Sports

Shane Beamer Rejects Cheating Accusations After Contentious Win Over Tennessee

#College Football
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Shane Beamer rejected cheating rumors linked to a win over Tennessee.


The South Carolina football team knocked off Tennessee at home on Saturday night, 27-24. The Gamecocks won on a last second field goal to pick up a second straight SEC victory.

It was a game the Volunteers feel they should’ve won. They had 21 points wiped from the scoreboard.

The offense had three touchdowns called back by penalties. The first came in the first quarter with the Vols trailing 14-0. An illegal shift wiped out a 35-yard score.

Tennessee would find the endzone a few plays later, so it didn’t turn out to be costly. The subsequent penalties, however, would be.

Tennessee had 12 penalties vs. South Carolina.

The second foul came in the third quarter. It was an alignment issue. Tennessee later punted.

In the fourth quarter, a holding call negated a third touchdown. Rather than go up 28-17, the Vols settled for a field goal. It allowed South Carolina to tie the score a few drives later.

Though each call appeared to be correct, quarterback George McIntyre was visibly frustrated.

Tennessee fans were quick to point out that referee David Smith was on the field for those calls. He is an Alabama grad and former Crimson Tide signal caller. A conspiracy theory was formed.

Interestingly enough, Smith was also on the field for Tennessee’s last game at Williams-Brice Stadium. That game, too, was clouded with controversy.

The Gamecocks wore wristbands.

Tennessee was a College Football Playoff contender in 2022 when making a trip to Columbia. A win would’ve all but locked up a postseason invite. The Vols were embarrassed, 63-38.

The Gamecocks‘ defense wore wristbands for the first time all season. It was a move made to counteract the Vols’ high-powered hurry up attack. It didn’t necessarily work as Tennessee racked up over 500 yards of offense. South Carolina’s offense did most of the damage.

That did not stop the Vols from accusing the Gamecocks of cheating. Fans alleged that Shane Beamer was given Tennessee’s signals by Michigan amid the Connor Stalions sign stealing scandal. They claim that the Wolverines were looking to eliminate the Vols from the postseason in order to make their own path easier.

Josh Huepel brought the game up to his team before his latest loss. The fanbase has not let the conspiracy theory die. After knocking Tennessee off on Saturday, Beamer rejected the cheating rumors in a fiery postgame presser.

South Carolina defensive coordinator Clayton White stirred the pot with a post on social media.

South Carolina denies cheating against the Vols in 2022. It won the game fair and square. That was again the case on Saturday in the 27-24 victory. Tennessee missed out on a win because it shot itself in the foot. It has only itself to blame for each of those setbacks.