Nitro Tuggle’s name was missing from South Carolina’s trip to Oklahoma, and Shane Beamer said the decision came down to football and roster limits.
Tuggle, who had not missed a game this season before Saturday, stayed home as the Gamecocks went to Norman and handled Oklahoma 42-25. South Carolina didn’t need much from the passing game anyway, with LaNorris Sellers completing 19 of 24 throws for more than 300 yards.
The absence drew attention because it came two days after Tuggle posted a photo on his Instagram story that included the words, “Free 1,” a nod to his jersey number. Beamer did not discuss that post directly, but he did make clear that the program expects a certain standard.
“there’s a standard of how we do things here at all times, on and off the field.”
Beamer said the receivers who made the trip were the ones he believed gave South Carolina the best chance to win.
“I felt like the receivers we took out (to Norman) were the ones who gave us the best opportunity to win the game yesterday against Oklahoma,” Beamer told reporters on his Sunday teleconference. “And also, keep in mind, we’re only allowed to take 74 players to SEC away games.”
He also pointed to special teams as a factor in who gets included among the final traveling group. The players on the edge of the roster, Beamer said, are often the ones who contribute there. Tuggle, he added, was not a major part of South Carolina’s special teams plans.
Tuggle arrived from Purdue as a highly sought-after transfer, but his season has not gone the way anyone expected. He has caught just four passes for 39 yards and has dropped three balls, according to Pro Football Focus. His role has shrunk as the season has gone on, from 46 offensive snaps against Kentucky to 20 against Florida and only six against Tennessee.
In Other News...
South Carolina Suddenly Has A Huge Backfield Problem After Oklahoma
Matt Fullers breakout season took a hard turn in the first quarter against Oklahoma, when the South Carolina running back left with an ankle injury and later was found to have a broken bone in his foot. He is expected to have surgery, which likely ends his season and leaves the Gamecocks without one of their most productive backs at a time when the offense had been leaning on him heavily.
Fuller had already piled up 513 rushing yards and five touchdowns before the injury, giving South Carolina a reliable presence in the backfield and a steady option in the run game. In his absence against Oklahoma, Jabree Coleman, Christian Clark and Isaiah Augustave all got work, and the Gamecocks now have to sort out how they replace Fullers production moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Dabo Swinney Blasts Fan Stunt He Says Crossed The Line
Clemsons win over Florida State was supposed to be the headline, but Dabo Swinney spent part of his postgame attention on something floating above the stadium instead. A banner calling for the firing of coach Mike Norvell and trustee Peter Collins drew Swinneys criticism, with the Clemson coach pointing out the misspelling of Norvells name and saying he was disappointed by the stunt. The message was reportedly crowdfunded by a fan and cost $3,550.
Swinneys reaction fit a broader point he has made before about what should and should not happen when a team is struggling. He stressed that the focus ought to stay on supporting the players, not turning losses into public campaigns aimed at getting people fired. In a rivalry-driven sport where emotion runs high, the banner became a reminder that the line between venting frustration and crossing into something uglier can be a thin one. [Read more 🡒]
LaNorris Sellers Has South Carolina Back In A Bigger Conversation
South Carolinas latest win did more than keep a streak alive. By beating Oklahoma 42-25 for a third straight victory, the Gamecocks pushed themselves back into a more meaningful conversation, and LaNorris Sellers was at the center of it. The quarterback delivered a dynamic performance with 301 passing yards, three touchdown throws, 96 rushing yards and two more scores on the ground, giving South Carolina the kind of offensive spark that can change the tone around a season.
At 5-3, the Gamecocks have created some breathing room, but the next stretch will say plenty about how far this run can go. The schedule ahead brings tougher tests that will shape their postseason chances, and the question now is whether Sellers and South Carolina can carry this momentum into games that carry far more weight than a November win in October. [Read more 🡒]