Will Muschamp is a name many Gamecock fans still hate.

I can still hear all of the ‘Fire Will Muschamp’ chants from Gamecock fans after numerous disappointing losses in is 4th season (4-8) which came off an average 7-5 season the year prior. However, there was a time when gamecock fans they may have found their guy.

In his second season, the Gamecocks went 9-4 with a big outback bowl win. This was the peak but ultimately, Muschamp would be fired by his fifth season after an abysmal showing.

Muschamp was a great recruiter, there is a good chunk of his guys in the NFL now that are top or near the top of their positions: Jaycee Horn, Debo Samuel, and Keisean Nixon just to name a few. However, an inability to consistently win, and a temper that rubbed many fans the wrong way, led to Muschamp’s exit.  

Now, turning to Beamer. Beamer started with an average 6-6 start. The Gamecocks had only won 6 games combined in the prior two years so 6-6, while not ideal, was a big improvement. They also capped off that season with a really impressive Duke's Mayo Bowl win against the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Next came the season everyone remembers because of two games, Tennessee and Clemson. Finishing 8-5, with a great game, unfortunately a loss, to Notre Dame in the Gator Bowl. The Gamecocks entered the offseason with all the hype and momentum, and again, many fans believed that they had found their guy.

But, just like Muschamp, South Carolina would have a down year in year three, finishing 5-7 and missing a bowl game.  With a few close losses and Beamer’s big flaw beginning to show (his inability to tune out the negative criticisms from fans and the media) fans now find themselves in a similar spot as in 2018/2019.

So, the question is, what is the difference between the two?

On its face, not much. Both started with an average year one, had a strong second season, but couldn’t build off of the success in year 3. Beamer recruits very well, but so did Muschamp. Muschamp was able to bring in talent, see the guys in the NFL, but had a hard time developing.

The jury is still out on how Beamer’s classes will do in the NFL and we’ll see how his development of players continues. However, they both have had similar paths through their careers at South Carolina. The major difference in my mind is that Beamer, thus far, is much more likable than Muschamp.

The fan base likes him and supports him, the players like to play for Beamer, and he has proven he can beat Clemson, something Muschamp never did. Lastly, something I think is worth noting is that Beamer appears to love South Carolina and Columbia, it always seemed as if Muschamp viewed South Carolina simply as a job.

Ultimately, unless there is something drastic that changes in Beamer’s  season, he may be following Muschamp’s path; and that is not a path anyone should want to be on.