Ben Portnoy
@bportnoy15
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College Sports Reporter for @SBJ | Ex-Hoosier
South Carolina
Joined March 2015
They came in droves, tossed back tall boys, trolled opponents and provided evidence we should’ve expected all along — on-campus CFP games are dynamite. Dispatch from South Bend on the first home CFP game and a postseason system stuck between two eras:.
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Meet Joe — an NIU season ticket holder from Chicagoland who was at the Huskies’ win in South Bend earlier this year. He drove two hours to town today with no ticket and only the intention of waving an NIU flag behind the College GameDay set. College football rocks, man.
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What I’m gathering from Ohio State’s drubbing of Tennessee is that 9-3 Illinois and 8-4 Iowa were actually more deserving of a CFP spot than anyone in the field. Did I follow that logic right?.
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Lots of cool new additions to Williams-Brice Stadium this year
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Political reporters really about to learn what it’s like to cover a mid-season college football firing, huh?.
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Shane Beamer taking it in before hunting down his mom in the postgame tunnel. What a scene…
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South Carolina fans taking over the field at Death Valley. Chants of “Beamer Ball” ringing out right after this video ended.
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Cal’s commitment to The Bit™️ is honestly aspirational. (This tweet written as the crowd chants “Safety school” when Washington is featured on screen)
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Been to College GameDay a bunch of times through the years, but it’s a hell of a scene in Berkeley this morning. Cal fans showed out at today
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This is pretty cool: ESPN has announced it's producing a 96-page Caitlin Clark tribute print issue. Others who've gotten the special edition treatment from ESPN include Tom Brady, Serena Williams, Kobe Bryant and John Madden. Magazine will hit newsstands nationally on March 29.
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Nyckoles Harbor is a South Carolina Gamecock. Wow. Huge, huge moment for Shane Beamer and co.
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Osirus Mitchell said the coaches had videos of Dak Prescott's 2014 win over LSU playing throughout the facility this week.
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Good morning from Norman. Oklahoma AD Joe Castiglione is out here taking pictures and delivering donuts to fans who’ve been out here all night. OU students who slept out by the College GameDay set last night were also greeted with pizzas around 2:30 am for their efforts.
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Shane Beamer's daughter Olivia came into the the postgame presser with pit viper sunglasses. College football at its finest.
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Spencer Rattler asked about the new nickname for South Carolina's live mascot. "I thought it was Cock Commander, honestly.". Hell yeah.
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Cam Smith held Jalin Hyatt to six catches for 65 yards. Got asked if there was any trash talk back and forth:. "Man, there's not much trash talk when it's only going one way.". ~Spicy~.
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I don’t think ~that~ many people are surprised South Carolina showed up, but I still think this is one of the more underrated teams nationally. A couple plays away from beating Alabama and LSU and now a signature win over A&M. Shane Beamer has himself a squad in Columbia.
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Pretty dang good backdrop for College GameDay here in South Bend tomorrow
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South Carolina WRs coach Justin Stepp has talked a lot about how much it meant to come work in his home state. Here’s a good look at why, tears streaming down his face in the tunnel postgame.
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Announcements are in for all four new Pac-12 members. Quite the day out West.
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In the wake of tonight's news:. Spencer Rattler vs. Drake Maye Week 1 in Charlotte. Mark your calendars accordingly.
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Parker White's final words in a press conference:. "Recruits: You're put on notice. This is where you want to be.".
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Beamer: "I had a recruit call me at 2 a.m. he was so excited and wanted to talk to me about the game. Luckily, I had just gotten home.".
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Rep. Lori Trahan (D-MA) asked UCLA QB Chase Griffin "Which group of people do athletes trust the least?" (Re: sorting out NIL issues). Griffin: "Congress".
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I don’t care what kind of basketball you follow, that South Carolina-Stanford game was as good as it gets. What a game for Dawn Staley’s crew.
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Tom Brady must be in the transfer portal.
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Cam Smith on how it buckled down on the Tennessee offense:. "Just drop your nuts.".
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A wild moment this morning as I went to pick up coffee — Lamont Paris had some car trouble in the Dunkin’ drive-thru. SC student Liam McFadden helped him out and Paris covered his order and threw in a dozen donuts for good measure.
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My dad has been going to Grateful Dead shows since August 1980. I’ve been listening to the Dead since I was about five. Tonight we’re at our first show together🤘🤘
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Trevor Lawrence was shown on the big screen advertising next week's Jaguars game. South Carolina fans booed.
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Rattler said there's a few things South Carolina could improve from last week. He was asked what those are:. Rattler, laughing: "I don't know, I kinda just said that.".
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What's the response been in the Columbia community for Beamer and co.?. Beamer: "My wife told me she got a standing ovation when she went to pilates the other day so that was cool.".
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Joyner said that WRs coach Justin Stepp basically kept him from quitting the team this year. "He's a lifesaver for me.". "I love him to death and shoutout to Coach Stepp.".
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Rattler asked about the environment tonight:. "I've never been in a stadium like that, the light show, the Gamecock walk, the fans. Winning in that environment, a win's a win. We're never going to be sad to win.".
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Shane Beamer is here. Offers his condolences to the UVa football program and folks in Charlottesville. Said South Carolina’s players came to him yesterday and wanted to do something to honor those lost. Gamecocks will wear a helmet sticker this weekend.
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Rattler: "That was probably the best I've ever felt in a game. Just felt truly unstoppable out there with my guys.".
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South Carolina had 58 home runs the entire 2022 season. It has 20 homers over its first 30 *innings* this year. That's, well, a little different.
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Dawn Staley got to celebrate the win over LSU with a bunch of her former players that were in attendance today. Really fun scene postgame.
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“First off, y’all are some of the worst predictors in the world. I read some of y’all’s picks in the hotel last night and, man.”
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Thinking about Mike Leach, his family and the folks in Starkville. Scary, scary stuff. Keep them in your prayers.
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Really cool moment today: McCoy Petty — the son of former South Carolina QB Phil Petty — is hanging out with the Gamecocks today. Phil Petty passed away late last month.
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Pretty dang cool moment just now —>. Joyner, looking toward Vann: "We're gonna tell our daughters about this.". Vann: "Yeah we are.". Fist bumped each other.
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South Carolina fans already heading to the parking lot and we haven’t even hit halftime.
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Going on a limb here, I think South Carolina fans are ready for this one…
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Shane Beamer briefly interrupted Juju McDowell’s interview today. McDowell’s reaction is ~perfect~
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Shane Beamer said he was told before the event tonight it’d been a while since a South Carolina head coach came to an event in Rock Hill. “I don’t know what the hell the previous coaches were doing. That will never happen again here at Carolina, I can assure you that.”.
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Asked Mike Leach about the overturned targeting call. His response:. "If you give me $10,000 I'll give you the best explanation in your entire life.".
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Something just broke in the Auburn coaches box based on the crash we just heard in the press box.
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Pen meets paper. 2023 five -star recruit Nyckoles Harbor is headed to South Carolina. Shane Beamer has signed the No. 1 ATH in the class.
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BREAKING: MSU AD John Cohen has been appointed to the NCAA Division 1 baseball committee per an MSU spokesperson. His four year term will run Sept. 1 through Aug. 31, 2023.
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So in the last like 25 minutes:.- NIU upsets Notre Dame in South Bend.- Cal beats Auburn (ACC over SEC!).- Iowa State tops Iowa in a last-second field goal .- South Carolina annihilates Kentucky. College football rocks.
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Juice Wells is making himself some money the last two weeks.
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Oh baby — Missouri DB Martez Manuel sacks Spencer Rattler, takes his towel and does the Sandstorm wave with it. Spicy.
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“I’m going to kick it till someone comes in.” — A’ja Wilson
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A.J. Moye is running with one of the flags during the under-8 timeout. What a time to be alive #iubb.
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MarShawn Lloyd: "We were able to show people two weeks ago wasn't a fluke. We're here now. South Carolina is on the rise. We can compete with anybody.".
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There’s a piece of me that thinks people in Tampa can hear this reaction for the #Caps faithful at Capitol One Arena. 2-0 Caps
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Leach on the SEC's scheduling: . "How would you like to be the schedule guy? Being the schedule guy would be like being a police officer in Portland.".
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Shane Beamer addressing the crowd at halftime. “Y’all better be there in Charlotte when THE Carolina plays those guys from Chapel Hill.”. South Carolina plays UNC in the 2023 season opener.
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Beamer laughing about possible bowl festivities and if the mayo-dump can be one-upped:. "I think that's the problem. I agreed to have mayo dumped on my head. Now every bowl is going to be like 'This idiot will have anything dumped on him.'".
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Beamer asked about recruiting and the effect the upsets over Tennessee and Clemson have:. "There are some young men who are committed elsewhere who have reached out to us this week after what's gone on and that's pretty cool.".
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Beamer: "I would hope the progress we've made is extremely evident at this point.".
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~Some personal news~. This is my final week at The State. Next week, I’m joining Sports Business Journal (@SBJ) as its new college sports reporter. Taking on a national role is a lifelong dream, but I want to use this time to thank everyone who’s made Columbia feel like home
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Clemson is set to hire Atlanta Hawks SVP of Global Partnerships Michael Drake, @SBJ has learned. Drake will serve as the CEO of Clemson Ventures — a new vertical that applies a pseudo-pro model to its athletics operations centered on revenue generation.
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~Some personal news~. Today is my final day with The Commercial Dispatch. I'll be joining The State (@thestate) as the South Carolina football beat reporter in two weeks. It's hard to put these last two years in Starkville into words. I tried to sum it up as best I could.
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CB Cam Smith is planning on staying at South Carolina. ". Staying is the best position for me.". Huge get for the Gamecocks assuming that holds.
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Alexis Tolefree sticking around for HS teammate Jordan Danberry’s senior night celebration. Nice gesture from the Arkansas guard.
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Early observation from Day 1:. Nyck Harbor is an insanely large human
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It’s far, far, far from the most important thing tonight, but the way Ryan Clark, SVP, Lisa Salters and the rest of the ESPN crew has handled themselves tonight is as professional and empathetic as it gets. Should be shown and taught in journalism classes starting tomorrow.
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Beamer telling a story about UK WR Dane Key, who South Carolina recruited. Said he was told after UK beat Florida last year, Key's mom hurt her ankle/foot storming the field. "Note to self — when the recruit's mom injures herself storming the field, you're probably out of it.".
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I genuinely hate being ~that guy~ on social media, but a little personal indulgence today:. My doc told me in January I needed to get healthier. We set some goals to hit by training camp. 50 pounds and over 250 miles run later, camp is one day away. Let’s football, shall we?
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Juju McDowell on Spencer Rattler:. “As long as someone’s putting some good sugar in his Cheerios we’re having a good day.”.
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Costello to close: . "A lot of guys are inspired by the quarterback. I've been inspired by the guys in the building since I stepped foot on campus June 1.".
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So to recap: MSU football received commitments from No. 1 JUCO ILB Navonteque Strong and Alabama WR transfer Tyrell Shavers, while Nikki McCray-Penson earned a pledge from top-100 PG Mia Moore. Big recruiting day for the Bulldogs department-wide.
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My parents are texting me about Jake Mangum and the environment at Dudy Noble as they watch this game at home in Florida. Folks, y'all have turned two Michigan Wolverines into Bulldog fans.
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Another big 2024 commitment for South Carolina in four-star TE Michael Smith out of Savannah, Georgia. He's the No. 134 player and No. 6 TE in the 2024 class, per the 247Sports Composite.
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On Sept. 20, 2001, Miss. St. and South Carolina met in the first major college football game after 9/11. Two decades on, those that were there reflect on that harrowing night & how football helped a nation begin to heal. “It brought tears to your eyes.”.
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Interesting note: Shane Beamer said on SEC Nation right now there were less plays in the gameplan against Tennessee and Clemson than to start the year vs. Georgia State. We’d heard Beamer say South Carolina “simplified” things some, so there you go.
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Erroll Thompson on DC Zach Arnett: "This is probably a bold statement but he's the best defensive coordinator I've ever had.".
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BREAKING | Nikki McCray-Penson (@NikkiMccray15) is set to be named the next head coach at Mississippi State. She was 53-40 at Old Dominion including 20-win seasons the last two years. Also spent 10 years as an assistant at South Carolina.
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Beamer talking about Texas A&M QB Connor Weigman, who Oklahoma recruited when he was on staff in Norman:. "There were only one or two QBs that Lincoln (Riley) offered every year and he was one of them. I think that tells you everything you need to know.".
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Redskins fans are going to love Wes Martin. Kid works as hard as anyone and is an absolute beast in the trenches. You got a good one Washington.
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Hunter Beamer making an appearance. Got asked what he thought about the mayo bath. "It was awesome" he said smiling.
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South Carolina has absolutely cleaned up at OL in 2023 and 2024:.- Kam Pringle (4*, 46 ovr.).- Markee Anderson (4*, 135 ovr.).- Tree Babalade (4*, 248 ovr.).- Trovon Baugh (4*, 434 ovr.).- Jatavius Shivers (3*, 847 ovr.). Big credit owed to Lonnie Teasley and Greg Adkins there.
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Michigan has played eight games vs. SEC teams since 2012 (including Georgia tonight). The Wolverines will be 2-6 in those contests. South Carolina: 0-2.Alabama: 0-2.Florida: 2-1.Georgia: 0-1. Wolverines were outscored 176-92 in those losses and averaged 18.4 points.
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Asked Spencer Rattler about the one-year anniversary of being benched in the Texas-Oklahoma game. Spicy stuff:. "You guys saw the score of that game today. We came out and got a big win. I guess things just work out.".
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USC has agreed to a multiyear agreement with DirecTV that will include signage for the company along the end zone out-of-bounds lines. The signage will debut when USC faces Utah State in its home opener on Saturday.
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Shane Beamer has thoughts on Kai Kroeger's Ray Guy snub and, in fairness, hard to argue Kroeger isn't one of America's 3 best punters. He's 2nd nationally in YPA, T8 in punts inside the 20 and has just five touchbacks on 52 punts. Also has 3 completions for 84 yards and 1 TD.
Do the people that vote on this actually WATCH football ?. What a joke.
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In football news, Spencer Rattler just posted a hype video ahead of his first spring at South Carolina that included this snippet. 917 just happens to be an NYC area code for all you Heisman Trophy fans out there.
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Mike Leach had a lengthy rant today about the 2020 season. This was his close:. "The politicians are trying to beat their chests and maximize on this at every step and in the end together with all the emotion and clutter we've created one of the most joyless seasons on earth.".
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JJ Enagbare speaking with reporters now. "Games like this are the reason I wanted to come back. This is one of the games I'm going to remember.".
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Huge news for South Carolina — Juice Wells is coming back, he announced. Wells was the second-leading receiver in the SEC this year behind only Jalin Hyatt. Now eyes turn to Spencer Rattler….
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Erroll Thompson on senior day: . "Mississippi State means a lot to me. It's changed my life as a young man and a football player.".
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Another stat from last night: South Carolina's defense has now forced 19 turnovers this season — good for No. 9 nationally and the most in the SEC. The offense deserves a ton of credit for last night's win, but Clayton White's defense has been lights out most of this fall.
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Armed with a 40-pound bag of candy and a smile, Ron Caulfield is a local celebrity of sorts. But for the first time in 23 years, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought his candy-related endeavors to a halt. Meet Mississippi State’s own Willy Wonka. Read:
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