Time For Spurrier To Hang the Visor Up?
Friday, August 7, 2009
Read it here.
Remember when a youthful Steve Spurrier made news for running up the score and drumming up controversy with his rivals via witty and debilitating quips? And how he always seemed to have receivers running in the open field? With every nervous and jittery tic of his body as he called a play, you expected a touchdown to ensue. On every snap you held your breath, shook with fear, and hoped that your pregame beer wasn't about to trickle down your leg. As the ball was snapped, you had but one thought: what horrible doom was impending for your team?
It got to the point in the '90s when you were happy if Spurrier's team only completed a pass for 20 yards. Even if the Gators were your rivals, you respected Spurrier's puckish wit, the way his eyes, nestled up under a visor, lit up when he saw a play that appealed to him on his play card. Love him or hate him, Spurrier left no doubt that he adored what he was doing.
All that's changed.
Now, Spurrier seems weary, At long last, the fun in the fun-and-gun offense, is gone. Now all that's left is a gun. And sometimes, you get the feeling Spurrier would rather be hunting in the woods with that gun than standing on the sideline in Columbia, S.C.
There was a time when every fan in the SEC wanted Steve Spurrier to be their coach. After a scorching defeat at the hands of the Gators, fans would crack open cold beers and stare off into the distance. "That Spurrier," they'd whisper, "I wish he was ours."
It wasn't just that Spurrier dominated, it was that he was a genius-- l'enfant terrible--Van Gogh in a visor. The football field was his canvas. Where other coaches in the SEC fought tooth and nail to gain three yards, Spurrier tossed 30-yard passes to receivers who would appear, as if by magic, all alone on the field. Millions of times fans threw their hands up in the air, "How," we'd all curse, "is it possible for one receiver to be that wide open."
Read the rest here. Labels: steve spurrier needs to retire south carolina florida
Posted by Clay Travis at 8:45 AM
 
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If no SEC fan cares about him, why'd you just spend 1,000 words writing about him? Fact is, if he ever manages more success at Carolina the jabs will return. Spurrier's said as much. The biggest difference in Spurrier now and at UF is the talent level of players he has versus the rest of the league.
By the way, how did the Carolina game go for UT last year? Seems like he's still able to do one thing pretty well--beat UT.
He's 2-2 against Tennessee. Both wins came in losing seasons for Tennessee.
Better point, he's 15-17 against the rest of the SEC.
Consider that column a eulogy for what Spurrier used to be. He's going 5-7 this season and hanging it up.