South Carolina Football: Fans, It's Time to Stand Behind Steve Spurrier

By now, Gamecock fans know about the incidents between South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier and local state paper writer Ron Morris. 

It seems, as though, Steve Spurrier has had enough.  On his call-in show, he vented about the entire situation and promised that change would be coming.   

Good for him. 

Ron Morris's most recent comments were insipid, distasteful and teaming with hatred. They were biased and stupid. 

However, I will say there is a good chance that the national media and fans of other teams (who aren't fully aware of the situation in Columbia) will rake Steve Spurrier over the coals.  In the audio, linked above, Spurrier makes a comment that should scare the Gamecocks faithful about "hitting the beaches."

Spurrier has done this for a long time.  He knows what he is doing. 

However, one can only take so much slander and repeated attacks from the main sports writer of the city's flagship newspaper. 

This isn't about freedom of speech. 

Freedom of speech does not give you freedom from the consequences of what you say.  People forget that.  You can't walk up to a stranger, cuss them out, then throw up your hands and say "freedom of speech!"

So when Ron Morris decided to compare Spurrier to Joe Paterno, he crossed a major line.  Spurrier has every right to be upset that his handling of the Connor Shaw situation led to a reporter saying he's heading down the Joe Paterno path. 

That's an absolutely horrible thing to imply..."freedom of speech" or not. 

This is a time when the Gamecock fans need to rally around the coach.  No more questioning his judgement.  He's proven his worth time and time again.  

Stand behind him. 

Support him.  

He is going to need it in the coming weeks.