Hour 2: Shane Beamer, South Carolina HC

Summary

The Paul Finebaum Show – July 21, 2026

Hour 2: Shane Beamer, South Carolina Head Coach

Host: Paul Finebaum (ESPN, College Football)
Key Guests: Shane Beamer (South Carolina HC), Michael Bratton & Mike (That SEC Podcast), Cedric Alexander (Vanderbilt RB), Junior Cheryl (Vanderbilt), Issa Otara (Vanderbilt)
Main Theme: A live episode from SEC Media Days in Tampa, with lively roundtable debates on team outlooks, an insider’s look at the South Carolina program from Coach Beamer, and player perspectives from Vanderbilt’s surging roster.

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Episode Overview

This episode captures the spirit of SEC Media Days in Tampa, featuring a blend of expert commentary, insider interviews, and authentic player stories. Paul Finebaum and his guests analyze the shifting landscape in the SEC, debate playoff contenders, and probe the mindset of teams like South Carolina and Vanderbilt on the eve of the 2026 season. Standout segments include candid thoughts from Shane Beamer on building a program, Vanderbilt’s unexpected rise, and player insights that humanize the grind of college football.

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1. SEC Landscape and Big Storylines

(00:41 – 09:48)

Georgia’s Dominance and Contenders

• Michael Bratton and Mike (That SEC Podcast) join Paul for a rapid-fire debate.
• Mike: “Georgia is not only going to win the SEC, they’re going to win the national championship this year.” (02:18)
• Paul (joking): "I didn’t even get to the predicate of the sentence. He’s already making a declaration.” (02:29)
• Michael pokes fun at Texas: “I remembered that Steve Sarkeesian is still the head coach… so Texas is not winning this conference.” (02:37)

Oklahoma Hype vs. Tough Schedule

• Michael says Ole Miss and Oklahoma are being overlooked but have potential.
• Paul: “When I look at Oklahoma’s schedule, Mike, I get a little concerned. At Michigan, week two, that’s going to be difficult. They can’t beat Texas. At Georgia.” (03:54)
• Mike disagrees: “I think Oklahoma is the second-best team in this conference. I think they’ll meet Georgia in Atlanta…” (04:01)

Alabama’s Quiet Era and ‘Four-loss DeBoer’

• Mike with a hot take: “This media days used to be run by Alabama. I don’t hear anything about them. That’s because they’re coached by four-loss DeBoer. I think they’re going eight and four again…” (04:17)
• Paul: “I was on First Take with Stephen A talking about that very subject and he agrees with you.” (04:40)

Lane Kiffin Unpredictability

• Jokes about Lane Kiffin’s lack of scheduled appearances but being a wildcard guest (“That’s just the Lane Kiffin way. You just never know what to expect.” – Mike, 06:03)
• Consensus: Ole Miss is entertaining but still seen as an “8-4” type team (06:03).

Surprise Playoff Picks

• Mike picks Tennessee as a wild card playoff team, touting Coach Josh Heupel’s quarterback development.
  “Tennessee is making the College Football Playoff. Who cares who their quarterback is? Josh Heupel… all he does is produce quarterbacks year after year.” (06:20)
• Paul is skeptical, quipping about needing to know the QB before believing the hype (07:08).
• Light-hearted ribbing about Peyton Manning supporting Texas because of his nephew, Arch. “You’re the most famous player in Tennessee history and you’re pulling– because it’s a nephew. It’s not like it’s a son. It’s a nephew.” (08:31)

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2. Vanderbilt’s Cedric Alexander – Beyond the Stereotype

(11:11 – 23:40)

Academic Balance and Parental Influence

• Cedric Alexander (RB) joins Paul for an in-depth conversation.
• Alexander credits his parents for instilling academic values:
  “My parents pushed me to be successful in the classroom. That’s one thing they instilled in me when I was a little kid and I just ran away with it.” (11:51)
• Currently enrolled in graduate studies at Vanderbilt: “Can’t wait to attack that this year, going through my last year at Vanderbilt.” (12:18)

Choosing to Stay, Playing for Legacy

• Finebaum notes Alexander could have entered the NFL: “You could have come out, making big-time money already… What made you decide to stay?” (13:01)
• Alexander: “I felt like we had unfinished business… we still have a chip on our shoulder and we’re still trying to go win that national championship…” (13:18)

Culture Shift and Team Identity

• On Vanderbilt’s transformation:
  “It’s just Coach Lee’s vision… he speaks power [to] all the players. When he gets everybody on one accord, Vanderbilt football is very dangerous.” (14:21)
• Inflection point:
  “We knew we had to put it all together, take each week in and out… we definitely did better [last year]. We got better each season ever since I’ve been here.” (15:10)

QB Competition and Offensive Adaptation

• On adapting to a quarterback battle:
  “For me, it feels good. I think I have the mind of a quarterback… I can definitely see defenses and see the things they bring towards us, and I know how to attack it.” (16:02)

Personal Life & Perspective

• Paul jokes about the rumor Alexander is married:
  “I’m not married, but it’s okay because I’m married to the game.” (17:44)
  • Explains: “You put most of your life into this person, but you’re putting most of your life into this game… this is the game that is going to get me to where I want to be and the legacy I want to leave.” (18:25)

Family Roots and Texas Connection

• Paul asks about growing up in Austin:
  “I didn’t grow up a Texas fan. I grew up a Sooners fan… When it came to my recruitment, it was about who wanted me, who thought highly of me.” (20:33)
• On returning to play in Austin: “My whole life I never played at DKR… it was a great experience… even though we lost, I felt like we learned a lot from that game.” (21:31)

Playoff Heartbreak and Looking Ahead

• On being left out of the Playoff despite a strong run:
  “It’s very… nerve-wracking. But at the end of the day, you can only control what you want to.” (22:52)
• Focused on the first game only: “We only have one game. Only got one game. We’re focused on one game right now.” (23:29)

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3. Shane Beamer – Building (and Keeping) South Carolina

(25:17 – 33:43)

Rebounding from Disappointment

• Paul to Beamer: “We heard some of your comments addressing what we thought you were going to do last year versus what ended up… last year really doesn’t matter anymore, does it?” (25:18)
• Beamer: “I think you look back at last year… you certainly look back at what you need to do to make sure that doesn’t happen again… but again, that’s in the past and we’re looking forward to 2026.” (25:36)

Staff Changes and Program Evolution

• “Kendall [Barros] has been a great addition… he knows what he wants his offense to look like… it’s been exciting seeing him inject some energy into the offense.” (26:14)

Transparency and Media Savvy

• Paul calls Beamer honest and transparent, asking about that approach:
  “Extremely blessed to be in this position… constantly trying to learn and grow as we move forward.” (27:17)
• On following narratives: “I think it’s my job… I’m also not naive. Our players are on their phones… just being able to kind of understand what the narrative is, I think is part of what I do.” (28:34)

South Carolina Fan Culture

• Paul: “South Carolina fans are one of the most realistic fan bases… it makes you probably want to satisfy them even more.” (29:34)
• Beamer: “Passionate, loyal is what they are… I want nothing more than to bring them a championship because they are so hungry, so passionate.” (30:03)

The Thin Line in the SEC

• “We had six games last season that we lost that were one-score games going into the fourth quarter. That’s a play here, a play there… in this league, there’s great parity. Every game’s going to be close.” (31:45)

On Self-Evaluation

• “After every game… not just in the game but leading up… after a season, you look back… sometimes it’s one thing, sometimes it’s a big picture thing. Those are all things, in regards to how I do my job as the leader of this program, that you’re always trying to grow and get better at.” (33:05)

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4. Vanderbilt Players: Junior Cheryl and Issa Otara

(34:09 – 39:14)

Issa Otara’s International Journey

• Born in Germany, moved to France, then back to Germany:
  “A lot of chance, great people in my corner… people who introduced me to the sport… helped me get to Nashville.” (34:39)
• “Didn’t start playing [football] until 2019… when I was about 16 years old.” (35:00)
• Dabbled in tennis, swimming, rowing, gymnastics before football.

Junior Cheryl’s Football Roots

• Played football “at four years old. My dad stuck me on a team…” (35:20)
• Known for his speed and now for his fashion, thanks to his mom:
  “Shout out to my dukes, man. She came up with the idea… she’s been begging me to dress me for, like, the whole year.” (35:55)

Life, Media Training, and Giving Back

• On handling Media Days:
  “Took a lot of practice, you know, having a lot of media training… it’s kind of second nature now.” (37:22)
• “I really believe in what we got on the team. A lot of talent, young talent at that… we really got something in store for you guys.” (38:49)
• Issa: “We have so many new faces… it’s just great seeing those guys taking steps and getting better… getting a glimpse at what will be in the fall.” (39:04)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Mike on Georgia’s certainty: “Georgia is not only going to win the SEC, they’re going to win the national championship this year.” (02:18)
• Paul Finebaum (deadpan): “I just heard that Georgia’s going to win the national championship. Has he said anything outrageous since then?” (06:56)
• Cedric Alexander on being married to football: “I’m not married, but it’s okay because I’m married to the game.” (17:44)
• Shane Beamer reflecting on lean years: “I saw the early days for [my father] at Virginia Tech, where his fifth season he won five games, his sixth season he won two games. Times are different now in college athletics… But I also understand how blessed I am to be in this position.” (27:17)
• Beamer on social media and narrative: “I think it’s my job. Am I on my phone all day long? No… But I’m also not naive. Our players are on their phones and listening to people.” (28:34)
• Paul on SEC pressure: “There’s coaches in this league that have won national championships and then were fired a couple years later… It’s year six and I think I’m the third longest tenured coach in this league right now.” (30:45)

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Key Timestamps

• 00:41 – Roundtable intro, fun with Michael Bratton & Mike
• 02:18 – Mike’s Georgia championship prediction
• 04:17 – Alabama & DeBoer debate
• 06:20 – Mike picks Tennessee as a Playoff wild card
• 11:11 – Cedric Alexander interview begins
• 15:10 – Alexander on Vanderbilt’s turnaround
• 20:33 – Alexander discusses his Texas and Oklahoma roots
• 25:17 – Shane Beamer interview begins
• 31:45 – Beamer: “How thin is that line?” on SEC parity
• 34:09 – Junior Cheryl and Issa Otara join
• 38:49 – Vanderbilt’s young talent and player optimism

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Tone & Takeaway

The episode offers a balance of humor, candor, and genuine insight into college football’s highest-stakes territory. Paul Finebaum’s conversational style draws out bold predictions and playful banter, but also guides guests to open up about program culture and the personal journeys that underpin team success. By episode’s end, the conversations reflect why SEC football is equal parts spectacle, pressure cooker, and proving ground.

Transcript

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[Paul Feinbaum]

the pride, passion and pageantry of college football lives here. This is the Paul Feinbaum Show. Our two podcasts.

This might be college football. And on a very busy day in Tampa, the second day of SEC media days continues. What a day it has been so far. Media always gathering around, of course, Kirby Smart as it was his day. Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Others and Auburn. And look who's dropped by the set here to kick us off. We'll talk to Shane Beamer and Clark Lee a little bit later on, but cousin Shane, who continues to look thinner every time I see her.

[Michael Bratton]

And I'm afraid this chair is just going to keep getting lower.

[Paul Feinbaum]

You look great. I don't know what you've been doing, but I would stop doing it. And Michael Bratton, of course, the two stars of that SEC podcast. Well, guys, I don't know. I've been kind of all over the place. Has anything happened today here?

[Mike]

Well, I think you've come to us because Legend couldn't make it. I heard he got booted from the event.

[Michael Bratton]

Oh,

[Paul Feinbaum]

Bratton, we, we are not talking about legends here. I mean, we can't, I mean, we're just, you know, they're, they're, they're guys, they're guards all around us and we, we don't, we want to finish this.

[Mike]

You're saying we're going to be the next that are getting booted?

[Paul Feinbaum]

You guys. Yeah, there's a story out about legend if you want to catch up on it. We will move on from that subject here today now that Bratton has dipped his toe into the Legend water. But other than Legend not making it in, Kirby Smart was here today. I don't know if you noticed that or not.

[Mike]

Yeah, and you seem pretty confident, Paul. And I think he should be because Georgia is not only going to win the sec, they're going to win the national championship this year.

[Paul Feinbaum]

I don't even get the finish. I didn't get to the predicate of the sentence. He's already making declaration.

[Michael Bratton]

I think Mike forgot Texas is in this league, didn't he?

[Mike]

No, I remembered that Steve Sarkeesian is still the head coach of the Texas Longhorn. So Texas is not winning this conference.

[Paul Feinbaum]

And Steve Sarkeesian was scheduled to join the show later in the week. I said scheduled to join the show before that comment.

[Mike]

Well, I may have just lost it for you. I apologize for that poll.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Well, you can come back assuming that you're still credentialed. Let's talk about a couple of the other programs because obviously Brad has chimed. I bet that's not the first time you heard that proclamation.

[Michael Bratton]

No, no, not at all. And I tell you, I felt like there was a whole bunch of storylines coming into this thing. But there's a few teams that I feel like we always have moving up the list after media days and Ole Miss one of them. I said, hey, Lane Kiffin's gone. Ole Miss is going to implode. We get a couple Ole Miss guys over there, I get drawn back in. And same with the Sooners, man, I feel like Oklahoma, a lot of people are sleeping on them.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Well, yeah, I don't know. I keep hearing Oklahoma being picked by some people. There's a battle line. But when I look at Oklahoma schedule, Mike, I get a little concerned.

[Mike]

Yeah. At Michigan, week two, that's going to be difficult. They can't beat Texas. At Georgia.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Yeah. I mean, that's a. That's the early part of the season,

[Mike]

but I think it's always wrong to look at the schedule when you forecast these teams. I think Oklahoma is the second best team in this conference. I think they'll meet Georgia in the. In Atlanta, in the SEC championship. Do they still have the SEC championship? If they still do, it's.

[Paul Feinbaum]

I don't know.

[Michael Bratton]

They'll be there.

[Paul Feinbaum]

I haven't really gotten that far on my travel plans yet. I'm going week to week right now with my situation.

[Mike]

Paul, one team I really wanted to ask you about because I've not heard literally anything about them. This media days used to be run by Alabama. I don't hear anything about them. And I think that's because they're coached by four loss DeBoer. I think they're going eight and four again and I don't think that Alabama's got the finances to move on from him.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Well, I know you were busy today going to press conferences and interviewing people. I was on First Take with Stephen A talking about that very subject and he agrees with you

[Mike]

and I mean, he's a really good coach, but is he the right fit for Alabama?

[Paul Feinbaum]

I think that's the question. No one. No one. We don't need to waste time disputing his record. But another four loss.

[Mike]

Four loss DeBoer. That's what he is, Paul, and that's what he'll be at Alabama.

[Paul Feinbaum]

I'm rarely speechless, cousin Shane, but I, I mean, usually we get Brett Thursday. I'm, I'm revved up. I've kind of gotten the lay of the way and I'm still kind of getting my training wheels on here and I'm just not quick enough to keep up with.

[Michael Bratton]

Be honest with you, Paul. I'm not used to coming so early in the week. You're usually breaking down the set when we're up here, so.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Well, we, we didn't tell you. You'll be back Friday afternoon even though we won't be here.

[Mike]

Is Lane Kiffin coming by the set?

[Paul Feinbaum]

I don'. I don't see that on the schedule.

[Michael Bratton]

Now.

[Paul Feinbaum]

It is a fact that he was not scheduled last year either. And he showed up.

[Michael Bratton]

Oh, it was pure.

[Paul Feinbaum]

I think he's here tomorrow.

[Mike]

The last day.

[Michael Bratton]

Oh, the last.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Oh, he's here Thursday. Yeah, I think he's here early Thursday, though, which means we're not, we're not in that early window.

[Mike]

Well, that's just the Lane Kiffin way. You just never know what to expect. And I expect them to not make the College Football Playoff, despite how much they're spending on their roster. Paul, I think they're another 8 and 4 type team this year.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Would you mind finishing this interview?

[Michael Bratton]

So many losers. Who's winning, Mike?

[Mike]

I told you. Georgia, Georgia, Oklahoma. And then I'll give you a wild card, Paul. Tennessee is making the College Football Playoff. Who cares who their quarterback is? Josh Hypo. All he does is produce quarterbacks year after year. There's talent all around him. We had desean Bishop, the running back on with us. He said he's going to try to break the Tennessee record for rushing this year. I think the defense will be a lot better. I think Tennessee is the last team into the playoff. From the sec.

[Michael Bratton]

I can't disagree.

[Paul Feinbaum]

I am, I am on like a minute delay, so I'm just now hearing.

[Michael Bratton]

Did they kill that last.

[Paul Feinbaum]

I just, I just heard that George is going to win the national championship. Has he said anything outrageous since then?

[Mike]

Hey, Tennessee dodges Georgia this year, too, so I think that helps now.

[Paul Feinbaum]

I mean, we, we had Hypo on yesterday and I thought he was loose. Yeah, some fun. Even tried to hit me up for nil money. I shut him down quickly. It's been a rough year for me. And it. I just do not agree with that one. I mean, I would like to know who the quarterback is. I think it's important to have a quarterback if you're going to make the playoff. And do you know who the quarterback's going to be at Tennessee?

[Mike]

Yeah, it's going to be Faison. Brandon, the true freshman. So again, yeah, he's very inexperienced. He's not played at this level, but I.

[Paul Feinbaum]

But he's going to go to the playoffs.

[Mike]

Hey, they did it last time with a quarterback that had never really played in Nico, so I think they can do it again.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Are you. Are you. Are you trying to become a mannequin or will you say something on this show?

[Michael Bratton]

I'm agreeing with. I'm not used to agreeing with Mike on a Tennessee take. But you agree with that same camp. You know, and I do feel like. Like there's a lot of fun story lines coming in also. I mean, we talked about the mustard bottles and everything with. With Lane Kiffin, but you got to think go is coming back to town. We got to go Texas. The battle. The real UTs will. Will be gone. And of course, Peyton Manning doesn't love us anymore, apparently.

[Paul Feinbaum]

But what happened with 10 with Peyton Manning?

[Michael Bratton]

Nice. He's.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Has he flipped? Has he gone?

[Mike]

He's a Texas fan now.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Oh, Peyton, man, can you believe him?

[Michael Bratton]

For his nephew.

[Paul Feinbaum]

And I don't blame him, the professor of Tennessee. I know he's in the liberal arts, but that's really a little too liberal for my taste to be able to. I mean, you're the most famous player in Tennessee history and you're pulling. I mean, because it's a nephew. It's not like it's a son. It's a nephew.

[Cedric Alexander]

Yeah.

[Paul Feinbaum]

You care what your nephews do?

[Mike]

No, I don't even know him.

[Michael Bratton]

I'm a Louisville fan, so

[Paul Feinbaum]

mine are waiting outside.

[Mike]

Legend. No,

[Paul Feinbaum]

I have to tell you. I mean, I've only. I've done this for. I've done this for 8 million years. This is the roughest period of. Roughest 9 minutes I've ever had in my life. We got a big time Vanderbilt running back and I'm glad you didn't have anything to say about Shane Biebers because he's dropping by here in a few minutes.

[Michael Bratton]

Oh, he's on our table after, so we had to be nice before.

[Mike]

I can give you a Shane Beamer take Paul. Everybody thinks he's going to get fired. He's getting a contract extension by the end of the year. I think Carolina exceeds expectations.

[Paul Feinbaum]

And the rest of the hour will be without Michael Bratton. We got a couple of a couple of Vandera players there and no more Michael Bratton. At least until Thursday afternoon. When we're desperate, we're coming right back.

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[Paul Feinbaum]

You're listening to the Paul Feinbaum show

podcast and we welcome you back to SEC Media Days of beautiful scene here in Tampa. And talk about beautiful scenes. How about the Vanderbilt season last year and one of the main reasons was Cedric Alexander. I know Pavia just sucked up all the oxygen from the media, but you were doing the hard work. Cedric, great to see you and thank you very much for coming by.

[Cedric Alexander]

Thank you for having me.

[Paul Feinbaum]

I want to talk about a couple of things before we even get to football. We talk about student athletes and sometimes there's a level of cynicism. But you just got a degree and you're already working on another one. That is amazing, especially at a school like Vanderbilt.

[Cedric Alexander]

Tell us about that. I think the biggest thing for me was like my parents pushing me to be successful in the classroom. That's one thing they instilled in me when I was a little kid and I just ran away with it. I wanted to get a great education, be able to fall off on something after football, be able to do something that I want to do after football. So being able to be successful in that aspect.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Well, I know you're not going into fashion, but you're off to a good start with that outfit. What? What? Tell us about your, your, your graduate studies already. You're already into that.

[Cedric Alexander]

Yeah, I just, I just got started, I just got admitted into. So I'm just, just now getting, getting started on that. But I can't wait to attack that this year. Going through my last year of Vanderbilt.

[Paul Feinbaum]

I'm curious about something because we get hung up on, on football and we do forget sometimes if there is an academic side to this. I know people at Vanderbilt don't forget that. But how do you balance that, especially doing as well as you've done to matriculate to a graduate program?

[Cedric Alexander]

Yeah, I think that testimony to my parents, I think when I was a young age I couldn't play football unless I, I couldn't play football unless I did good in academics. So I was trying to make sure that I was balancing both, made sure that I did both the right way so I can be able to do both in the future.

[Paul Feinbaum]

So speaking of that, you could have come out, you could have been making big time money already. College players were already making a lot of money, but in the NFL. What made you decide to stay and talk about the importance of this one more year?

[Cedric Alexander]

I felt like we had unfinished business here at Vanderbilt University. I wanted to come back. I believed in Coach Lee's vision, been believing in it since I got here. And I think one of the biggest things was just having unfinished business. I think we still have a chip on our shoulder and we're still trying to go win that national championship that we set out to do.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Now I want to ask you about that. It was about a year ago we talked to Diego and I'll tell on myself. I asked him about the goals for the season and he said our goal is to win the national championship. And I had a hard time laughing because I've grown up with Vanderbilt as you know, being a punchline. What, what, what is talk about inside that program? What has propelled this program two years ago to upset Alabama, one of the biggest upsets in SEC history to come within a hair of the College Football Playoff last year. Take us behind the scenes and explain.

[Cedric Alexander]

Yeah, really, it's just Coach Lee's vision. He gets us in that team meeting room and he speaks power between each, all the coaches, all the players. He speaks a lot of volumes and like everybody believes in him and when he gets everybody on one accord, Vanderbilt football is very dangerous. So him relating the message to each one of his players and staff makes our, makes our program go.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Cedric, was there a moment in time that you can remember where this program quit being the old Vanderbilt? I mean he's talked about this for A long time, but it takes a while to build something like he currently has. Was there an inflection point where, okay, enough of throwing away games, enough of having people look down on us. We're going to break through that wall and do what we think we can do.

[Cedric Alexander]

Yeah. We knew that we were a great team. We knew that we just had to put it all together, take each week in and out, go one and note each and every. We knew that Coach Lee has had a standard for us, and we tried to reach that standard. Obviously, we didn't win the national championship last year, so we didn't reach 100% of our goals, but we definitely did better. We got better each and every season ever since I've been here. And I'm just looking forward to this season. I'm looking forward to the bigger and better things, the things that our program can do and y' all gonna see this year.

[Paul Feinbaum]

I know your job is to. Is to make the offense more balanced, but when we talk to Coach Lee a few weeks ago, naturally I asked him about the quarterback situation, and we're just trying to get an understanding of it because there's a lot of talent at that position. How is it for you, you know, being in the backfield, adapting as a major quarterback battle is ensuing?

[Cedric Alexander]

For me, it feels good. I think that I have the mind of a quarterback not saying I can do the things that a quarterback can do, but I can definitely speak my mind. I can definitely see offenses, I mean, see defenses and see the things that they bring towards us, and I know how to attack it. So just me having that off offensive mind, that quarterback mind for our team is going to be special.

[Michael Bratton]

How long?

[Paul Feinbaum]

Again, I'm asking you a coach's question, but you're certainly the team leader. How long do you think it takes? And a lot of coaches say, you know, we're going to let it unfold. And then other coaches, in fact, one told me yesterday, ultimately the players decide. I don't know what that means, but you probably do because you start to gravitate around one guy over the other.

[Cedric Alexander]

When it comes to what?

[Paul Feinbaum]

When it comes to the quarterback.

[Cedric Alexander]

When it comes to the quarterback, I think the biggest thing with the quarterbacks is, like, the decision is going to be made, and when the decision is made, it's going to be the right decision. It's going to be the guy we trust that's going to get us to. Get us to want to know each and every week. And I leave that up to the coaches. I let them do Their job. And I feel like I trust them so much that I believe whatever they choose is going to be the right decision.

[Paul Feinbaum]

We're talking to one of the bright young players in the sec, Cedric Alexander, returning for his final year. You're a little bit different than some players, not all, but you got a degree and you're also married. Congratulations on that. Tell us about a lot of responsibilities for someone. Now, you've been in school for a while, but you're not living the life of the. Or maybe you are of the average college student because a lot more of them do. Do get married these days. Talk about that aspect of your life, if you. If you don't mind.

[Cedric Alexander]

Well, it's okay. I'm not married, but it's okay because I'm married to the game. And that's one thing that I love is the game. And that's one thing that I enjoy doing, is being attached to the games for so long, so.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Well, you know what I'm glad to hear because we obviously, in reading about you, saw you talk about being married, we misunderstood. There is a difference, I think, between being married to a human being and being married to a game. Well, you forced me to follow up. I was gonna ask you about your family life, but I can't do that now since you don't have one. But in terms of the game, what does that mean, to be married to the game?

[Cedric Alexander]

It means a lot. It means that you put most of your life into this person, but you're putting most of your life into this game. This is the game that is gonna get me to where I wanna be and the legacy I wanna leave. So like you said, when you marry a human being, like, this is the person you put all your everything into. And I think that for basically most of my life, I put all my love into football. And that's what I want to do when I get married. I want to put all my love into that person.

[Paul Feinbaum]

By the way, you forced me to ask me about two people that are married, not you, but your parents, because I've heard you reference them a couple of times here. Let's go back a little bit because unfortunately, a lot of young people don't have great guidance growing up because of circumstances. A lot of us don't even appreciate our parents when we have them. What was there about your parents or has been about your parents that has enabled you to get to this point?

[Cedric Alexander]

Yeah, I'm fortunate to have my parents married for most of my life. Basically all the way up until I got to College, they installed what it's like to have a mother and a father in the same household. Something that a lot of people don't get to experience. But me being able to experience that gave me hope. Just want to be just like them. Want to be able to have that person that you trust, that person that you can go back and talk to any time of the day. And like, I think they just set a great example for me as a young man to grow up and have that loving person with you.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Now. People go to Vanderbilt from all over. Not only the country, but the world. It's an international institution. I remember talking to your chancellor. There are branches now in different parts of the country and the world. You grew up in Austin, though, and you can't help grow up in Austin without being in the shadow of the University of Texas. So what did you think about in terms of as a young kid? Not so much as you got out of high school, but was Texas a big influence on you growing up or was it someone else?

[Cedric Alexander]

Texas was one of the places that recruited me in my high school career. Definitely wanted to get that hometown offer. That hometown offer, you know, that's always special. The crazy thing is I didn't even grow up a Texas fan. I grew up a Sooners fan, so it's actually crazy. And my dad, he always been a Sooners fan, so we always had Sooners in the household. So you know how, you know how Oklahoma doesn't like Texas, so it never. But when it came to my recruitment, it wasn't really about that. It was about who wanted me, who thought highly of me, and we wasn't really worried about if we were fans or whoever.

[Paul Feinbaum]

I remember, I don't know every schedule, but I happen to remember being in Austin last year for the Vanderbilt game. So obviously you got a chance to go back and play in that stadium. What was that experience like to be back home and to be playing for a highly ranked Vanderbilt team?

[Cedric Alexander]

Yeah, it definitely was a great experience. The crazy thing is I've been in Austin, Texas my whole life and I never played. I never played at dkr, so that was my first time playing at dkr. Getting to experience that with all my family coming down. And even though we lost, I felt like we learned a lot from that game. Obviously we had a chance to come back towards the end of the into the game.

[Paul Feinbaum]

That was a nerve wracking game.

[Cedric Alexander]

Yeah, we had a chance to come back and then. But it was an experience for me and my team and I think that they did a great Job at bouncing back a week after that, the weeks after that.

[Paul Feinbaum]

So no doubt, I mean, Vanderbilt made quite a run. Let me ask you about that part of it because, you know, we sit up in podiums like this and pontificate about the College Football Playoff. But, but you were a legitimate College Football Playoff team and quite frankly, in an expanded playoff you would have been an easy choice. In the current playoff, a lot of people still felt, what was that like to be on that bubble and have to sit there and wait. You go to Knoxville at the end of the season and you win. You don't win by one point. You win convincingly, but you still don't get in.

[Cedric Alexander]

It's very, very, it's very crazy just at that time. But you can only control the controllables. And we definitely controlled everything that we wanted.

[Paul Feinbaum]

And yeah, you don't want to talk about that, do you?

[Cedric Alexander]

Very nerve wracking. But at the end of the day, you can only control what you want to.

[Paul Feinbaum]

So let's pivot to finally the season. I know having talked to a number of players, there's only one game you think about. I know that. I don't know how real that is, but it's the opener. Is that how coach operates?

[Cedric Alexander]

Yes, definitely the opener. We got, we got it. We got to focus on that first team first. We can't go looking at the end of the schedule going to go see because.

[Paul Feinbaum]

So if I start going through the schedule and talk about week two, three, four mention, you're just going to shut down. We only have one game.

[Cedric Alexander]

Only got one game. We're focused on one game right now

[Paul Feinbaum]

and that's Austin pa. Cedric, it has been such a pleasure to get a chance. And when you do get married, let us know and we'll have you announce it on the show today.

[Cedric Alexander]

Gotcha. Thank you so much.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Congratulations, especially on your degree. Cedric, thank you for joining us. We'll take a short break. We are back to SEC media days. Shane Beamer joining us in a few minutes. We're coming right back. Tomorrow morning is knocking. Stock your fridge now. How about a creamy mocha frappuccino drink? Or a sweet vanilla smooth caramel maybe? Or a white chocolate mocha. Whichever you choose, delicious coffee awaits. Find Starbucks Frappuccino drinks wherever you buy your groceries.

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[Paul Feinbaum]

You're listening to the Paul Feinbomb show podcast.

[Mike]

Dylan Stewart is just a guy that

[Paul Feinbaum]

can wreck your game plan. By Dylan Stewart. He has freakish athleticism and he could take the game over his arm, hit the ball, goes backwards, touchdown game.

[Shane Beamer]

Cox.

[Paul Feinbaum]

That's the disruption that Dylan Stewart can create. One of the most dynamic edge rushers of all college football.

[Mike]

He might be on his way towards

[Paul Feinbaum]

the top five in the draft next season. Come back, Shane Beamer joining us here. It's always great to see the South Carolina coach and we heard some of your comments addressing what we thought you were going to do last year versus what ended up last year. Really doesn't matter anymore, does it?

[Shane Beamer]

It doesn't. I think you look back certainly at last year. I don't want to bury my head in the sand and pretend like it didn't happen. But during the year and when the year is over, you certainly look back at, you know, what you need to do to make sure that doesn't happen again. But it's, it's still a wound that I still remember and carry with me. But again, that's in the past and we're looking forward to 2026. We've, we've grown from some of the uncomfortable moments that we went through in 25 and excited to get going in September.

[Paul Feinbaum]

And there's some changes, obviously on the team, but also in the coaching staff that it feels like a lot of folks are really excited about, especially with Kendall Barros.

[Shane Beamer]

Yeah, Kendall's been a great addition, being able to bring in Kendall and Randy Clements on our offensive line and Stan Drayton, our new running backs coach. Three new coaches there and I think they've done a great job. Kendall was a great hire for us, in my opinion, because he's a guy, he's been in this league. He was a coordinator at Arkansas calling plays with Sam Pittman early in Sam's tenure and has been at Florida State, has been at fau, has been at TCU and knows what he wants his offense to look like. He has a system. And it's been exciting seeing him come into our program and inject some energy into the offense.

[Paul Feinbaum]

I mean, everyone knows your story and you grew up the son of a Hall of Fame coach. So I was really intrigued this summer you gave an interview and the situation with where you are right now in your career, you brought up, you talked about you didn't run away from. And I know Some coaches don't ever want to go down that road, explain your thought process other than it's just who you are. You're a very honest, transparent coach.

[Shane Beamer]

Yeah, I think for me, it's, you know, looking at each and every year and how we can be better and. And extremely blessed to be in this position that I'm in at South Carolina. Want to be here for a long time. And we've had some really good moments in my five years as the head coach, and. And we've certainly had some really down moments, and we had our share of them last year. But you're always, you know, reflecting, and I grew up the son of a coach, like you said, and. And I saw, you know, the early days for him at Virginia Tech, where his fifth season he won five games, and his sixth season he won two games. And then I saw what they did from season seven on, and now they have a statue of him outside the stadium there at Virginia Tech. So times are different now in college athletics. I get that back then he wouldn't have made it to a fifth or sixth season, but, you know, I grew up around the game. I understand how hard winning is and. But I also understand how blessed I am to be in this position. And I'm constantly trying to learn and grow as we move forward.

[Paul Feinbaum]

And none of this really has anything to do with what happens on the field, but you seem to be incredibly media savvy, you know what's going on, and it's always somewhat irritating to me when you interview a coach, and I don't pay attention out of that stuff. I mean, I don't claim you're consuming it all day long like people, but you have to know what's going on, don't you?

[Shane Beamer]

Yeah, I think it's my job to honestly. Am I on my phone all day long? No. Am I, you know, typing my name on a Tuesday morning to see what people are saying about me? No. But I'm also not naive. Like, we only have our players four hours a day during the season, and we practice in the mornings at South Carolina, so our players are done and out of the building every day by 12 noon. So there's 20 other hours throughout the day where they're going to class and they're on their phones and they're listening to people. So, you know, I think just a general tenor of what's being said and where. What the narrative is out there, because our players are on their phones, and I can pretend like they're not listening to it, but they're Hearing it and, and just being able to kind of understand, you know, what the narrative is, I think is, you know, part of. Part of what I do. The narrative doesn't matter. But at the same time, we're talking about 18, 19, 20 year old guys, that it does influence them in so many ways.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Well, I've interviewed a lot of people that cover your program, including one just a few minutes ago. And I'll tell you what they're saying about you. They like you. They don't want you to go anywhere. I mean, that's. Which is. And I also think South Carolina fans are not saying you better win 11 games. I mean, they are one of the most realistic fan bases that I've encountered, especially in the sec, which I know doesn't make your job easier, but it makes you probably want to satisfy them even more.

[Shane Beamer]

No, it does. They are. Realistic is a word. Passionate, loyal is what they are. And I mentioned it when I was up here with the main media. Just the consecutive sellouts that we have in Colombia. We blew up four score lead against A and M last year and came back home the next week playing Coastal Carolina. And the place is sold out and loud. That's just who they are. And I want nothing more, Paul, than to bring them a championship because they are so hungry, so passionate, so driven. And that's what drives me each day, is to bring them a program that they can be proud of because I love being in this role that I'm in. Also understanding this league is what you sign up for. And you know, there's coaches in this league that have won national championships and then we're fired a couple years later. You know, the fact that it's year six, it's year six and I think I'm the third longest tenured coach in this league right now. That's part of it. You know what you sign up for, but you want that. You want high expectations and we have high expectations at our place and that'll never change.

[Paul Feinbaum]

No, I mean, I'll be very transparent. I was on a show this morning on ESPN and I was asked by the host, there comes a picture of Kirby Smart on the screen. Is Kirby Smart slipping? And I'm thinking, well, he's won two straight SEC championship games, but by Kirby Smart standards, he is right. He did win a national championship last year.

[Shane Beamer]

Yeah. Unbelievable. Unbelievable. It's a. You love expectations, you love the passion in this league. And that's why, you know, myself and the 15 other coaches love being in the roles that we're in. Because of the passion in this conference,

[Paul Feinbaum]

considering what you did two years ago and how close some of those games were last year, we won't re litigate it. How thin is that line between an average season and being in contention to win a champions?

[Shane Beamer]

Extremely. I mean we had six games last season that we lost that were one score games going into the fourth quarter. And that's a play here, a play there. But you could also say the same thing about the year before.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Yeah.

[Shane Beamer]

You know, the year before we beat Missouri in the fourth quarter, we beat Clemson in the fourth quarter. Nobody talks about the fact that we beat Old Dominion in year one by four points in the fourth quarter. So you know, this league, there's great parity. You know, every game's going to be close. We're playing nine of them now this season. So you got to anticipate nine games are going to come down to the fourth quarter and, and it is a fine line. And that's why the, the fundamentals and the details and the discipline, I mean all those things show up more than ever and have such a, you know, huge magnitude on winning.

[Paul Feinbaum]

I don't know anything about what you do. I think the thing in the future is just quit getting big leads on teams because I mean if you come from behind, if you almost win, it's not. There's something about losing a big lead that makes things worse than the other way around.

[Shane Beamer]

It's perception for sure. But I think I like the let's get a big lead and see if we can keep it better than what we did last season.

[Paul Feinbaum]

When you self evaluate and I know coaches are always internal, I mean, do you see things okay, is it one thing or is it just a play here and a play there?

[Shane Beamer]

No, great question. I think it's, it's one thing, but I think it's big picture. And I'm no different probably than any coach. You reflect back and review after every game. You know, the decisions that I made as the head coach, not just in the game, but leading up to the game, in practice, throughout the week, after a season, being able to look back, I did that certainly after last season, did that after the 24 season. But sometimes it's one thing here and there. Sometimes it's more of a big picture thing that you need to change. Sometimes it may be a personnel decision that you have to make a change on. Those are all things, you know, in regards to how I do my job as the leader of this program that you're always trying to grow and get better at.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Coach always Great to see you. Thank you.

[Shane Beamer]

Thank you very much.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Shane Beamer joining us. We'll talk to a couple of outstanding players in just a moment. We are live from SEC media days.

You're listening to the Paul Feinbaum Show Podcast.

We talked to Cedric Alexander earlier, and now we bring in a couple of his teammates, Junior Cheryl and Issa Otara. And I've gotten to know these guys, and I know we're supposed to talk about football, but, Issa, your backstory is just downright fascinating. You grew up briefly in Germany, moved to France, then was it then back

[Issa Otara]

and moved back to Germany.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Back to Germany?

[Issa Otara]

No, sir.

[Paul Feinbaum]

And somehow made it to Nashville. How did that happen?

[Issa Otara]

A lot of chants, you know, great people in my corner, people who introduced me to the sport, and people like Brendan Collier, who helped me get to college. He's been instrumental in me getting to Nashville. But, yeah, just a lot of people and a lot of help along the way.

[Paul Feinbaum]

And usually a football player of your level. I mean, you've been playing since the crib.

[Issa Otara]

You didn't start playing until when, 20, 19. So when I was about 16 years old.

[Paul Feinbaum]

What were you doing before then?

[Issa Otara]

A whole bunch of different sports. Dabbled in some tennis, swam, did some rowing, some gymnastics when I was really young. So nothing quite close to football.

[Paul Feinbaum]

But, Junior, I'm just making a wild guess that you grew up playing football.

[Junior Cheryl]

I did. I did. I started playing football at an early age. I started playing at four years old. My dad stuck me on a team. Yeah, it's crazy.

[Paul Feinbaum]

And were you always, like, the fastest kid around or.

[Junior Cheryl]

I was.

[Paul Feinbaum]

I bet you were.

[Junior Cheryl]

Back in the day, I used to be like a little scrony, little scrone type of guy, but, you know, put on a little muscle. But I was one of the fastest on the team.

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Yeah,

[Paul Feinbaum]

I'm kind of a weird guy when it comes to. I'm so intrigued by this outfit of yours. I want you to give me the backstory because it is. I mean, it's like, wow, I appreciate it.

[Junior Cheryl]

Really. Shout out to my dukes, man. She came up with the idea and, you know, she always wanted to dress me. She been telling me she been actually begging me to dress me for, like, the whole year. So I thought this is the perfect opportunity to let her get her shine on. And I just put it on, man. The me to the rest.

[Paul Feinbaum]

There's one symbol that's very prevalent on this young man right here. Fisa. Explain the symbolism of what's on your neck and around on your clothes.

[Junior Cheryl]

These are just chrome hearts this is like a little designer brand, but this represent my face. Try to at least let it shine a little bit, let it dangle in front of the national stage.

[Paul Feinbaum]

So it's almost cliche to ask about players and usually the questions are, you know, tell us about the team. But we talked to Cedric earlier about it. This experience you get to, you know, really shine. Not a lot of young players get to come into something this massive. What, what has this day been like for you?

[Issa Otara]

It's been great, honestly. Like getting to speak about Vanderbilt football and what we do day in and day out. It's been easier than expected, honestly. So it's been a lot of fun talking to people about Vanderbilt football.

[Paul Feinbaum]

I'm sure sometimes players, maybe the people around them put a lot of thought in, you know, here's what we ought to. I mean, you guys look pretty natural. I don't, I don't. Would you just kind of freewheel today about your career and what you expect?

[Junior Cheryl]

Yeah. Basically took a lot of practice, you know, coming out, having a lot of media training, doing how this feel like a couple of days now. You know, we've been real used to it so, you know, it's kind of second nature now.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Is it? I realize there's, you know, careers to think about, but a lot of, a lot of young players. Speaking of media training, start thinking about this because, I mean, I deal with a lot of people at ESPN that great players who now are even more prominent in some ways as broadcasters. Is that something that interests you down the road?

[Junior Cheryl]

I mean, yes, I wouldn't say broadcasting, but for sure, like philanthropy, you know, just giving back to my city and giving back to like the state. Yeah. Helping out little kids in my area and like in my shoes.

[Paul Feinbaum]

He's already counting on, you know, making so much money. He's starting to think not how I can spend it, but how I can give it. I like that that's. You're playing on a big career. I can tell. I can tell. What about you?

[Issa Otara]

No, I've never thought about broadcasting. I'm not a big rah rah guy and I don't probably don't get. Give the, the juiciest interviews, but it's just been easy talking about, about our team and you know, the people you care about so well.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Issa Otara and, and the, the non broadcaster over here. I'm. I'm obligated junior and Issa to talk about the season for just a second. And I also know you can't. There's only one game on the season. It's the first game. That's what coaches in heaven. But you feel confident about this season?

[Junior Cheryl]

I really do. Just trusting what Coach Lee has in store for us, trusting his mission. You know, I really believe in what we got on the team. You know, we got a lot of, a lot of talent on this team. Y' all are young talent at that. So we really got something in store for you guys.

[Issa Otara]

Yeah, 100% agree. Like, we have so many new faces and it just, it's just great seeing those guys taking steps and getting better at what they're doing and kind of getting a glimpse at what will be in the fall.

[Paul Feinbaum]

Thank you so much. Junior Cheryl and Issa Watara joining us. And this has been a great pleasure to meet both of you. All the best. Thank you so much. I appreciate it. We will take a short break. We are halfway home on day two of SEC Media days. What an hour.

Thank you for listening to the Best of the Paul Feinbaum show podcast. Watch the Paul Feinbaum show weekdays from 3 to 7 Eastern on the NCC Network. Plus, you can listen and watch on the ESPN app.

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