Kendal Briles’ work at South Carolina is drawing attention, and that’s exactly the problem for the Gamecocks.
After the 42-25 win over Oklahoma last week, South Carolina sits second in the SEC in total offense and tied for 14th nationally. The Gamecocks also became the first team to put up 200 rushing yards and 500 total yards against Oklahoma since the Sooners joined the league. LaNorris Sellers, meanwhile, looks like his video-game version again.
Briles, though, is already moving on to the next game.
That’s the balancing act for South Carolina right now. The offense is humming, the fan base is feeling a whole lot better about the season, and the coordinator at the center of it all is the kind of name that starts popping up when jobs open around the country.
“Kendal’s done an awesome job, and to come in here and put up 521 yards of offense against this defense, not many people have done that,” coach Shane Beamer said after the win. “Go KB.”
Beamer’s point was clear: Briles was brought in to do a job, and he’s doing it. No ceremony needed.
Still, when a team is winning, the coaching world starts buzzing. Briles’ name is already in circulation, and it’s not hard to see why.
Some programs in need of an offensive boost would love to get him. Others could come with more attractive openings, including places with local ties.
“You want your coordinators to have opportunities to advance their career as an assistant coach,” Beamer said. “So I see that where guys get opportunities and are able to advance their career in regards to Kendal or Clayton (White) or any of our coaches, I always want to support those guys.
When you win, your name gets bantered about, and rightfully so. That’s the way it works.”
One possible situation to watch is TCU, where Sonny Dykes is sitting on a 4-4 season and already made a change by firing his co-offensive coordinator a week ago. If the Horned Frogs or anyone else came calling for Briles as an offensive coordinator, South Carolina would have a hard time losing him.
The bigger question is whether a head-coaching opening could enter the picture, especially in Briles’ native Texas. If Dykes’ seat gets even hotter and the situation turns, Briles could become a candidate for the TCU job.
Before the Tennessee game, Briles was asked about the idea of being a head coach one day.
“That’s the last thing on my mind, buddy. I’m thinking about Tennessee and how we’re going to make first downs against these guys,” Briles said.
“So, just with that, you always trust the process. I was hired to do a job here.
I’m going to try to do the best job I can here.”
That job is producing real numbers. Oklahoma had been allowing opponents to convert just 23 percent of their third downs, which ranked second in the country. South Carolina went 8-of-14, or 57 percent, in the win.
“Just the execution and preparation. We do it every day in practice.
You got to execute,” Sellers said. “Knowing that, we got to execute and we just found a way tonight.”
The victory has changed the feel of the season, and South Carolina now controls its own path toward a strong finish and a solid bowl spot. The College Football Playoff is still in the conversation, but the Gamecocks need more wins before that becomes anything firmer, and all four remaining games have to be won for that to become a clearer picture.
For now, the focus stays where it should: on the season in front of them. The same goes for Briles’ future.
“Kendal’s done a heck of a job, and you know he certainly understands how much I value him and the job I think that he’s done here,” Beamer said. “And what I try and do is just continue to make this a place where he can accomplish all his goals, and he enjoys being and his family enjoys being a part of and knowing that we have a lot more left to accomplish going forward also.”
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