Shaw settling into new niche at Colonial Life

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Connor Shaw knows what it’s like to face — and overcome — challenges. The winningest quarterback in University of South Carolina history recorded 27 victories while throwing for 6,074 yards and 56 touchdowns (with just 16 interceptions) and compiling a school-record completion percentage of 65.5% from 2010-2013.

So anyone, including current Gamecock QB Jake Bentley, would do well to listen to his advice.

Shaw is now a sales representative for Columbia-based supplemental insurance company Colonial Life after injuries cut short an NFL career that included a 2014 start for the Cleveland Browns in which he completed 14 of 28 passes for 177 yards. On Thursday, he joined Gamecocks men’s basketball coach Frank Martin and Cody Gibson, a former Gamecock lineman who is also now a Colonial Life agent, to kick off the 16th year of a partnership that began in 2003 when the company secured the naming rights to Colonial Life Arena, home to Martin’s Gamecocks and Dawn Staley’s 2016-17 national championship women’s team.

“Last time I checked, the building I get to call home is named after this company, so that partnership means the world to me,” Martin said. “I know it means the world to the people I work with and for.”

Martin and Shaw addressed the crowd and watched a short promotional video that will be shown at halftime of USC football games this season, on football coach Will Muschamp’s weekly show and at Gamecock men’s and women’s home basketball games.

And, of course, Shaw talked a little football.

Having stood in Bentley’s cleats, Shaw understands the pressure on the senior quarterback as the Gamecocks open the 2019 season on Saturday against North Carolina in Charlotte. Bentley is 19-13 as USC’s starter and has amassed 7,385 passing yards but is just 1-10 against ranked teams and has thrown 30 picks to go with 54 TDs.

“He just needs to control the controllables and compete his tail off each week, do his job Monday through Friday so he can go play well on Saturday,” Shaw said as Gamecock mascot Cocky high-fived fans on the lawn of Colonial Life’s campus off Bush River Road. “That’s having great practices, that’s putting your guys in position to have success around you, and it’s doing your preparation through film study and being with your offensive coordinator and wrapping your head around the game plan.

“He’s a four-year veteran now, and he’s experienced a lot of the highs and lows. He’s got all the tools around him to go play well this year. I think we’re all rooting for Jake.”

Shaw, after a brief stint as tight ends coach at Furman, found a post-football niche with Colonial Life, a subsidiary of Tennessee-based Unum Group which provides accident, cancer, critical illness, disability, hospital and life insurance plans in 49 states. Along with having its name on the Gamecocks’ basketball arena, Colonial Life has donated $150,000 during the past three years to support the university’s CarolinaTIP teacher retention program.

“It’s really special to be part of a company that’s invested into a university that you participated in and that was so dear to myself,” Shaw said. “It allows me to pursue some other endeavors, (such as) my youth camps throughout the summer. … It’s a great marriage. It really is.

“With anything new, there’s a learning curve, but the biggest thing is the people that I get to work with have kind of made the learning curve a little bit easier. I’m continuing to learn, but I feel like we’ve had a really strong year, our team has, and we have an opportunity to finish strong.”

Tim Arnold, Colonial Life CEO, said Shaw’s athletic success has carried over into his new career.

“He’s unbelievable. In his first year, he’s going to be one of our top sales representatives,” Arnold said. “He’s just such a class human being. In addition to being a great guy, he’s turning out to be a fantastic salesperson for us.”