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South Carolina head football coach Shane Beamer threw some subtle shade the way of his dad’s former program ahead of the 2024 season opener. He trolled the Hokies for their tiny crowds compared to those of the Gamecocks!
Beamer, who attended Virginia Tech from 1995-1999, had some fun at his alma mater’s expense on Tuesday.
The Gamecocks open the year with Old Dominion, a team that’s been a frequent flyer to Blacksburg over the last decade. The Monarchs, who moved up to the FBS in 2014, have played in Lane Stadium three times over the last seven seasons.
They’ve also hosted Virginia Tech on two occasions and will do so again in 2024.
Old Dominion has gone 2-3 against the Hokies in that time, though it’s lost each of the three matchups in Blacksburg.
Keen on that series history, Shane Beamer decided to choose violence in his midweek press conference.
“This will be the biggest fan base Old Dominion has ever played against.”
-Shane Beamer (via Jordan Kaye on X)
Williams-Brice Stadium holds 77,559 according to the Gamecocks athletic website. Lane Stadium, meanwhile, seats 65,632.
Technically, Beamer’s not wrong!
South Carolina announced a sellout for the season opener against Old Dominion as it looks to kick off the year with a win.
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The crowd should be the largest the Monarchs have ever played in front of.
Outside of Virginia Tech, Old Dominion’s traveled to visit other ACC programs NC State, North Carolina, Wake Forest, and Virginia. None outrank the Gamecocks in terms of stadium size.
Shane Beamer hopes that the crowd will have something to cheer about when the game kicks off. South Carolina is looking to improve upon a 5-7 output from a year ago, though it’ll have to do so with a new starter under center.
Old Dominion enters as a three-touchdown underdog, though they’ve knocked off the big boys before. Beamer will look to avoid joining his dad’s old school as P4 programs to fall victim to the Monarchs!