Beamer sorry for anger during Title IX ceremony

South Carolina coach Shane Beamer apologized Sunday for shouting at a bunch of feminine athletes to go away the sphere throughout a Title IX recognition in Saturday’s sport in opposition to No. 1 Georgia.

After the primary quarter, South Carolina invited all 275 of its feminine athletes to one of many finish zones at Williams Brice Stadium, as a part of an ongoing celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of Title IX laws. The Gamecocks’ offense was lining up for a fourth-and-9 play however needed to anticipate the feminine athletes to exit the sphere earlier than snapping the ball. ESPN cameras caught Beamer screaming towards the athletes and gesturing in frustration.

“I apologize to anybody that I offended,” Beamer mentioned Sunday.

Beamer advised reporters he did not know the ceremony can be going down, and had been debating what to do on the fourth-down play when he observed the group ultimately zone. Recreation officers had instructed the groups to be prepared for play instantly after tv timeouts.

“We ship our offense on the market to go for it,” Beamer mentioned. “They’re on the road of scrimmage. Georgia is ready to see the formation that we’re in. We did what we have been requested to do and we weren’t capable of snap the soccer. I look down ultimately zone and I see why. My first preliminary response was to yell, ‘Get off the sphere.’ I had no concept who was down there.”

Georgia, which led 14-0 on the time, held South Carolina to 4 yards on the play and took possession. The Bulldogs cruised to a 48-7 win.

Earlier Sunday, South Carolina soccer participant Jyllissa Harris retweeted a video of Beamer’s response and expressed her disappointment, writing, “We have been on the sphere for perhaps 15 seconds then screamed at to get off. If you wish to honor feminine pupil athletes, then try this, not this.” Later Sunday, Harris tweeted that Beamer was “teaching within the warmth of the sport and has been nothing however supportive of feminine sports activities.”

Beamer mentioned South Carolina’s sport operations employees “has a tricky job” however may enhance with making in-game ceremonies extra environment friendly and getting any honorees off the sphere quicker sooner or later.

“I hope folks know me properly sufficient to know what an advocate I’m for girls’s sports activities,” mentioned Beamer, who usually attends South Carolina ladies’s basketball video games and different occasions. “I’ve acquired two daughters of my very own that play sports activities. I am at as many ladies’s athletic occasions at Carolina as I can presumably be as a result of I consider in them and help them, and anybody that thinks in any other case certainly would not know me.”