South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley talks to football team

Dawn Staley is a national champion again. Now, the South Carolina women’s basketball coach is looking to spread to that around the campus for the Gamecocks.

Staley spoke to the South Carolina football program at a practice Saturday, a week ahead of the Garnet & Black Spring Game at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 20. Staley received a strong endorsement and introduction from football coach Shane Beamer, who is entering his fourth year in charge.

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“I don’t even have to introduce this special guest, ya’ll get your butts up for Dawn Staley,” Beamer said, introducing Staley. “We talk about you a lot Coach Staley, your team and the respect we have. Every single game, you got everyone’s best shot and every single week ya’ll responded. We talked about the process that you had to go through and it doesn’t just happen.”

What Dawn Staley said to South Carolina football players

Following the introduction, Staley talked about how she follows the football program and enjoys watching games from Williams-Brice Stadium or in front of her television every week during football season.

“This is the best place to be on Saturdays,” Staley said. “If I’m not here, I’m in front of my television pouring into ya’ll all the positive Gamecock vibes. I know you have a tough schedule, so what? Somebody’s got to play it.

Staley reminded the players that what they do at practices sets the stage for what the team can do during games. The Gamecocks have gone 20-18 in the first three seasons under Beamer, including a 6-7 record last season.

“The process is every day you have to be great at the little things. They’re boring. They’re boring as hell,” Staley said. “It’s boring to do something over and over and over and perfect it. You need to do that until it’s a habit. So in a game, when it’s time to make a great play, you’re gonna be able to make a great play because the great plays are here and here. The meat and potatoes is what happens in between the great plays and when you’re good at the in between, you’ll be a great team.”

Mutual respect between Shane Beamer and Dawn Staley

Beamer was hired as the South Carolina coach, the 36th head coach in program history, on Dec. 6, 2020. Before his return, he worked as an assistant coach for the Gamecocks from 2007 to 2010. He went on to be on the staffs of Virginia Tech, Georgia, and Oklahoma before his return.

Staley has been the coach for the Gamecocks since 2008, winning three championships during her tenure. Both coaches hold a strong, mutual respect for one another. Beamer has been a regular as South Carolina women’s basketball practices.

“Just want to say, coach, was coming to our practices, even before we were winning championships during his time,” Staley said of Beamer. “I’ve never had a football coach want to come to our practices. … So he saw the good, the bad, the ugly, but he also knows what it takes to be the very best. It is a process every day.”

Beamer made the trip to Cleveland for the national championship game to watch the Gamecocks win it all. He said he’s using that as motivation to move over to football.

“I talked about being up in Cleveland with you guys last Sunday and watching the postgame celebration, envisioning what that’s going to be like for football when we do that,” Beamer said. “But then also making sure they understand that when you took over your program, it was not what it is right now. The work that went into it. So I, we have so much respect for you. I’m blessed to call you a colleague and super excited that Coach Staley is out here with us today.

“Ya’ll better be at that championship parade downtown tomorrow, as well.”