South Carolina’s trip to Alabama turned messy for Dylan Stewart, and Shane Beamer didn’t duck the conversation afterward.
The Gamecocks’ star EDGE got chewed out by his coach coming off the field in the first half after a late hit on Crimson Tide quarterback Keelon Russell helped extend a drive. Then in the fourth quarter, Stewart was hit with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after punching Alabama tight end Josh Ford after the whistle. He was not ejected.
Beamer said the sideline exchange was exactly what it looked like: two competitive people in a heated moment.
"We're both fiery and competitive guys, and it's a fiery, competitive environment, and that's what being in the arena is like," Beamer said of his first-half confrontation with Stewart.
Stewart’s night had already been a strange one before the penalties piled up. He played only sparingly in what was just his second game this season after missing the entire offseason and fall camp with back issues. South Carolina has handled him on a pitch count of sorts, and against Alabama he was used only in situational spots.
The talent is obvious. Stewart is widely viewed as one of the top edge prospects in the 2027 NFL Draft conversation, alongside Texas standout Colin Simmons, and at 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, he’s been described as the closest college football comparison to Myles Garrett in recent years.
But the performance was all over the map. Alabama was already rolling, up 35-3 in the first half and 42-18 midway through the fourth quarter, when Stewart’s frustration boiled over. Officials either missed the punch or decided the contact to Ford’s helmet wasn’t enough to trigger an ejection.
"I saw the play that he got the penalty on. I didn't see it until just now, and that's unacceptable," Beamer said of Stewart's punch.
"That's not how we do things around here, and I'm embarrassed to see that because that's not what we're about. Didn't see it during the game.
I knew we had a penalty. I didn't know what happened.
"We got a lot of fiery, emotional, competitive guys, and I love that. When you're in the arena, emotions are high. I love the way that he plays, but we got to make sure, not just Dylan, but with all of our players, that we make sure it's not affecting us in a negative way."
Ford, for his part, didn’t sound bothered by the back-and-forth.
"Man, he's a great player," Ford said. "We had a lot of fun today.
I think he punched me three times, but it was awesome. Good battle."
Stewart’s night also included a later sequence where he was seen refusing to come off the field, forcing South Carolina’s staff to get him out after he had been subbed for freshman Julian Walker.
Beamer was then asked whether Stewart’s actions hurt the Gamecocks on the road, and he pointed to the defender’s response after halftime.
"No. I saw Dylan respond in the second half," Beamer said.
"We weren't sure at halftime if he was going to be able to go back out and play, from a health standpoint, but I thought he really, really gutted it out. I was proud of his response and some of the plays that he made.
Having said that, the emotions, it's OK to play with emotion, but not be emotional."
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It was the kind of complete showing that can change the tone around a season, especially for a Crimson Tide team trying to look more like the version people expected under Kalen DeBoer. Still, even a result this convincing does not erase every question, and Alabamas next stretch will reveal whether this was the start of something more durable or simply the kind of statement win that needs to be backed up quickly. [Read more 🡒]