Steve Spurrier: Overrated Coach, Yet He's South Carolina Football's Only Hope

South Carolina fans are left with yet another disappointing season after losing to Iowa, 31-10. Yes the Big Ten's only bowl victory came against the South Carolina Gamecocks.  

You may be wondering who is to blame for this atrocity. The Gamecocks finishing the regular season with a loss to arch-rival Clemson, a team who fired their coach midway through the season, the bowl loss to a clearly more prepared team, and even the devastating blowout to Florida gives fans a lot to be upset about.

The person to blame for this atrocity is Steve Spurrier. Spurrier is regarded as one of the greatest offensive minds of all time, yet his offenses have never clicked since he arrived in Columbia, SC four years ago.  

Much of this blame should go to John Hunt, who might be the worst offensive line coach in the history of the game, yet as head coach, Spurrier should have pulled the plug on him some time ago. While Spurrier was very successful at Florida, any coach can bring in great talent to a historic program like Florida after one or two good seasons.

I know he did turn around a horrible Duke program into ACC champions, but I find it hard to believe he would have been able to maintain any long term success there, especially with the later addition of Florida State to that conference.

Spurrier did have a very innovative offense that was successful for many years, but the game has evolved as of recent, and his offense will never reach the success it once did.

However, Spurrier is the only solution to South Carolina football. Whether or not he is a great coach really doesn't matter. USC could fire him today and bring in a better coach; however, this would not solve South Carolina's problems.

The culture of college football is one in which historical programs forever dominate recruiting. Just look at Notre Dame or Miami, who continue to bring in big-time recruits despite being mediocre at best. Whether or not Spurrier is a good coach really isn't the issue.  

The perception of high school recruits that he is is the issue, however. The only hope of South Carolina ever establishing itself as a college football contender lies on Spurrier's ability to attract top recruits to Columbia.

No other coach out there who would even consider coming to Columbia would be able to bring in the same recruits Spurrier can. There is a good chance his time at USC will lead to minimal success, but there is also a chance the top recruiting classes he continues to bring in may lead to something more, and that is a chance worth taking as it is South Carolina's only hope.  

So Gamecock fans, before you start condemning your coach, remember, he is your only hope.

-M. Fizzle