The Auburn job opening up has officially thrown a wrench into the South Carolina Gamecocks’ own staff building process, as the Tigers successfully hired away offensive coordinator Mike Bobo and freshly installed offensive line coach Will Friend.
Bobo’s retention was a controversial matter among the Gamecock faithful, but some were warming up to it from the perspective of having some continuity for the players — and willing to give Bobo another chance under a new head coach, since schematically, the offense had some promise last year. Others, though, were upset that Shane Beamer had decided to roll with him, preferring instead that South Carolina make a fresh start from the Will Muschamp era.