South Carolina’s hedges did not survive Saturday night unscathed.
By the time the smoke cleared from Malik Orsan’s 48-yard field goal as time expired against No. 11 Tennessee, the north end zone at Williams-Brice Stadium looked battered. The signature Ligustrum hedges that frame the field had been trampled into sticks and loose leaves as roughly 15,000 students poured onto the grass, while another 15,000 or so came through the gates or over the railings.
It was the kind of scene that has become familiar in Shane Beamer’s tenure. South Carolina has now stormed the field three times after wins over ranked opponents under Beamer, including victories over No.
5 Tennessee in 2022 and No. 10 Texas A&M in 2024.
And each time, head groundskeeper Tim Flanagan’s phone lights up with sympathy.
“Oh man, it’s like a wave of emotions,” Flanagan told The State on Sunday. “There’s times where I’m like angry, like 'Oh my god, this is terrible.’
And other times I’m a fan about it and I’m like, ‘This is awesome.’ And I think it’s just because I’m 'seasoned’ in this, I know what the expectations are and I know what’s coming.”
Still, even Flanagan admitted the damage from Saturday may not have been as bad as what happened after the Texas A&M game two years ago. That night, his crew found all kinds of things buried in the wreckage: phones, wallets, credit cards, sunglasses, vapes, single shoes. Fans also tore up chunks of grass and pulled pieces of hedge for keepsakes, with some even carrying shrubs away from the stadium.
“There was less of that on Saturday,” Flanagan said. “I think people got their taste a couple years ago, because the shrubs took a beating just from the stampede ... but there wasn’t a whole lot of people walking away with shrubs like they were a few years ago. We saw some guys walking down Bluff Road with a shrub (in 2024).”
That does not mean the hedges are safe. The student-section side on the north end is still in question, and the bigger issue now is whether South Carolina will replace them before the next home game. The Gamecocks have two home dates left at Williams-Brice Stadium in 2026, beginning in two weeks against Texas A&M.
Restoring the look would likely require planting between 225 and 250 mature Ligustrums, just as the department did after the Texas A&M storming. Flanagan said that kind of fix comes with a hefty cost.
“A lot,” Flanagan said.
An athletics source said Sunday the department is still weighing its next move. The decision is complicated by the fact that the field-storming already brought a $500,000 penalty for South Carolina.
If the hedges are brought back, Flanagan said the process will take several work days from start to finish.
“You’ve gotta dig them all out, and then you’ve gotta get all the (new shrubs) in,” Flanagan said. “It’s a day of a couple days of prep, a couple days of planting. So, you just factor in five to six solid work days.
“(But) it’s our look,” he added. “It’s our look, and we’ve proven we can make it happen.”
Flanagan had already prepared for the possibility of a storming before the Tennessee game. His plan included making sure enough Ligustrums were available if South Carolina needed to buy replacements, and it also accounted for getting the field ready for the Gamecocks’ return in two weeks.
After the crowd finally cleared, his crew moved across the field with a groomer to stand the grass back up and a sweeper to remove debris. They finished by spreading rye grass seed so the surface would be ready for November.
The grass, as always, will be fine.
The hedges? That part is still up in the air.
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Gamecocks Coaches Spotlight The Players Who Powered The Tennessee Upset
After South Carolinas 27-24 win over Tennessee, Shane Beamer used the postgame spotlight to make sure the people behind the upset got their due. The head coach named Mazeo Bennett Jr. and Nolan Hay as the offensive players of the game, with Noah Clark and Fred Johnson earning defensive honors and Malik Orsan recognized on special teams, a familiar reminder that the Gamecocks biggest wins often come from contributions that stretch well beyond the starting lineup.
Beamer also acknowledged several scout team players for their work in practice, another sign of how much South Carolina values the daily grind that feeds Saturday success. In a win that will be remembered for its finish and its significance, the coachs recognition offered a useful snapshot of the depth and buy-in that helped the Gamecocks pull it off. [Read more 🡒]