Shane Beamer Seeks Clarification from SEC After Controversial Calls in Loss to LSU
South Carolina head football coach Shane Beamer is calling for answers after a string of controversial calls in the Gamecocks’ narrow 36-33 loss to LSU on Saturday. The fourth-year coach reached out to John McDaid, the SEC’s coordinator of football officials, seeking clarification on multiple penalties that Beamer believes played a critical role in the outcome.
The Gamecocks were flagged 13 times for a total of 123 yards during the contest, including three penalties that Beamer singled out as significant. Notably, two pick-6 touchdowns by South Carolina were negated due to penalties on edge rusher Kyle Kennard.
One such penalty occurred in the first quarter when O’Donnell Fortune intercepted LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. Kennard was flagged for a horse-collar tackle on Nussmeier, wiping out the turnover and giving the ball back to LSU. Beamer later stated that his coaching staff believed Kennard had grabbed Nussmeier’s shoulder pad, not the collar.
In the fourth quarter, a 100-yard pick-6 by Nick Emmanwori was also nullified after Kennard was penalized for unnecessary roughness on Nussmeier during the return. Despite gaining possession, the Gamecocks lost the potential game-winning score.
Another questionable flag came on an offensive pass interference call against Mazeo Bennett. The penalty wiped out a 43-yard gain, despite Bennett being nowhere near the ball or the intended receiver. This drew criticism from broadcasters Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit, who expressed disbelief at the ruling.
Beamer, clearly frustrated, mentioned that he had also contacted South Carolina athletic director Ray Tanner, who has engaged the SEC office in discussions about the officiating. Beamer expressed his dissatisfaction, not only with the controversial penalties but also with the officiating crew’s decision not to call taunting on LSU after South Carolina missed a last-second field goal attempt.
“Having said that, we didn’t do enough to win the game,” Beamer admitted in his press conference, emphasizing that despite the officiating issues, his team must take responsibility for the loss.
While the SEC may review Beamer’s concerns, the chances of the league overturning the calls or changing the result are slim. Typically, the best the Gamecocks can hope for is clarification or an apology from the SEC.
As for Beamer’s outspoken critique of the officiating, it could potentially draw scrutiny from the SEC. Public comments criticizing officiating have, in the past, led to fines or reprimands for coaches under the league’s conduct policies. As of now, the SEC has not issued any formal sanctions against Beamer, but it remains a possibility as the league reviews the situation.
Beamer and the Gamecocks will look to bounce back from the loss as they prepare for their next matchup, knowing that, for now, the outcome against LSU remains unchanged.
