First if all: No, Steve Spurrier is not retiring.
Is it just me, or are the words “Spurrier” and “retirement” always linked after a loss? Vanderbilt beat the Gamecocks in week two, and all of a sudden, “anonymous sources” came out of the woodwork claiming SOS was off to the links at season’s end.
The Gamecocks then recover and run off to a 7-3 record, and just like that, Spurrier has regained his passion!
One nasty loss to Florida later—despite the fact that the Gators have been pasting everyone—and Steve’s time is up again, according to those same sources.
Sure, the guy is untraditional, but I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Spurrier is a competitor.
This is his last job.
The Head Ball Coach isn’t just going to walk away after a sub par season and plenty of recruits coming in to bolster his already solid team. In his words, Spurrier says, “We’re hoping for that one special year that we can put it together.”
Give him two more season with Stephen Garcia, a competent (or perhaps just “fast”) running back, some serious improvement on the offensive line, and more seasoning for his young receivers.
If an additional lift hasn’t been given to the program by then, it will perhaps be time for Spurrier to re-examine how successful he can be at Carolina.
I may be biased, but I think Spurrier still has one SEC East title left in him.
And for all of those haters who still claim the game has passed Spurrier by, please look at what he is facing at South Carolina:
1.) Spurrier is now guaranteed a fourth non-losing season in a row, and with Lou Holt’s 6-5 final season before Spurrier’s arrival, this will give South Carolina five consecutive non-losing seasons in a row.
The last time that happened at Carolina was in the 1928-1934 seasons.
Yes, like the Great Depression.
For those counting at home, that’s about 80 years.
This is not taking over struggling Florida, Tennessee, or any other SEC outside of Vandy, for that matter.
The guy is a great coach, but he doesn’t own a magic wand.
2.) If South Carolina beats Clemson and wins their bowl game, they would reach nine wins for only the second time in the history of the program—over 100 years of football.
The last time the Gamecocks reached nine wins was when Dr. Lou was in office. In 2001, Coach Holtz guided the Gamecocks to an eight-win regular season and a win over Ohio State in the Outback Bowl.
Coincidentally, the Outback Bowl is the likely destination for Carolina this year, unless things go wrong in Clemson next week or Vanderbilt and Kentucky look fantastic to close the year.
Finally, it appears Chris Smelley is going to be the guy to get “most of the snaps” in Carolina’s season finale against arch rival Clemson. Stephen Garcia has shown flashes but still doesn’t grasp the way Spurrier wants to run his offense—and Garcia’s play has suffered in recent weeks.
That said, Garcia’s play “in spots” could lead to an entire quarter or half of playing time. You just never know.
Much has been made of Spurrier’s tongue-in-cheek comments about Garcia’s ability to give the coaches headaches, but it’s just Spurrier being himself.
Whether being himself is still good enough to compete for a title, well, time will tell…
15 comments Last one added 7 months ago — Leave a Comment
Justin Goar 7 months ago
"If South Carolina beats Clemson and wins their bowl game, they would reach nine wins for only the second time in the history of the program—over 100 years of football."
that would still be a helluva accomplishment when they have to deal with a scrappy vandy in their division and the two bell cows (UF and UGA).
with spur dog bringing in solid classes, this year will be something to build on but even more so if they accomplish what you said at the top of my comment. i think it will be interesting to see with tenn getting a new coach, if south carolina can work its way into the "Big 3" in the east.
what bowl are they thinking in columbia, peach, music city or outback??
is the liberty bowl tied to the sec now?? i need a refresher course on bowl tie ins.
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Tim Pollock 7 months ago
All the talk is that Carolina is headed to the Outback. But most fans would rather see them in the Chick-Fil-A (Peach) Bowl against an ACC team (Bowden vs. Spurrier again, or possibly the Border War with UNC) as opposed to Northwestern, Iowa, etc. at 11 AM.
Kentucky has some sort of tie to the Outback, so if they finish well and Carolina poops itself, the Cats might head to the Outback instead.
Personally, I'd rather see them play in ATL.
Liberty is tied to the SEC.
No matter who takes over at UT, I just don't see the talent level there to compete. There are on the outside looking in. Depending on who plays quarterback and running back for GA next year and who returns on defense for the Cocks, I can see Carolina jumping up to the 2nd spot in the East next year. Lots of ifs, though, I guess...
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BabyTate 7 months ago
Justin, you know the Liberty Bowl is tied to the SEC and is played on Janurary 2nd this year! You and I had a discussion in one of my articles about that back in the summer.
You are attending too many tailgate parties !
BT
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Justin Goar 7 months ago
BT,
and sleep depravation too.
it changes so much, i can hardly keep up sometimes. i'm just glad they moved the cotton bowl away from that horrible morning time slot and to jan 2nd no less. would love to see LSU there but would probably get their azzes handed to them by the UT-OU-TTU short straw drawer.
would much rather play ND there (it could happen).
i see carolina going to the peach, but we'll see.
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Big Joe 7 months ago
Hawkeyes and the Gamecocks in the Outback Bowl. Hawkeye fans travel well as do the Cocks. Iowa by 13.
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Tim Pollock 7 months ago
13? Are you sure they can even score 13 on the Cocks?
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Zeptogator 7 months ago
Before Spurrier arrived the best that SC could wish for was 4th in the East. Now, they are a legitimate #2 or #3 year to year and was a point from beating the eventual National Champion Gators. SC and UT have switched places in the pecking order, and that is a big deal. I hope he sticks around for a long time, he just makes the East and the SEC that much stronger.
Iowa isn't going bowling this year. My guess is SC versus Michigan State in the Outback. That would be a good game to watch.
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Anthony Thewes 7 months ago
As a current Gamecock, I have to say that I almost want Steve Spurrier to retire. He has handed off a lot of his stuff to his son, he doesn't seem to have the fire he had when he was in Florida, and it almost seems to me like he has given up. Don't get me wrong now, I enjoy having a great football coach, but the last time he was truly great was a Florida, he hasn't really done that much here.
Say we do get 9 wins, what does that really mean? We aren't going to the SEC championship, we aren't going to a BCS bowl, no Heisman candidate, nothing. Its just 9 wins, all loses coming to good opponents. Not until he can consistently beat Florida, Georgia, LSU, etc will I think that he has made a huge impact here at SC.
Ps. The QB switch thing he is doing is idiotic. It doesn't work. It worked in Florida years ago when he had two good QBs. At SC, we have two mediocre QBs (although I can't wait until Garcia matures in an elite QB hopefully).
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Tim Pollock 7 months ago
Anthony,
Sad comments, especially from a Carolina student. How exactly do you quantify Spurrier's lack of fire? What exactly are you referring to? Watch the guy on the sidelines; listen to his press conferences. The man wants to win.
As far as passing off "a lot" to his son. He lets his son call a few plays here and there. That's it. Please name more than one head other than SOS who calls his own plays.
I'm not sure you appreciate the history of SEC football--or Gamecock football for that matter. Some of that is probably attributed to the fact that you have been living in the US for under 10 years.
Sounds like you are reading the commentary online or listening to the talking heads rattle on about Spurrier...
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Zeptogator 7 months ago
Actually, BIG, I take that back. Apologies. Iowa versus SC would be a good matchup to see too. Thanks for beating PSU by the way. Go Hawkeyes.
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Colin Colverson 7 months ago
Tim,
Good article. I have a limited perspective on Gamecock football, and having read these statistics, I can see that the turnaround under a Spurrier tenure has been pretty remarkable when compared to the history. I think he has the potential to win another SEC title. Outright. If he gets to Atlanta, you have to believe the Ol'Ball Coach would have some nostalgic flashbacks and find a way to paste his opponent, whoever it may be. Florida, the house that Steve built, is now the mountain that Steve must climb. I think Tennessee is in the rear view mirror, and the Gamecocks seem to be gaining on Georgia ever year. But Meyer has got something special cooking in Gainesville, and Spurrier will have to find a way to beat his Gators.
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Tim Pollock 7 months ago
Colin,
Good comments. And very true. Getting the East title will be so tough as long as Meyer and all that young talent is there.
The Gamecocks are going to need a hot hand at quarterback and some big-time playmakers to match the offense of the Gators, which does not appear to be slowing down with all those fresh and soph getting playing time.
Recruiting is going well, but they still need to land the home run hitter at tailback.
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J Wiley 7 months ago
Great Defense this year, Gamecocks. I'm expecting a lot from you in your bowl game. I'm surprised to hear this malcontent attitude about coach Spurrier. Eventually he will recruit and mentor a great QB in Columbia.
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Tim Pollock 7 months ago
Malcontent? I love the guy and predicted he will win the East (and thus the SEC) before he leaves.
I think the qb is already there in Garcia. The kid doesn't let anything get to him.
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J Wiley 7 months ago
Sorry I didn't mean you were the malcontent, Tim. Just referring to other posts I've seen. I hope that Garcia turns out to be a real gem.
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