‘We’re making sure we’re going to a bowl game.’ USC optimistic at reaching 6-win mark
Zacch Pickens says South Carolina football is taking that sixth win as a challenge.
Sitting at 5-5 for the 2021 season, the Gamecocks have two chances to earn a single win needed for bowl eligibility with final home games against Auburn and Clemson. Pickens, a third-year veteran along USC’s defensive line, was assured the Gamecocks would reach the mark when speaking with reporters Tuesday.
“One of the things that we’re trying to send our seniors and older guys with is a bowl game,” Pickens said. “That’s one thing we’re gonna give them.”
First-year head coach Shane Beamer inherited a South Carolina program that went 2-8 in 2020 and hasn’t appeared in a bowl since the 2018 season, when the Gamecocks were shut out 28-0 by Virginia in the Belk Bowl.
Preseason pundits estimated South Carolina would win three or four games, but the tune seemed to change when the Gamecocks earned their fifth win in a 40-17 rout of Florida. Running back Kevin Harris said a bowl berth could hush the doubts further.
“I think this year, people look down on us,” running back Kevin Harris said Tuesday. “I think getting to a bowl game would make everybody kind of be quiet a little bit.”
Last week, South Carolina made it on bowl projection lists, with national media predicting possible trips to Birmingham or Tampa. In a Nov. 9 press conference following the Florida win, Beamer said he worked to ease the enthusiasm and keep the Gamecocks focused ahead of their trip to Missouri.
“We addressed it briefly this morning, that every time you think about getting bowl eligible, stop,” Beamer said the week before Missouri. “Just think about, at that moment, what you’ve got to do to prepare to play your very best against Missouri. ... It’s a whole process-and-result thing. Let’s not think about the result on Saturday, it’s the process during the week to prepare ourselves.”
South Carolina ended up falling 31-28 to Missouri last Saturday in what was it’s most likely chance to clinch a bowl berth, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index. Beamer said Tuesday he was hopeful the Gamecocks would find ways to win against both Auburn and Clemson, but repeated his message of taking one day at a time.
Still, Beamer can’t deny the perks of postseason play.
“Obviously, I think it would be great for the young men in this program to be able to have that kind of season and be rewarded with a bowl game,” Beamer said. “From a developmental standpoint, it would be huge for us as coaches because it gives you kind of an extra spring practice in December. It’d be great for our fan base as well.
“But regardless of what happens in regards to (a bowl), I think we’ve done enough really good things this year with the direction of this program and where we’re headed, the type of young men we have in this program and what we’re about has been evident. Obviously, the opportunity to continue to win football games and continue to advance would be great.”
Pickens said he’ll give his full effort to get the Gamecocks to that bowl opportunity.
“I don’t know what we’re gonna have to do — we’re gonna put all our chips on the table,” Pickens said. “We’re gonna do it. We’re making sure we’re going to a bowl game.”
South Carolina hosts Auburn at Williams-Brice Stadium for a 7 p.m. kickoff this Saturday. The game will be televised by ESPN.
This story was originally published November 17, 2021 at 5:00 AM with the headline "‘We’re making sure we’re going to a bowl game.’ USC optimistic at reaching 6-win mark."
