(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
No coach at South Carolina has been as successful as Steve Spurrier. The 1966 Heisman Trophy Winner has never had a losing season in Gamecock country.
There is no comparison to previous coaches in the past 50 years. Lou Holtz lost every game at Carolina in 1999. Past giants Paul Dietzel, Jim Carlen, and Joe Morrison all had a losing season or more.
One does not appreciate the tenacity and street fighting mentality of the man until observed up close and personal.
He does not like to lose and will do anything within the rules to win.
And there is the rub.
Looking back at game film of Saturday night's encounter with top-ranked Alabama, "the old ball coach" noticed suspicious behavior from the field goal unit of the Crimson Tide.
Spurrier states the Alabama holder for field goals and extra points put a small piece of white tape on the ground to spot the kicks.
Immediately following the kick, the holder picked up the tape and put it in his pocket.
Spurrier, a veteran of wars against Bear Bryant, Hayden Fry, Dan Devine, and Vince Dooley as a player and all comers as a coach, says he has never seen a team do that.
He is asking the Southeastern Conference officials if what he saw on video is legal.
SEC spokesman Charles Bloom says the league is looking into Spurrier’s claims.
Alabama kicker Leigh Tiffin hit both extra points and field goals of 25 and 35 yards Saturday.
Alabama officials state their coaches have been reminded of the rules governing kicks.
Did the Tide need to bend, or break, the rules in order to escape the clutches of the "Black Hominy Grits" defense of the Gamecocks?
Is it a testimony to South Carolina controlling the ball for 31 minutes and 43 seconds to 28 minutes and change for the homestanding Tide?
Perhaps it is due to the Gamecocks gaining 19 first downs to the 17 for the Crimson Tide.
Should Alabama officials concern themselves with a request for a forfeit? After all, it was a game South Carolina could definitely have won.
Despite any evidence to the contrary, the clash was probably decided in the first quarter with a 77 yard interception for a touchdown by Alabama's Mark Barron.
Steve Spurrier just wants to make sure the contest was decided legally.
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