Spurrier expresses confidence in Gamecocks' starting quarterback
The Post and Courier
Tommy Beecher, who is scheduled to start at quarterback for the Gamecocks, draws a crowd Sunday during South Carolina's Media Day.
The Post and Courier
South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier
COLUMBIA - Every time Steve Spurrier opens his mouth about Tommy Beecher, something more definitively confident spills from the South Carolina coach's lips.
He'd surprisingly named the fourth-year junior the starter back in the spring and stuck to his guns all summer about Beecher's worth.
Sunday, during his media day address, Spurrier repeatedly called Beecher "The Man."
And he said he doesn't think Beecher is just a short-timer at the position, simply a place-holder for someone else.
He's sees Beecher as the quarterback of the present and near future for USC. At least as long as he can hold the title.
"I'm anticipating he'll be our starter for two years," Spurrier said.
Earlier in the day, Spurrier more modestly set the entirety of 2008 as a goal for Beecher.
"I told him he's going to have every opportunity to be the quarterback the entire year, barring injury or what have you," Spurrier said. "He's going to get every chance. It'd take an awful lot of bad play, which I don't anticipate, to get him out of there. He's the guy."
Lapping even more praise on Beecher, who has thrown all of 23 passes in his USC career, Spurrier compared him to some pretty elite quarterbacking company.
First, it was the mobility of Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel, a Heisman candidate this year.
Then, it was former Florida quarterback Danny Wuerrffel, the 1996 Heisman winner working with Spurrier.
Later, it was former Florida QB Rex Grossman, a Heisman finalist.
Last month, Spurrier said Beecher has some of the same physical tools as Shane Matthews, an All-SEC performer who was Spurrier's first quarterback at Florida.
Hyperbole much? Maybe, but take this away from it all: It's obvious Spurrier is sure about Beecher. Even if his first season in the pilot's chair is a few weeks away.
"Tommy's our quarterback. I think everybody realizes he gives us the best shot," Spurrier said. "He's looked the best out there. He's had a good summer working out with the guys. He's accepted the role as the starter.
"Some people say he's the man. He's our starting quarterback. It's important that everybody has confidence in the starting quarterback. That's just a fact."
While much of the quarterback talk a year ago centered on Blake Mitchell, now gone, and Chris Smelley, now No. 2, Beecher waited beyond the spotlight's range. He said that was a good thing.
"A lot of people expect people to come into college and start right away," said Beecher, a native of the Charlotte area. "It's been a great opportunity to be here for three years and watch everyone play a little bit. I could become accustomed to coach Spurrier's system."
But that changed this spring, when Beecher was promptly handed the keys to Spurrier's offense.
Beecher felt surer of himself leading summer workouts and voluntary passing drills.
"I think it was a good opportunity," he said. "I think the players, knowing that, looked at me differently."
They agreed.
"He's definitely taken more of a leadership role than he did last year," fullback Pat DiMarco said. "I guess knowing Spurrier felt that way really got to him, made him understand he had to step up a little bit."
Beecher said he felt a little strange walking on the practice field Friday for the team's first workout of preseason camp. The spotlight was on him for the first time since he quarterbacked Concord High to a state title.
"I hadn't been in that position in a while," Beecher said. "I think the players will get more and more confident in my ability. I think the coaches will get more and more confident in my ability.
"Hopefully one day coach Spurrier will know he made a good decision."
Reach Travis Haney at thaney@postandcourier.com and check out the new South Carolina blog at charleston.net/blogs/gamecocks/.
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Comments
BlackMagic84 (anonymous) says...
Spurrier saying he is confident in Beecher is really kind of silly. If the head coach of a football team is not confident in the guy at QB, then he hopefully would be putting in another guy. Spurrier is known for swapping out QBs so it is nothing new. Spurrier is trying to build up Beecher's own confidence since he was the 3rd string guy last year. Just hope Beecher gets his act together or it will be a long year. The NC State Wolfpack are coming to town and they have a good chance of kicking the Gamecock's rear.
August 4, 2008 at 8:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JAMJOH (anonymous) says...
nc state having a good chance of beating us? your crazy. obviously you haven't attended any of the practices because if you've seen beecher play, you would know why spurrier is so confident in him.
August 4, 2008 at 8:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Chanticleer (anonymous) says...
From the 2008 Garnet and Black Game:
Beecher, meanwhile, was 9-for-20 for 131 yards and a score to go with his three interceptions.
August 4, 2008 at 9:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yeayea (anonymous) says...
Put Reid in!
August 4, 2008 at 10:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lou9 (anonymous) says...
Yeah, Beecher will be the starter until he has one bad quarter and then Spurrier will put in someone else and call him the starter, just like he always does. Spurrier waffles worse than Obama.
August 4, 2008 at 10:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
OldSalt (anonymous) says...
Now see here! I've taken a lot of crap on this website from Gamecock haters, but putting S.O.S. and B.O. in the same sentence is beyound the pale. You go too far, sir!
August 4, 2008 at 11:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TAR1 (anonymous) says...
SOS names a starter, he doesn't pan out he gets benched.
TB names a starter who struggles all year (06 season) and will not bench him while an all acc first teamer sits the bench. who seems stupid now?
August 4, 2008 at 11:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
notafan (anonymous) says...
yeayea- you obviously drank too much greenwave kool aid. Reid will never see the field at Carolina. He is not a legit Div I QB. The only reason Spurrier offered him a scholarship was for the outside chance that AJ Green would follow.
You probably think McKissick walks on water too.
August 4, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yeayea (anonymous) says...
Obviously you drank too many wine coolers. Reid will see the field eventually. Not anytime soon. "Put Reid in" will be my motto as long as he's my friend. AJ Green was a committment of Georgia's since 2005, Reid got offered 2007. So that means Spurrier waited around for 2 years to offer AJ's QB a scholarship in hopes of swaying a 2-year committed AJ Green to South Carolina? WRONG! Reid is a legit D-1 QB, and McKissick doesn't walk on water, he walks on like 540 victories.
August 4, 2008 at 2:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rebel1 (anonymous) says...
for those puttykat fans who say sos will pull him if he doesnt cut it,and say thats flip flopping. I say thats sos job. Of coarse he could be like tammy who wouldnt know talent if it ran into him. Thats what happens when you get a coaching job because your last name is bowden. 10 years at puttykat u with nothing to show for it. maybe this year,big rec class, easiest sch in the nation, and playing in the avg coast conf.
August 4, 2008 at 3:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
notafan (anonymous) says...
I am glad he is your friend but he won't play in Columbia. He is not that accurate of a passer. AJ and Gilliard made Reid look ten times better than he is.
If McKissick is so mighty why would he not let the football players by a "M" on their helment in rememberance of Louis Moulkey? Probably because their was no benefit to McKissick himself.
Spurrier will not renew Reid's scholarship next year so he will probably transfer.
August 4, 2008 at 3:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
coastal1 (anonymous) says...
Over / Under on how many games he lasts as the starter?
August 4, 2008 at 3:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sbs920 (anonymous) says...
rebel1, dude, you're using alot of my CU jabs, what gives?
August 4, 2008 at 3:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
youmanyo (anonymous) says...
He is only 12 years old , and taking meds.
August 4, 2008 at 8:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Spartan (anonymous) says...
To Notafan: Reid threw for several thousand yards against 4-AAAA teams all over the state. He has the arm and the size (6-4") yet really never worked that hard in high school. The new level is different and he has his butt up at 6 AM now and by the way, he worked very hard this Spring and Summer before going to USC. This kid has all the tools and for you to say he doesn't means you didn't see him play or you are just a Fort or Stratford fan that is tired of losing to Summerville every year. Reid likely plays when he's a junior at Carolina (RS Sophmore). Your AJ thinking is way off too. AJ was gone to Georgia in like the 7th grade.
August 4, 2008 at 9:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rebel1 (anonymous) says...
sbs, what cu jabs did i use? there are plenty more out there.Btw your mama, like i said before, go away little girl
August 5, 2008 at 1:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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