re: So Shane Beamer is getting mentioned in the interwebs as OU's Lincoln Riley replacement

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irst-year South Carolina coach Shane Beamer is a candidate for Oklahoma's coaching vacancy, multiple sources have told 247Sports. Beamer, who has led the Gamecocks to bowl eligibility this fall, worked three years at Oklahoma as the Sooners' associate head coach. Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley bolted for USC over the weekend, leaving Oklahoma vacant with the Early Signing Period next month and the team prepping for their bowl game under interim coach Bob Stoops.

Sources say the belief Beamer can maintain Oklahoma's current roster and provide immediate coaching stability in Norman are the primary reasons the Sooners would be interested. Beamer signed a five-year deal worth $2.75 million per season with the Gamecocks last December, but the Sooners' job would be a sizable raise after Oklahoma made Riley one of the nation's highest-paid coaches.

"If there’s a hire that helps the job get done, it would probably be Beamer,” 247Sports national analyst Collin Kennedy said. "If there’s one that helps, Beamer would be one of the more viable options who would be able to keep Caleb Williams there. He's beloved in Oklahoma's locker room and his name carried weight in a ton of these recruitments. Plus, the relationships he built during his time at OU would help keep a similar outlook from a program and recruiting standpoint."

Beamer was included in The Oklahoman's early look at five candidates for the Sooners, who were a raging success during his time at the program with two playoff appearances.

Beamer quickly shut down speculation surrounding his potential candidacy at Virginia Tech after the Hokies’ job opened earlier this month, but has not yet commented on Oklahoma.

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