Kentucky thought it was ready to play South Carolina but instead the Gamecocks whipped UK 24-14. (Vicky Graff Photo)
During the summer coaches Mark Stoops of Kentucky and Shane Beamer of South Carolina seemed to throw a little shade at each other about the cultures of their programs and winning.
Both coaches insisted before last week’s UK-South Carolina game that it was no big deal. But was it?
After Beamer’s team upset listless Kentucky 24-14, the South Carolina coach and his players celebrated in the dressing room. Nothing wrong with that and Stoops has done the same with his team after big wins.
Beamer, though, even put on sunglasses and danced as a way to throw some shade back at Stoops based on comments the UK coach made at SEC Media Days.
On the SEC coaches teleconference Wednesday, Stoops got asked about Beamer’s celebration — a question he had to be expecting.
“It just makes me go back to being me and being very vanilla,” Stoops said. “I have been around 10 years and like to keep my head down, stay in my lane and do my job.”
“If I have something to say about Shane Beamer, I will say it (to him).”
Stoops said the Gamecocks “kicked our butt” and they did. He even admitted the South Carolina coach and players should have been dancing to celebrate the win.
“A lot of work goes into this. Players and coaches prepare. They came on the road and beat our butt and they should do it (dance),” Stoops said.
Beamer said he meant no disrespect for Stoops.
“I’ve got tons of respect for coach Stoops and his program and the way they do things,” Beamer said on the coaches teleconference. “My respect level for Mark and that program couldn’t be higher.”
He also said the two coaches had a “great” conversation with Stoops before the game and was just having fun with his team.
“As a head coach, you’re always looking for ways to find extra motivation for your guys each week,” Beamer said. “That was a joyous locker room, and we had a lot of fun in there.”
One Response
USC earned that right by a score of 24-14, enough said. From what I saw they wanted it more than UK. I think that Ole Miss loss the week before took the fire out of them, coupled with the loss of Levis’s services.
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