Beamer said he was not informed of the ceremony and was told by an official to prepare the players once the television timeout was over. South Carolina decided to attempt a conversion with 4th and 9th in the ensuing play.
“We launch attacks for the sake of launching attacks,” Beamer said. “They’re at the line of scrimmage. Georgia can see our formation. We did what we were asked to do, but we couldn’t snap the football. I can see why, my first initial reaction was to yell “Get off the field!” I didn’t know who was there. “
The defending national champion Bulldogs won 48-7, but were leading 14-0 at the time. I apologize to anyone I offended. That was my first reaction. “
The Gamecocks flipped the ball in play, and a clip of Beamer’s response went viral when soccer team member Jyllissa Harris tweeted it.
“All sorority-athletes were asked to participate in the Games to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Title IX.” she tweeted“We were on the field for maybe 15 seconds and then yelled to get off. If you want to honor a sorority athlete, do that, not this.”
She wasn’t critical of Beamer, tweeting Sunday night that Beamer was “coaching in the middle of the game and just supporting women’s sports.”
The 45-year-old coach identified himself as a supporter of women’s sports.
“I hope people get to know me better and know that I am an advocate for women’s sport,” Beamer said. “I have two daughters who play sports. I attend as many women’s sporting events as I can here in Carolina, and if you think otherwise, you probably don’t know me.”
