Shane Beamer makes case for why Dowell Loggains was right hire at South Carolina
Shane Beamer has his guy.
South Carolina’s second-year head coach introduced new offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains to reporters on Wednesday morning.
Beamer took the opportunity Wednesday to explain why he thought Loggains was the right person to succeed Marcus Satterfield in leading the USC offense. And he took time to shoot down criticism about Loggains most centered on several stints in the NFL leading offenses that weren’t all that successful.
Loggains most recently worked as the tight ends coach at Arkansas, working under Sam Pittman. Beamer described Loggains as a “fantastic person” and an “elite recruiter.” He won’t call plays in the Gator Bowl but he will be around the team.
Here were some of Beamer’s remarks on the search for Satterfield’s replacement, on Loggains and on perception of the Gamecocks (8-4) with several high-profile players entering the transfer portal:
... “Maybe outside this building that the momentum slipped. That couldn’t be further from the truth. The excitement level is at an all time high. We’re trying to get the right people on the bus of where we’re going. We’re taking this program to places it’s never been before. There are bumps along the way. Sometimes as you climb higher and higher, people get off that bus.”
... “I could easily go out and hire the hot names, the guys when you read the ‘hot boards’ on some of y’all’s websites, that the general public thinks that’s the guru and that’s the guy we need to bring into the program. I’m not interested in winning the press conference. I’m interested in hiring the best coach available for what we need as a program. I’m not interested in hiring a name that people recognize. I’m interested in hiring the guy that can continue to move the program forward.”
... “I talked to a ton of people. Clayton White and Pete Lembo, probably there wasn’t a lot of fanfare (when they were hired). I’d say they turned out to be pretty damn successful here at South Carolina. They weren’t necessarily the hot name when we hired them.”
... “People that are in the profession know about Dowell Loggains. ... I’m sure people on the outside, all the experts on social media, I’m sure they called Sean Payton ... to talk to Sean Payton about Dowell.”
... “We hired a big-time coach and couldn’t be more excited about hiring Dowell. You don’t last 16 years in the NFL like he has without being a really good football coach. We’re fortunate to have him here at South Carolina.”
... “I know how important this hire is ... for what’s coming next as a program. ... He makes our program better, his personality, his recruiting skills.”
... “He’s done it in the NFL. Yes, the NFL and college games are different. You don’t last as long as he did in the NFL ... without knowing what you’re doing. Certainly it’s different. ... Knowing what a football junkie he is and how intelligent he is, I have no concerns about that.”
