon that “definitely not” is an official offer at the table, although several conversations between Beamer and USC chiefs have gone well. Beamer was formally interviewed for work on Friday.
As to how it went, the source said Beamer feels very good about where he is in relation to work.
Virginia Tech legend son Frank Beamer, Shane Beamer, 43, was born in Charleston and was a 2007-10 USC assistant. He also helped at several SEC schools and is currently Oklahoma’s assistant chief coach for the attack.
USC continues the interview process for all of its candidates, although the Post and Courier previously reported that sports director Ray Tanner wants to have a decision by December 5.
Gamecocks (2-7) will end their regular season in Kentucky on the same day.
One candidate who could receive a face-to-face interview this week is Louisiana coach Billy Napier. Another major candidate for the position, Napier was unable to do so last week due to the hiring of COVID-19.
Napier recovered and returned to his team for a 70-20 rout against Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday. The Ragin ‘Cajuns are in Appalachian State on December 5th. After that, they will play Coastal Carolina (and coach Jamey Chadwell, who was also interviewed for the job at USC) on December 19 at the Sun Belt Championship Game.
USC President Bob Caslen may also want to participate in face-to-face interviews with candidates, but he cannot do that after he tested positive for COVID-19 last week. He can still conduct business at the university via videoconference, and his approval will be required before a contract can be made.
Caslen and Tanner fired coach Will Muschamp in the middle of his fifth season on November 15, after he compiled a 28-30 record.
Follow David Cloninger on Twitter @DCPandC.