How patience has become a core virtue for South Carolina football

No one likes to hear someone tell them that they need to be patient. However, patience is a virtue. In fact, for the South Carolina football program, patience has become a core virtue. While the nature of modern sports fandom creates a “results-now-or-else” culture in most circumstances, Shane Beamer’s Gamecocks have preached patience. And, as things stand, the team has rewarded those who have been patient with them.

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From the time he was hired, Beamer has delivered a homogenous message that blends both a belief in immediate improvement and an understanding that time would be needed for South Carolina to be a legitimate contender in the SEC. Phrases like “we’ll get it fixed,” “stick with us,” and “stay focused on the process” routinely were mentioned in Beamer’s press conferences during his first 12 months on the job.

Since becoming the man in charge in Columbia, Beamer has pushed the program in the right direction. The Gamecocks have beaten Las Vegas’ expected win total three out of four years, just put together their third-straight top-20 high school recruiting class, and have set a new record for most victories in the first four years of a South Carolina head coach’s tenure (29).

Even within the clear upward trajectory, patience remains important.

South Carolina surprised many with a seven-win season in 2021. Then, they won eight games in 2022, including back-to-back top-10 triumphs over Tennessee and Clemson to end the regular season. Expectations got too high too quickly, and the Gamecocks didn’t live up to the hype in Beamer’s year three.

Following that disappointing 2023, some around the fanbase were calling for most of the coaching staff to be fired. Beamer, though, made a couple of moves he felt were needed but kept other oft-criticized names on his staff. The Gamecock headman asked for patience and insisted that 2024 would be different. Through a 3-3 start to the year, fan patience might have been near a low point. However, Beamer proved to be right as USC rattled off six-straight victories and won nine regular season games for just the fifth time in program history.

Even this offseason, there was angst due to a perceived “slow” start to the Gamecocks’ transfer portal recruitment efforts. Now, as the winter portal period is nearing an endFrom a player perspective, several current Gamecocks were once the subject of inpatient grumblings.

Quarterback LaNorris Sellers didn’t light the world on fire in his first couple of starts this fall. Some wanted the young signal-caller benched. Instead, Beamer and the coaching staff resolutely stood by their quarterback. That patience paid off in a big way. By the time the season ended, Sellers had his head coach and multiple national pundits musing that he might be the best player in college football.

Wide receiver Nyck Harbor is another. A former 5-star, Harbor had never really played the receiver position before getting to college. That brought about some growing pains. However, by the time his sophomore season ended, the vision of Harbor becoming a good college pass-catcher was becoming clear. In his final five games of the year, No. 8 performed well enough to put up numbers that would translate to about 700 yards and 5 touchdowns over a full season.

Partially due to the results from 2023, the entire South Carolina offensive line received much criticism early this fall. The Gamecock blockers, though, maintained their same starting lineup through the season (with the exception of Josiah Thompson sitting one game with an injury) and played much better down the stretch. Guard Torricelli Simpkins even won several Player of the Week honors during the Gamecocks’ late-season six-game winning streak.

Even before 2024, players like Spencer Rattler, Xavier Legette, Josh Vann, Jalen Brooks, and Debo Williams overcame slow starts to their South Carolina football careers to become standouts for the Gamecocks. Had the USC coaching staff given up on these young men early, they would have missed out on some of the very best players of recent years.

Several other players have mirrored their head coach’s philosophy on patience.

Both offensive lineman Tree Babalade and defensive tackle Nick Barrett played bigger roles in 2023 than they did in 2024. For the betterment of themselves and the team, the Gamecock big men redshirted this fall, giving them an extra year of development as players and setting them up for a return to a bigger role in 2025. Running back Jawarn Howell, who was an FCS All-American last season, joined them in redshirting. By taking a season to sit behind Rocket Sanders in 2024, Howell also preserved an extra year and could be a major factor for the offense for up to three more seasons.

In total, eight true freshmen redshirted this year and stuck around the South Carolina football program. All of them were considered a 4-star prospect by at least one major recruiting outlet, too. This means that eight highly touted prospects could have gone to another school where they could play immediately OR could have gotten upset with their lack of playing time in 2024 and left, but, instead, they remained patient and embraced a redshirt.

Still others have displayed patience through position changes.

Defensive back Jalon Kilgore came to South Carolina as a safety. However, so far, he has played more snaps at nickel; he has done so without complaint and has played well. Several USC offensive linemen have switched positions (some multiple times), but that hasn’t brought forth any significant behind-the-scenes problems.

Perhaps the poster child for patient players is Luke Doty. Having bounced back and forth (and back and forth and back and forth) between wide receiver and quarterback, Doty has stuck it out with the Gamecocks and honored his commitment to the team, no matter what his role might look like. In 2025, he likely will play special teams again and could help out at several offensive positions.

Shane Beamer and his team have modeled patience and called for the fanbase to do the same. Based on positive returns, the Gamecocks deserve that patience. They also deserve the benefit of the doubt that comes with it.

Hype (rightfully) is growing in Columbia. With that, patience naturally gives way to heightened expectations. From a macro-standpoint, that is probably appropriate. But when things inevitably don’t go perfectly next fall, or the Gamecocks lose one game, or the offense endures a three-and-out, or the defense gives up a big play, patience will be needed. All those involved with South Carolina football have earned that.

For now, though, it is time for Carolina fans to be patient in a different way. There are still 224 days until the 2025 season begins. Through excitement from recruiting, offseason prediction articles, and LaNorris Sellers Heisman hype, over seven months remain before toe meets leather.

South Carolina will open next season on August 31st. The Gamecocks will play the Virginia Tech Hokies in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff.
South Carolina wide receiver Payton Mangrum announced earlier this month that he was transferring from the program after five seasons. With one last year of eligibility remaining, Mangrum will take a final ride with the East Carolina Pirates. He told GamecockCentral’s Mike Uva of his plans on Saturday.

During his South Carolina football career, Mangrum was a hard-working player. He joined the Gamecocks as a walk-on but earned a scholarship. Though he totaled just six catches at USC, Mangrum was a valuable special teams player at different points, as well. He caught a touchdown pass on a fake punt against Tennessee in 2021.

Payton Mangrum South Carolina Bio from GamecocksOnline

* 2023 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll

* 2023 Most Inspirational Walk-on

* 2022 Most Inspirational Walk-on

* 2022 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll

* 2021 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll

* 2020-21 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll

Fifth-year performer who works at wide receiver and on special teams… had developed into a leader and a “glue” guy… has the respect of the coaches and players… originally joined the program as a walk-on… was presented with the Jake Panus scholarship for the 2022 season… valuable special teams performer who has appeared in 39 games over the past four seasons.

2023 (Redshirt Junior)

Selected as the Most Inspirational Walk-On and was the Gamecocks’ representative for the Burlsworth Trophy… appeared in all 12 games primarily on special teams… caught two passes for 31 yards… had a 12-yard reception in the season opener against North Carolina and a 19-yard catch against Furman… named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll.

2022 (Redshirt Sophomore)

Awarded the Jake Panus scholarship prior to the start of the fall semester… nominated for the Burlsworth Trophy as a player who began his career as a walk-on… selected as the Most Inspirational Walk-on at the team’s post-season banquet… saw action in all 13 games, primarily on special teams… credited with two tackles… named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll.

2021 (Redshirt Freshman)

Played in all 13 games, primarily on special teams, earning his first varsity letter… caught a 44-yard touchdown pass from Kai Kroeger on a fake punt at Tennessee… named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll.

2020 (Freshman)

True freshman walk-on wide receiver who joined the squad in the summer… made his collegiate debut in the season-finale at Kentucky… did not record any statistics… redshirted… named to the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll.

HIGH SCHOOL

Graduated from Eastside (S.C.) High School in 2020… was a three-year starter… caught 55 passes for 1,015 yards and 16 TDs as a senior… logged 209 catches for 3,247 yards and 43 touchdowns in his career, going over the 1,000-yard mark in two seasons… earned a spot on the 2019 South Carolina football coaches first team 4A all-state squad… helped the Eagles to an 8-3 record as a senior… coached by Andre Woolcock… also competed in track & field.

PERSONAL

Payton X. Mangrum was born Jan. 26, 2002… is a mass communications major who graduated in May 2024… both parents graduated from South Carolina.