11 days to Florida Gator football: #11 Steve Spurrier

[Escambia94]

11 days to +Florida Gators #football. #11 Steve Spurrier. Stephen Orr Spurrier. SOS. Ol’ Ball Coach. Darth Visor. Whatever you want to call him, this football genius from Miami Beach, Florida made Gator bait of opposing defenses as a quarterback earning the Heisman and as coach for a Heisman winner. As quarterback for Ray Graves‘ Florida Gators from ’64 to ’66, he is remembered for waving off the placekicker in order to nail a 45-yarder to beat Auburn in his senior season. Steve won MVP honors in the 1966 Orange Bowl, even though his team lost to Missouri, 18-20. He was a 1st-team All-American in his junior and senior seasons. In 1989, the Ol' Ball Coach was invited to come home and revive his alma mater’s football program, and he brought it to new levels of national prominence with a swagger that is now well renowned throughout the football landscape. In his 12-year tenure as Ol’ Ball Coach, he won the 1996 Bowl Alliance National Championship, six SEC Championships, was named SEC Coach of the Year five times, won at least 9 games every year he coached, finished in the final poll top fifteen every year, and was ranked every week except his first week as coach (202/203 polls). Steven Orr Spurrier will always be remembered for his greatness as a Gator player and Gator coach…except on days he coaches against his alma mater. Until he retires from coaching, he is Gator bait!

 

[DRU2012]

Well, ya gotta know that "the REAL THING" is gettin' close when SS appears on this "countdown".
(I'm a bit worried about our health'n'injury situation, and resulting depth, for the first couple/few weeks of the season, 'specially on offense, but what can we do but go on, hope for the best?)

 

[InkedAdrenaline]

SS, one of my all time favs. Not for his playing career, but his coaching. I loved the ole ball coach and wish he'd never left.

 

[Escambia94]

SS, one of my all time favs. Not for his playing career, but his coaching. I loved the ole ball coach and wish he'd never left.

Spurrier's departure is an interesting discussion topic. I hated to see him go, but I was happy to see him back in the NFL, which had always been one of his goals. He almost took an NFL coaching job in 1989 (I forget where), but decided to take the job at his alma mater. After his mixed experience in the USFL, he hungered for an NFL coaching job and he took it when the time was right. In other words, he had to leave eventually. Although I was not a fan of Ron Zook (who was), and I have mixed reviews on Urban Meyer, I am glad Steve Spurrier was able to fulfill one of his goals by coaching in the NFL before he went back to college football.