As Gamecock football spring practices come to a close, players will get to show their skills at the Garnet and Black Spring Football Game this Saturday.
Head coach Shane Beamer said the spring game will also provide the team’s coaching staff with a glance at what has been working well for the team and what it can work on.
“Whether it's a spring game against each other or a scrimmage, to me, some guys just have a knack for elevating and making plays when they're under the lights in the stadium,” Beamer said. “When the lights come on, and they're playing in front of a crowd, they don't shrink from the limelight or the spotlight. They elevate their game even more.”
Students and fans will return to Williams-Brice Stadium for the first time since the last home game against Tennessee in November. Beamer said he hopes the Gamecocks' faithful fans will bring energy and excitement with them to the game this weekend.
“It needs to be a great atmosphere; I know it will be. It's going to be awesome being back in Williams-Brice Stadium,” Beamer said. “I know it'll be awesome for Gamecock Nation to be back out there on Saturday night as well, so (I'm) looking forward to a fantastic weekend and wrapping up spring practice here throughout the week.”
Beamer said the spring game will also be an opportunity for new freshmen who enrolled early, transfers and recruits to experience a loud stadium ahead of the 2023 season.
“I know that our atmosphere will be awesome out there on Saturday, and compared to a lot of schools, we’ll have a lot more people in the stands,” Beamer said. “(We're) just making sure that those high school prospects know that it's not like this everywhere. Gamecock Nation and Williams-Brice Stadium is really, really special, and we don't take (that) for granted.”
Redshirt senior quarterback Spencer Rattler has continued to grow as a leader for younger players ahead of his second year as a Gamecock and stepped into a leadership role during the offseason, according to Beamer.
“He came in last year at this time, (and) he was new and was still feeling his way through, learning on offense (and) learning his teammates,” Beamer said. “I think Spencer has done a lot better from a leadership standpoint, just being a year older and (having) a year more experience in this system.”
Beamer said sixth-year wide receiver Dakereon Joyner has also taken on a leadership position and provided the locker room with a veteran presence despite changing positions.
“He's a guy that's essentially gone through a position change this spring, but he got on the offense today, (and) we scored a touchdown in the red zone,” Beamer said. “He was getting on the other guys on offense because he didn't think the offense celebrated as well as they should have and needed to show more energy and excitement about scoring a touchdown, which he's exactly right.”
The Gamecocks will start its spring game on April 15 at 7 p.m. at Williams-Brice Stadium.