Connor Shaw returns home to assist Muschamp, help Gamecock players By Josh Hyber | Staff writer • Photo by Allen Sharpe
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ill Muschamp began his news conference on January 15 by stating the obvious. “I’d like to introduce somebody that needs absolutely no introduction here in Columbia, South Carolina and welcome him back,” the South Carolina head coach began before officially announcing Connor Shaw as the team’s new Director of Player Development. “ … A guy that’s the winningest quarterback in South Carolina history, can relate with our players. We truly believe in outlets here for our players. I think we have as good of support off the field as anybody in the country. … And now Connor is a huge part of that with our Beyond Football program and with life skills and just being a mentor for our guys every day.” Shaw, Muschamp said, practically lived at Williams-Brice Stadium when he was the team’s starting quarterback under Steve Spurrier. “It was kind of confirmed in our first team meeting how much I really missed this type of environment,” Shaw said. “Coach going through the goals and expectations, seeing guys take down notes, being ready to work and compete. I can’t wait to be a part of their journey. “… Every guy in that locker room chose the University of South Carolina because they believed they would be developed into outstanding football players, earn a great education and leave here as mature and respectable men.”
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From 2010-13, Shaw led Carolina to a 27-5 record, including a 17-0 at Williams-Brice Stadium. In his four-year career, he completed 65.5 percent of his passes for 6,074 yards and 56 touchdowns while also rushing for 1,683 yards and 17 scores. Shaw, 28, broke down his role into four parts: career building, mental health, life skills and mentorship. He will help players with things like professional development, networking, self-awareness, decision making and planning while they are on campus. “We’re going to use football to accomplish what they want to accomplish out of ball,” Shaw said. “My first step is just to get to know the guys. The more I know them, the more I can help them. I’m not going to pretend that I’m some know-it-all who has all the answers, but I what I will offer is authentic feedback and open dialogue to whatever they feel like they need help with.” As evidenced by Muschamp’s comments and feedback on social media, Shaw’s return had the feel of a homecoming. “I think I always had aspirations to be back a part of this program in some sort of role,” Shaw said. “… Regardless of the timing, it was an opportunity to come back to the university that I love and that I invested so much into and invested so much into me. “… I think the first conversation [coach Muschamp] and I had was, we don’t have a lot of, you know, bad guys, character-wise. These
guys want to learn. They want to be sponges. And they want to work hard. “… For the timing, it could have been two months ago, it could have been two months from now, I would have been ride or die.” The team’s previous Director of Player Development, Marcus Lattimore, left the university where he was an ambassador and legend to
I just want to be a sponge so I can come back and kind of make my stamp here. – CONNOR SHAW study psychology abroad in Europe. Shaw said he will continue to bounce ideas off Lattimore and former Gamecock quarterback Dylan Thompson (2010-14), who holds the title Character Coach/Team Development with the Detroit Lions. He will also lean on sports psychologist Dr. Gloria Balague, who worked for the Chicago Bears when Shaw played there. “I just want to be a sponge so I can come back and kind of make my stamp here,” he said.
JANUARY 2020
