By: Joseph Stuckey

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

This past Saturday, the South Carolina Gamecocks accomplished 1 goal, and that was to buy Shane Beamer a few more weeks to save his job.

Coming into this season, I don’t know if anyone’s seat was hotter than Shane Beamer’s in Columbia. The start to this season has also not been helpful, as the Gamecocks’ only wins were against Kent State and FCS opponent Towson. They already had losses against Mississippi State, Alabama, and Kentucky.

Things did not look great for Beamer as the Gamecocks headed to The Swamp in Gainesville to take on the #16-ranked Gators this past Saturday.

However, strong quarterback play from Lanorris Sellers and the Gamecock defense forcing field goals out of Florida led to the upset victory.

Coming off of last year’s season, they started off great with 2 wins out of the gate, including one over Virginia Tech in the Aflac kickoff game. After that, the Gamecocks would only find 2 more wins and finish 4-8.

Their only SEC win last season was against Kentucky; they also lost their rivalry game to Clemson at home.

So, a 4-8 season last year and already 3 SEC losses this season had a lot of people thinking a loss this past Saturday could end Beamer’s time in Columbia. However, with this victory over the Gators, it may have bought him some time to turn things around.

The Gamecocks now have a week off before they welcome Josh Heupel’s Tennessee Volunteers to Williams-Brice Stadium on 10/24.

After that, they finish out their SEC slate @Oklahoma, vs. Texas A&M, @Arkansas, and they will finish their SEC slate welcoming the current #1 team in the country, the Georgia Bulldogs, on 11/21.

They will finish the regular season with a trip to Death Valley to take on Clemson in what could potentially be the last Palmetto Series rivalry game featuring both Shane Beamer and Dabo Sweeney.

Personally, I see the Gamecocks winning 3 of their remaining 5 SEC games, thus getting to bowl eligibility at 6-5 before heading to Clemson.

The good thing for the Gamecocks is the 3 tougher remaining SEC games are at home, and if they can pull off a victory in 1 of the 3 and pick up road wins against Arkansas and Oklahoma, the Gamecocks could find themselves heading to bowl season.

However, will a trip to bowl season be enough to keep Beamer in charge next year, especially if they lose to Clemson to end the year?

I see it going 1 of 2 ways: first, if the Gamecocks win 3/5 in SEC play and then beat Clemson, and win a bowl game to get to 8-5, that would be a great year for the Gamecocks and allow Beamer to start fresh next year with some momentum.

However, if they only win 2 of their remaining 6 and don’t make a bowl game, I think Beamer’s time is done.

I think the fuse is pretty short; if they lose their next 3, with 2 being home games, I think he is out, even with Georgia and Clemson still looming on the schedule.