GCTH: Five important insights from February 27

GamecockCentral Takeover Recap – Key South Carolina Sports Topics

On Thursday’s GamecockCentral Takeover, presented by Firehouse Subs on The Game, the crew delved into some hot topics surrounding South Carolina sports. Here’s a quick rundown of what you can catch from the show:

Paul Mainieri Embraces Underdog Status
Veteran Gamecocks coach Paul Mainieri is perfectly fine with his team flying under the radar, especially as South Carolina remains outside the top 25. However, a strong performance against Clemson this weekend could swiftly alter national perceptions of the team.

Weekend Series Against Clemson Holds Weight
While it’s not a decisive moment for South Carolina baseball, the upcoming series against Clemson still carries significance. A series win would not only add a ranked opponent to the resume but also deliver the emotional satisfaction of besting their rival.

Beamer’s Contract Extension Debate
Andy Staples from On3 recently questioned whether South Carolina needed to offer Shane Beamer a contract extension this offseason. Chris on the show believes this is an oversimplification of the issue, suggesting there’s more nuance to the conversation.

Coaching Salaries and Job Security
The crew discussed the nature of college coaching, where coaches are either securing extensions or facing the risk of being fired. A large part of these contracts is to prevent top schools from poaching talented coaches.

Arizona State’s Unique Contract Clause
Coach Kenny Dillingham at Arizona State has a new deal that includes a clause ensuring full revenue-sharing funds for player retention and NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) efforts. This and other similar clauses could become a growing trend in college sports as NIL plays an increasing role.

Stay tuned as we continue to bring you more updates from South Carolina sports!

More news….

South Carolina Gamecocks Eliminated from Jared Curtis Recruitment Race

In a major development for the 2026 recruiting class, Jared Curtis has officially narrowed down his college choices, and unfortunately, the South Carolina Gamecocks have been cut from the running.

On Saturday, the highly coveted five-star quarterback announced that his decision is now down to Georgia and Oregon. This leaves South Carolina on the outside looking in, as the Gamecocks no longer appear to be in contention for Curtis’s commitment.

However, it’s important to note that Curtis has made it clear he will only be taking official visits to Georgia and Oregon, despite previously planning to visit South Carolina in late June. While this doesn’t completely shut the door on the Gamecocks, it does place them at a significant disadvantage.

Curtis, who is regarded as the No. 1 quarterback and the second-best player overall in the 2026 class, is also considered the best player from Tennessee according to composite rankings. His status as a five-star recruit makes his decision a highly watched one.

Even though it’s still early in the recruiting cycle, and the Gamecocks have ample opportunities to secure a strong class this year, missing out on Curtis is undoubtedly a blow.

Currently, South Carolina has five commitments in the 2026 class, with J’Zavien Currence, a standout safety who has been committed since last October, leading the charge.