Steve Spurrier

This article is about the former American football coach and player. For the British artist, see Steven Spurrier (artist). For the wine writer, see Steven Spurrier (wine merchant).
Steve Spurrier

Spurrier in 2016
Sport(s) Football
Biographical details
Born (1945-04-20) April 20, 1945
Miami Beach, Florida
Playing career
1963–1966 Florida
1967–1975 San Francisco 49ers
1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Position(s) Quarterback, punter, kicker[1]
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1978 Florida (QB)
1979 Georgia Tech (QB)
1980–1982 Duke (OC)
1983–1985 Tampa Bay Bandits
1987–1989 Duke
1990–2001 Florida
2002–2003 Washington Redskins
2005–2015 South Carolina
Head coaching record
Overall 228–89–2 (college)
12–20 (NFL)
35–21 (USFL)
Bowls 11–10
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 National (1996)
1 ACC (1989)
6 SEC (1991, 1993–1996, 2000)
8 SEC Eastern Division (1992–1996, 1999–2000, 2010)
Awards
As a coach
ACC Coach of the Year (1988, 1989)
SEC Coach of the Year
(1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2005, 2010)
As a player
First-team All-American (1965, 1966)
Heisman Trophy (1966)
UPI Player of the Year (1966)
Walter Camp Memorial Trophy (1966)
SEC Player of the Year (1966)
Florida–Georgia Hall of Fame
University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame
Florida Football Ring of Honor
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted in 1986 (profile)

Stephen Orr Spurrier (born April 20, 1945) is a former American football player and coach. Spurrier served as the head coach of three college and two professional teams. He was also a standout college football player, and spent a decade playing professionally in the National Football League (NFL). Spurrier retired from coaching in 2015 and now serves as an ambassador and consultant for the University of Florida's athletic department.

Spurrier was born in Miami Beach, Florida and grew up in Tennessee, where he was a multi-sport, all-state athlete in high school. He is a graduate of the University of Florida, where he was the Florida Gators' starting quarterback for three seasons. Spurrier won the Heisman Trophy in his senior season of 1966, was a consensus All-American in both 1965 and 1966; and he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1986. Spurrier was drafted in the first round (third overall) of the 1967 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers, and played mainly as a backup quarterback and punter from 1967 to 1975. In 1976, the expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers traded for Spurrier, and he was the team's starting quarterback for most of their inaugural season.

After retiring as a player, Spurrier returned to the college game in 1978 as an offensive assistant at Florida under head coach Doug Dickey. Dickey and his entire staff were fired after the season, and Spurrier served as the quarterbacks coach at Georgia Tech in 1979 under head coach Pepper Rodgers, who was also fired after the season.

At each of his first two coaching stops, Spurrier had been brought in to assist the transition from run-based wishbone offenses into more pass-oriented pro set attacks. But as an inexperienced coach, he was seldom allowed to call plays. In 1980, Spurrier was hired as the offensive coordinator at Duke University by coach Red Wilson, who let Spurrier run the Blue Devils' offense. Though his offensive squads were often less talented than the opposition, Spurrier's wide-open, pass-based attack broke several school and conference records during his three seasons at Duke, and Blue Devils quarterback Ben Bennett finished his playing career with the most passing yards in NCAA history.

In 1983, Spurrier accepted his first head coaching position with the Tampa Bay Bandits of the United States Football League (USFL), making him the youngest head coach in professional football at 37 years old. The Bandits had a successful run, going 35-19 over three seasons, and Spurrier's "Bandit Ball" offense was popular with fans. However, the team folded along with the rest of the USFL after the 1985 season.

Spurrier returned to Duke University as the Blue Devils' head coach in 1987, and his teams broke many of the records set during his tenure as offensive coordinator. Spurrier's 1989 Duke squad won the program's first conference championship since 1962 and most recent to date.

On January 1, 1990, Spurrier returned to the University of Florida to become the Gators' head coach. For the next twelve seasons, he led Florida's program to unprecedented success, including Florida's first six Southeastern Conference (SEC) championships and first consensus national championship in 1996. His wide-open offensive scheme (nicknamed the "Fun 'n' Gun") continued to produce at Florida, and his squads and individual players set numerous school and conference records. In 1996, Spurrier became the first Heisman Trophy winner to coach a Heisman Trophy winner when Florida quarterback Danny Wuerffel won the award.

Spurrier unexpectedly left Florida immediately after the 2001 season to try coaching in the NFL, but had a largely disappointing tenure as the head coach of the Washington Redskins and resigned after two seasons. In 2005, he returned to the college game as the head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks. While his offenses were not as prolific as they had been at Florida, Spurrier similarly brought the South Carolina program to unprecedented levels of success, leading the Gamecocks to three of the four 10-win seasons in program history, as well as the school's only 11-win seasons, top-10 poll finishes, and its only SEC Championship Game appearance.

On October 12, 2015, Spurrier announced that he was resigning as South Carolina's head coach, effective immediately, stating that he felt that the program was going in the wrong direction and it was time to "fire myself".[2] He retired as the winningest coach in both Florida and South Carolina history, and has the second most coaching wins in the history of the SEC behind only Bear Bryant.

In July 2016, Spurrier returned to the University of Florida as an ambassador and consultant to the athletic department. In September 2016, his name was added to the Gators' home field, changing its official name to Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.[3]

Early life

Spurrier was born on April 20, 1945, in Miami Beach, Florida.[4] He is the second son of a Presbyterian minister, J. Graham Spurrier, and his wife Marjorie.[5] Graham Spurrier changed congregations repeatedly during Steve Spurrier's early childhood, resulting in several moves for the family. The Spurriers left Miami Beach before Steve Spurrier's first birthday, moving to Charlotte, North Carolina to live near his paternal grandparents. His father accepted pastorships in Athens, Tennessee and then in Newport, Tennessee before settling in Johnson City, Tennessee in 1957, when Steve Spurrier was 12 years old.[6] The youngest Spurrier began to earn his reputation as a good athlete and a fierce competitor in Johnson City, impressing his peers and his older brother's friends with his tenacity in sandlot sports.[7]

Steve Spurrier's skills as a young baseball player caused a local businessman to talk the Reverend Spurrier into coaching the Little League team sponsored by his business so that his son would be on the squad.[6] The younger Spurrier has often repeated an anecdote about playing baseball on a team coached by his father. "How many of you believe that it's not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game, that counts?" the elder Spurrier once asked his players. When some raised their hands, he told them, "Well, I don't believe in that saying. If they're keeping score, we're going to play to win."[8]

Playing career

High school

Spurrier attended Science Hill High School in Johnson City, Tennessee,[9] where he was a three-sport letterman starring in high school football, basketball and baseball for the Science Hill Hilltoppers, and was an all-state selection in all three sports.[5] In three years as the starting pitcher for Science Hill, he never lost a game and led his team to two consecutive state baseball championships.[5] On the basketball court, Spurrier played point guard and was known for his ability to run his team's offense with flashy passes and dribbling and his knack for scoring in many different ways, attributes which earned him his high school conference's player of the year award for his senior year.[7]

Many observers in Johnson City thought that Spurrier's best sport in high school was basketball, and his father thought that he was best as baseball.[10][11] While Spurrier agreed that basketball and baseball came more naturally, he preferred playing football, and he worked hard to improve as a quarterback.[10]

Spurrier was Science Hill's starting quarterback for two years, during which time Coach Kermit Tipton installed a passing offense to take advantage of Spurrier's talents and occasionally allowed him to call plays.[7] Boosted by a post-season game at the end of his senior year in which he brought the Hilltoppers back from a 21-0 second-half deficit to win 28-21, Spurrier was a high school All-American and drew the attention of many college programs.[10]

College

Recruitment

After winning multiple all-state honors in high school, Spurrier was recruited by many top college programs across the south, including Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Kentucky, Duke, South Carolina, and both Air Force and Army.[12] However, he was not aggressively pursued as a football player by the coaching staff at the University of Tennessee in nearby Knoxville because at the time, UT ran a wing-T offense that featured a running quarterback while Spurrier was an excellent passer.[13] While Tennessee never officially offered him a football scholarship, basketball coach Ray Mears did make an offer, which Spurrier declined.[10]

University of Florida coach Ray Graves heard about Spurrier late in the recruiting process from his brother Edwin, who was the postmaster in Knoxville, and visited Johnson City in February. Spurrier and his family got along well with Graves, and Steve visited the UF campus in Gainesville the following week, receiving a favorable first impression when he landed on a warm day in Florida after leaving freezing temperatures in Tennessee.[10] Graves did not promise his recruit the starting quarterback job, but he did say that he wanted the Gators to pass more and would give Spurrier a fair shot at the position.[10] In March, Spurrier chose to attend Florida because of "the passing, the SEC, the weather, and coach Ray Graves."[13]

Spurrier (11) in 1964

1963–64

NCAA rules in the 1960s forbade college freshmen from participating in varsity sports competition. Spurrier therefore spent his first year at Florida practicing with the varsity team and playing on the freshman team, which scheduled four scrimmages against other schools' freshman squads as a way for young players to gain experience. In 1963, Spurrier led the "Baby Gators" to a 45-12 victory over Georgia's freshman team at Florida Field, a game which he half-jokingly claimed as a home win years later.[3][10]

Spurrier had been considered for the starting quarterback position leading up to his sophomore year of 1964, but a serious knee injury suffered during spring drills caused him to lose practice time and allowed returning senior starter Tommy Shannon to keep the job.[14] Coach Ray Graves still felt the need to get the future star on the field, so he decided to alternate his two quarterbacks as the flow of the game dictated.[15] Spurrier entered the season opening game against SMU in the second quarter. After two unsuccessful running plays called from the sidelines left the Gators in a third down and long situation, Coach Graves told Spurrier to call the next play himself. The young quarterback responded by completing a fifty-six yard screen pass on his first collegiate attempt and a touchdown on his second pass.[16] Spurrier would add another touchdown pass during the second half of his varsity debut.[17] The following week on the road at Mississippi State, Spurrier entered a tied game late in the fourth quarter and led the Gators down the field for a game-winning field goal.[14]

Spurrier in 1965

Spurrier continued to alternate with starter Tommy Shannon as the season progressed, gaining more playing time every week. After being named SEC Back of the Week for a two touchdown performance in a 30-14 upset over Ole Miss in October, Spurrier was given the starting nod for the undefeated Gators' next game against undefeated and #3 ranked and eventual national champion Alabama in Tuscaloosa.[18] Though Spurrier threw a touchdown pass and was the Gators' offensive star, his team fell short when another late fourth quarter comeback attempt ended in a missed field goal and a 17-14 Alabama win.[19] Spurrier remained the Gators' starter for the remainder of the season and was sometimes brilliant but inconsistent. He led the Gators to a 14-0 home win over rival Auburn and a 20-6 upset of #7 LSU in Baton Rouge, but he did not play well in losses to rivals Georgia and Florida State. Nevertheless, he was named the SEC's Sophomore of the Year for 1964.[20]

1965–66

Spurrier was the Gators' starting quarterback and team leader in 1965 and 1966. He finished his three-year, thirty-one-game college career having completed 392 of 692 attempts for 4,848 passing yards and 37 touchdowns, breaking every UF and many conference records for passing and total offense.[21] In addition to being a stellar passer, Spurrier gained notoriety by playing his best under pressure; eight times during his college career, he led the Gators to fourth quarter comeback wins.[16] The most memorable example was a November 1966 game against Auburn, when, after leading the team down the field on a two minute drill, he waved off Florida's regular placekicker and booted a forty-yard field goal, giving the Gators a 30–27 win and likely securing himself the Heisman Trophy.[22] This penchant for dramatic comebacks prompted John Logue of the Atlanta Constitution to famously write "Blindfolded, with his back to the wall, with his hands tied behind him, Steve Spurrier would be a two-point favorite at his own execution."[23]

Spurrier and the Gators v. Georgia, 1966

As a junior, Spurrier was named a Football Writers Association of America first-team All-American and is still the only player from the losing team to be named the MVP of the Sugar Bowl after passing for a record 352 yards in leading a furious fourth quarter rally that fell just short.[21][note 1] As a senior, Spurrier was awarded many national recognitions, including the 1966 Heisman Trophy and Walter Camp Memorial Trophy, and was a unanimous first-team All-American.[25][26][27] He was also the 1966 recipient of Florida's Fergie Ferguson Award, which recognizes the "senior football player who displays outstanding leadership, character and courage."[21]

Though the 9-2 1966 season was one of the best in program football history up to that point (along with the 1928 Florida Gators football team), the Gators fell short of their elusive first conference title due to a 27-10 upset loss to arch-rival Georgia, a loss that Spurrier would remember when he returned as Florida's coach and made beating Georgia a priority.[28][29]

In 2006, Spurrier was recognized by The Gainesville Sun as the No. 2 player of the first century of the Gators football program.[30]

National Football League

San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers selected Spurrier in the first round (third pick overall) of the 1967 NFL Draft, trading up to land the star quarterback.[31] Spurrier was told by team officials that he was being prepped to replace veteran 49ers quarterback and frequent All-Pro John Brodie in "four or five years", a situation which negatively affected his motivation. "I was not a very ambitious player", Spurrier admitted in his 2016 autobiography.[10]

Spurrier had few opportunities to play and fewer to start early in his pro career, and he did not play very well when he got on the field. He attempted less than five passes over the entire season in three out of his first five years in the NFL, and he did not throw a touchdown pass until his third pro season.[32] Instead, he settled into the role of backup quarterback and starting punter.[10]

Spurrier's first extended opportunity came in 1972, when an injured ankle left Brodie unable to play for over a month. San Francisco was 2-3 when Spurrier became the starter, and he led the team to a 6-1-1 record, throwing sixteen touchdowns over eight games and putting them in a position to make the playoffs.[33] Spurrier continued to start even after Brodie had recovered. However, when he threw three interceptions in the first half of the regular season finale, Brodie entered the game and led a second half comeback that clinched a playoff spot. Head coach Dick Nolan chose to start Brodie in the first round of the playoffs against the Dallas Cowboys, whom the 49ers had beaten 31-10 on Thanksgiving Day with Spurrier starting.[34] Spurrier did not make an appearance in the playoff rematch, and the Cowboys intercepted Brodie twice on their way to a 30-28 victory that ended the 49ers' season.[35]

Spurrier next had an opportunity to start in the fifth game of the 1973 season, when he replaced a slumping Brodie against the Minnesota Vikings. He set team records with 31 completions and 320 passing yards, but he also tossed two interceptions, and the 49ers lost 17-14.[25] With Spurrier suffering from a lingering knee injury, 49ers Coach Nolan decided to start fellow backup Joe Reed the following week, and Spurrier's playing time was again limited.

Spurrier had successful knee surgery in the offseason and, with his NFL contract expired, listened to offers from teams in the new World Football League.[35] However, John Brodie had retired, and as the heir apparent to the 49ers' starting quarterback position in 1974, Spurrier decided to re-sign with San Francisco. Spurrier played well in the preseason and had seemingly secured the starting job, but these plans were derailed when he suffered a badly dislocated shoulder in the final preseason game. The injury required surgery, and he missed virtually the entire season. A serious offseason traffic accident reaggravated the injury, and Spurrier was again the 49ers backup quarterback to start the 1975 season, this time to veteran Norm Snead.[35]

The 49ers began the 1975 season 2-5, prompting Spurrier to ask Nolan for a chance to start against the Los Angeles Rams, who had dominated the rivalry during his tenure in San Francisco. Nolan agreed, and Spurrier led his team to a 24-23 comeback win, throwing for 240 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions in what he later called his "best, or at least favorite" game of his pro career.[10] The performance earned him the starting job, and the 49ers won the next two games behind Spurrier to get back to 5-5. However, they lost their next four games, Spurrier was sent back to the bench, and Coach Nolan was fired at the conclusion of the season. Incoming coach Monte Clark traded multiple high draft picks for New England Patriots' quarterback Jim Plunkett, making it clear that Spurrier would not be a part of the 49ers' rebuilding plans. Overall, he was 13-12-1 as a starter with San Francisco.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

In April 1976, Spurrier was sent to the expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for two players and a second round draft pick as part of the new franchise's first trade.[35] The Bucs' new acquisition generated local excitement, as Spurrier had been a college star at the nearby University of Florida. He won the job as team's first starting quarterback, a position that he later regretted as the undermanned Bucs went on to suffer the first winless season (0-14) in modern NFL history. Though he had looked forward to playing professional football in Florida, Spurrier was frustrated by losing, the constant hits playing behind a porous offensive line, and his philosophical differences with Bucs coach John McKay.[35] McKay insisted on employing a run-heavy attack similar to the offense he had used to win championships at The University of Southern California, while Spurrier felt that the team did not have the right personnel to run the ball effectively and should open up the offense.[36][37] Another point of contention was Coach McKay's insistence that his son, John McKay, Jr., be the Buc's primary wide receiver while Spurrier and other observers felt that he did not have the talent to fill that role.[10][35][36]

The Bucs cut Spurrier in April 1977, a move that left Spurrier "puzzled and disappointed" since he had been working out with the team up to that point and had not been told that his release was imminent.[38] He signed with the Denver Broncos in July and was released after playing in several preseason games, then signed with Miami Dolphins and was released one week before the beginning of the 1977 regular season, at which point he decided to end his playing career.[35]

Over 10 NFL seasons, Spurrier played in 106 games (starting 38), completing 597 passes in 1,151 attempts, for a total of 6,878 yards, 40 touchdowns, and 60 interceptions. He also punted 230 times for a 38.3 yard average.[39]

Coaching career

Assistant coach

Florida (1978)

Spurrier spent the fall of 1977 out of football, living in Gainesville with his young family and considering possible career choices. While not officially connected with the University of Florida at the time, he was often on campus, running at the university's track and attending football games as a fan.[35] He watched the Gators play to a disappointing 6-4-1 record in 1977, a season that prompted head coach Doug Dickey to scrap the wishbone-based run-heavy attack that his teams had used for several years with declining success in favor of a more open pro-style offense. To affect this change, Dickey revamped his offensive staff, and he hired Spurrier to his first coaching job as Florida's quarterbacks and receivers coach.[40]

The changes did not bring many positive results. While Florida's passing attack improved, the 1978 Gators' overall scoring output was almost identical to that of 1977 (about 22 points per game) and the team's record slumped to 4-7, leading to Dickey's dismissal.[41][42] Spurrier expressed an interested in becoming Florida's next head coach but was not a serious candidate due to his lack of experience, and Clemson coach Charley Pell was hired soon after conclusion of the season.[43] Pell chose not to retain any of Dickey's staff, leaving Spurrier without a job.

In later years, Spurrier has repeatedly thanked Doug Dickey for giving him a chance to get into coaching with no prior experience.[44]

Georgia Tech (1979)

Spurrier was unsure if he wanted to continue pursuing a coaching career after his unpleasant experience at Florida, stating that he would only accept a position "if the opportunity was really right."[43] In 1979, he accepted an offer to become the quarterbacks coach at Georgia Tech under head coach Pepper Rodgers, who had been an offensive assistant at Florida when Spurrier was the quarterback.[45]

Like Dickey at Florida, Rodgers sought to transition Georgia Tech's offense from a wishbone attack to a more passing-oriented offense. And also like Dickey, Rodgers' efforts did not produce immediate results. The Yellow Jackets began the season 1-5-1 and did not score more than 14 points against a Division 1-A opponent over its first seven games. Spurrier, who had not been tasked with constructing a game plan and had seldom been allowed to call plays up to that point, asked Coach Rodgers for a larger role on the staff and was allowed to take control of the offense for the eighth game of the season, against Duke.[10] Georgia Tech surprised Duke with a more aggressive offense than they'd run all year, and the Yellow Jackets won, 24-14. With Spurrier continuing to call plays, GT won the next two games as well, scoring over 20 points in both contests and setting a Georgia Tech record for passing yardage in a season. But the campaign ended with a 16-3 loss to archrival Georgia, dropping Georgia Tech to 4-6-1 overall and leading to Rodgers' dismissal.[46]

Spurrier asked incoming head coach Bill Curry if he would be retained as Georgia Tech's quarterback coach and was told that he was one of "two or three" candidates for the job, prompting him to seek employment elsewhere.[10] Spurrier would not forget being dismissed by Curry in 1980. In later years, Spurrier repeatedly mentioned his perfect record (6-0) against Curry's teams when they met as head coaches, often by very lopsided margins.[47][48]

Duke (1980–1982)

In 1980, Spurrier was hired to be the offensive coordinator at Duke University under head coach Red Wilson. Wilson had been impressed by Spurrier's coaching abilities the previous season when Georgia Tech had upset Wilson's Duke squad. Wilson gave the young coach free rein to design the offense, coach the quarterbacks, and call the plays, and he quickly developed a record-breaking passing attack that built his reputation as an innovative young offensive coach.[35] Under Spurrier, Blue Devils quarterback Ben Bennett set an NCAA record for career passing yardage, and Duke's 1982 team was the first in Atlantic Coast Conference history to average more than 300 passing yards per game.[49] They also earned two straight winning seasons in 1981 and 1982, a feat that the program had not achieved since 1970 and 1971 and would not achieve again until Spurrier returned as Duke's head coach later in the decade.

In later years, Spurrier has stated that his seasons working to get maximum production out of outmanned Duke squads were critical to his development as a coach and an offensive strategist.[10][50] Success at a school not known for its football program built Spurrier's reputation as an innovative young offensive coach.

Tampa Bay Bandits (1983–1985)

In 1983, Spurrier returned to Tampa to accept his first head coaching position with the Tampa Bay Bandits of the new United States Football League (USFL). At 37 years old, Spurrier was the youngest head coach in professional football at the time.[51]

"BanditBall" was marketed as a fun alternative to the woeful Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who were in the midst of a record-setting streak of losing seasons. Spurrier's wide-open offense was prominently featured, as was starting quarterback John Reaves, who had broken many of Spurrier's passing records at the University of Florida and had grown up in Tampa.[35] The Bandits' attendance was the highest in the USFL over its three-year run, and Spurrier's offenses were consistently among the league's best.[52] The team narrowly missed the playoffs in their first season and made the postseason the next two years. Overall, Spurrier led the Bandits to 35–21 record before the USFL dissolved after the 1985 season.[45]

Duke Blue Devils (1987–1989)

Spurrier spent 1986 out of football as the USFL's planned move to a fall schedule never took place. When it became clear that the Bandits would not retake the field, Spurrier began to seek new coaching opportunities. He interviewed for several positions, including at LSU, where he was ultimately passed over in favor of Mike Archer.[35]

Finally, Spurrier returned to Duke University as the Blue Devils' new head coach and offensive coordinator in 1987.[45] Spurrier proceeded to revive the Blue Devils to levels of success that the program had not realized in over twenty-five years. His offenses broke numerous school and conference records for scoring, passing yards, and total yards, many of which had been set during his tenure as Duke's offensive coordinator. His 1989 Duke squad was the most successful, winning Duke's first Atlantic Coast Conference championship since 1962 (and most recent to date), and appearing in their first bowl game since 1960.[53]

In what would become a recurring trend at most of his coaching stops, Spurrier's teams regularly beat their biggest rivals while he brashly "needled" them with jokes and "zingers" that were amusing to his fans but infuriating to opponents.[54] Spurrier's Duke squads went 3-0 against archrival North Carolina, including a 41-0 victory in Chapel Hill that clinched a share of the 1989 ACC title. At Spurrier's suggestion, that win was followed by a joyful team picture taken in front of the Kenan Memorial Stadium scoreboard, a photo that still rankles some Tar Heel supporters.[53]

For his success, Spurrier was named the ACC Coach of the Year in both 1988 and 1989.[55]

Florida Gators (1990–2001)

In December 1989, Spurrier accepted an offer to return to the University of Florida as the Gators' head ball coach. He had privately expressed interest in the job in early October, when Florida coach Galen Hall was fired mid-season for his alleged involvement in an NCAA rules violation and prominent Gator boosters reached out to Spurrier.[10] However, he delayed any further discussion at that time to concentrate on coaching Duke.[10] After the Blue Devils clinched the ACC championship in their last regular season game, Spurrier met with University of Florida president Robert Bryan and athletic director Bill Arnsparger, and he agreed in principle to return to Florida on December 12.[56]

Spurrier asked to delay an official announcement until both Florida and Duke had played in their respective bowl games. As rumors swirled, however, Spurrier broke the news to his Duke team on December 27, the night before they played in the 1989 All-American Bowl.[57] They played poorly and lost, and Spurrier later decided that he should have waited to tell his team until after the game, and that when it came to coaching jobs, "it's best to make your decision and move on quickly".[10] Spurrier was officially announced as Florida's new football coach on December 31, 1989.[58][59]

During his introductory press conference on New Year's Eve 1989, Spurrier said that he wanted to immediately change several things, including bringing back blue jerseys (Florida had switched from traditional blue to orange in 1979 under Charley Pell), bringing back natural grass to Florida Field (artificial turf had been installed in the early 1970s), and putting Miami back on the schedule (the schools' annual series had ended after the 1987 game).[10][60][note 2] He stressed the need to beat traditional rivals Auburn, Georgia, and Florida State, against whom Florida had gone 0-9 over the previous three seasons. Finally, he worked to convince Gator players and fans alike that it was possible to win championships at Florida, which had still never won an officially recognized conference title in eighty-three years of football.[10][61]

Spurrier inherited a team under NCAA investigation for the second time in five years.[62] He successfully steered the program away from the previous scandals and led the Gators to the best record in the SEC in his first year, though they were declared ineligible for the league title due to NCAA probation handed down during the season. Building on the success of Spurrier's first year, Florida finally captured their first officially recognized SEC title in 1991.[5][63] Under Spurrier, the Gators won the SEC title in four of the next five years, and represented the SEC East in the first five SEC Championship Games.[5] The 1996 team captured the Gators' first-ever National Championship with a 52–20 win over Florida State in the Sugar Bowl,[64] avenging the Gators' sole regular season loss in which Florida State upset Florida 24–21 in Tallahassee.[5]

Steve Spurrier on Fan Day, 1999

Spurrier's finest moment as a coach may have been the Gators' 1997 game against the previously undefeated and national title game-bound Florida State Seminoles.[65] Spurrier used a two-quarterback offense, rotating quarterbacks Doug Johnson and Noah Brindise in and out of the game, confusing the Florida State defense and its veteran coordinator, Mickey Andrews, and giving Spurrier more time to counsel his quarterbacks on the sidelines without having to use time-outs.[65] Florida upset the heavily favored Seminoles 32–29.[65]

Significantly, Spurrier is credited with changing the way the SEC played football. Spurrier employed a pass-oriented offense (known in the sports media as the "Fun 'n' Gun")[66] in contrast to the ball-control, rush-oriented offenses that were traditionally played in the SEC. His innovative offensive schemes forced many coaches in the SEC to change their offensive and defensive play-calling.

While his offensive style used a more wide open passing game than the SEC was accustomed to, Spurrier was also able to utilize a constant group of talented running backs. Many of them would later go on to have success at the NFL level, including Errict Rhett, Fred Taylor, Terry Jackson, and Earnest Graham.

Spurrier and his Gators accomplished a number of memorable feats during his twelve seasons in Gainesville (1990–2001), including:

Spurrier is also credited with creating the nickname "The Swamp" for Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, the Gators' home field. In the early 1990s, he said, ". . . a swamp is where Gators live. We feel comfortable there, but we hope our opponents feel tentative. A swamp is hot and sticky and can be dangerous. Only Gators get out alive."[67] Soon after becoming head coach, he insisted that the artificial turf then in use at the stadium be replaced with natural grass, and the "Swamp" remains a natural surface field today.[58] During Spurrier's tenure, the Gators built up one of the most formidable home field advantages in the nation; they would not lose a home SEC game until 1994, and would only suffer two more home losses to conference opponents during his 12-year run. Largely due to the formidable home-field advantage Spurrier built, he is by far the winningest coach in Florida history as his 122 wins are 52 more than runner-up Graves.

Spurrier was known for his gamesmanship while coaching Florida, doing such things as giving much-derided Georgia coach Ray Goff the nickname of "Ray Goof."[68][69] His rivalry with the Tennessee Volunteers and their coach Phillip Fulmer became highly publicized, as Spurrier would gig the Volunteers after the Gators' wins over Tennessee, saying that "you can't spell 'Citrus' without 'UT,'" a reference to the Citrus Bowl, which has the contractual right to select the second-place SEC football team. He also said of Peyton Manning, Tennessee's quarterback, "I know why Peyton came back for his senior year: he wanted to be a three-time Citrus Bowl MVP!"[68]

Other memorable one-liners from Steve Spurrier included nicknaming rival Florida State University, "Free Shoes University", for the Seminoles' NCAA troubles with recruiting violations.[68]

On January 4, 2002, Spurrier abruptly resigned as head coach, stating, "I simply believe that twelve years as head coach at a major university in the SEC is long enough."[70]

Before Spurrier returned to coach his Gamecocks against the Gators in 2006 and 2008, his most recent visits to Gainesville were on September 2, 2006, to take part in the Gators' celebration of the 10-year anniversary of their 1996 championship season,[71] and on September 30, 2006, when he was one of the first four inductees into the Gator Football Ring of Honor, alongside Danny Wuerffel, Emmitt Smith, and Jack Youngblood.[72] At both appearances, Spurrier received standing ovations from the crowd.[72]

Spurrier retains a deep affection and loyalty for his alma mater, and sometimes still accidentally says "we" when referring to the University of Florida. The feeling is mutual; he remains very much in the good graces of Gator fans for building their program into a perennial national power.[73] When he was inducted into the Gators' "Ring of Honor", Spurrier humbly announced to the sell-out crowd at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium: "I'd just like to thank coach Ray Graves for bringing the skinny kid from Tennessee to the University of Florida."[74] Additionally, in 2016, the university added his name to the playing surface at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium; it is now Steve Spurrier-Florida Field.

Spurrier has not let his affection for the University of Florida get in the way of a budding Florida-South Carolina rivalry, however. In 2005, his Gamecocks upset the Gators 30–22 in Columbia, costing the Gators a shot at the SEC championship.[75] And in November 2010, he coached South Carolina to a 36–14 victory in Gainesville (their first ever on Florida Field) in a game that decided the SEC Eastern Division title.[76]

Washington Redskins (2002–2003)

Ten days after Spurrier resigned his position at the University of Florida, he became head coach of the NFL's Washington Redskins.[77] Spurrier's five-year, $25 million contract with the Redskins was the most lucrative coaching contract in the history of the NFL at the time.[77]

A fast start to the 2002 season raised hopes for Spurrier's potential success. The Redskins led off the preseason in Japan, where they beat the San Francisco 49ers 38-7 in the American Bowl. The team threw for over 400 yards and was accused of running up the score, a charge frequently leveled against Spurrier at Florida.[78] The Redskins went 4-1 in the preseason (including a 40-10 win in Tampa against Spurrier's last professional team, the Buccaneers[79]) and won the first game of the regular season 31-23, with Shane Matthews throwing for 327 yards and 3 touchdowns against the Arizona Cardinals.[80] However, subsequent opponents were able to slow Spurrier's offense, mainly by using disguised blitzes to disrupt the passing game. By the end of the season, the Redskins were ranked 25th (out of 32 teams) in scoring offense and finished with a 7–9 record. It was only Spurrier's second losing campaign in 18 years as a head coach, the first being his first year at Duke.

In 2003, the Redskins started 2–0 but finished 5–11, with several close losses coming down to the 4th quarter. The offense was a bit improved, but the departure of defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis to become the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals saw the defense fade from 5th in scoring defense during the previous season to 24th in 2003. The team as a whole faded late in the season, and were outscored 85–31 over their last three games. Spurrier resigned on December 30, 2003, choosing to walk away from $15 million still owed to him over the remaining three years of his contract. In a statement released by the team, Spurrier said "I apologize to Redskins fans that we did not reach a level of success that we had all hoped... It's a long grind and I feel (that) after 20 years as a head coach there are other things I need to do. I simply believe this is the right time for me to move on because this team needs new leadership."[81]

Spurrier's disappointing tenure as an NFL head coach has been heavily scrutinized and analysed. During his first season in Washington, Spurrier had acquired many of his former Florida players, including quarterbacks Danny Wuerffel and Shane Matthews, leading to criticism that he played favorites. Also criticized was his decision to bring along most of his coaching staff from Florida even though they had little or no experience in professional football (the exception being Marvin Lewis, who was a veteran NFL coach). Additionally, there were many well-documented philosophical, strategic, and player personnel differences between Spurrier and the Washington front office, including team owner Daniel Snyder.[82][83][84] Snyder pushed for the drafting of Tulane quarterback Patrick Ramsey in the 2002 NFL Draft, and though Spurrier said that he would not play Ramsey during his first season in the NFL, he was the starter by game 4.[85] The quarterback position continued to be a source of friction, particularly when the front office decided to release Wuerffel before the start of Spurrier's second season over his objections.[86][87] Spurrier later said that he "knew it was over" when he "wasn't allowed to pick the backup quarterback".[85]

Spurrier spoke about his NFL coaching experience during SEC Media Days in 2014. "When I left Florida after 12 years, I thought I was going to coach in the NFL five or six years and retire to the beach, and play golf a bunch, and travel around, this, that and the other. But that was a bad plan. It was. Later you found out that was not a real good idea. But that's the way I was thinking back then.".[88] In a 2016 appearance on the Paul Finebaum Show, Spurrier reflected that the Redskins might not have been the best choice for his jump to the NFL. "I went to the team that offered the most money instead of the best situation", he said.[89]

South Carolina Gamecocks (2005–2015)

Spurrier stands on the sidelines during the Gamecocks' November 15, 2008 game against Florida.

Throughout the 2004 football season, various sources openly speculated about Spurrier returning to coach in the college ranks once again, preferably for a program located in the southeastern United States and even more preferably, somewhere in his beloved Southeastern Conference.[90] The University of Florida was in the process of taking applications for a new coach after Spurrier's successor at Florida, Ron Zook, was fired following the 2004 season.[91] The timing seemed perfect for Spurrier's return to the Gators and Spurrier initially said that he wanted to be considered for his old job, but later removed his name from consideration stating that "12 years at Florida was probably long enough."[92] Soon afterwards, rumors began circulating that South Carolina Gamecocks' Athletic Director, Mike McGee, was actively pursuing Spurrier and that Spurrier was considering the Gamecocks' offer. Again, the timing was perfect and on November 22, South Carolina coach Lou Holtz announced his retirement and, during his final press conference, hinted that Spurrier might replace him.[93] The next day, months of rumors were put to rest as Spurrier was introduced as South Carolina's new head coach. Spurrier had signed a seven-year deal that paid him $1.25 million per year and the Steve Spurrier era began for the Gamecocks.[94]

In 2005, his first season as the Gamecocks' new head coach, Spurrier led his South Carolina Gamecocks with newfound humility.[95] The Gamecocks, who were not expected to have a winning season by most pundits, rattled off a five-game SEC winning streak for the first time in their fourteen-year SEC history.[96] Included among those victories were historic wins at Tennessee (16–15)[97] — the program's first win in Knoxville[97] — and against then 12th-ranked Florida (30–22),[98] who South Carolina had not beaten since 1939.[98] The Associated Press named Spurrier the SEC Coach of the Year,[45] and the Gamecocks finished the 2005 season with a 7–5 record and a trip to the Independence Bowl.[96]

Two days prior to South Carolina's 2006 season opener, Spurrier announced that he would kick off the athletics department's capital campaign with a $250,000 donation over five years.[99] Spurrier's Gamecocks opened the 2006 season with a 15–0 win over Mississippi State in Starkville,[100] where he was 0–2 while coaching the Florida Gators.[101] With the victory, he reached 150 wins for his college coaching career.[102] On September 30, Spurrier was inducted into the Gator Football Ring of Honor in a pre-game ceremony in Gainesville.[103] Later in the season on November 11, Spurrier returned to "The Swamp" to face off against his former Gators team, which was then ranked sixth in the BCS rankings.[104] Trailing 17–16, the Gamecocks had a chance to win with a 48-yard field goal attempt on the last play of the game.[104] However, Ryan Succop's kick was blocked as time expired in a repeat of an earlier blocked extra-point attempt.[104]

In the final game of the 2006 regular season, Spurrier led the Gamecocks to victory over in-state rival Clemson at Death Valley.[105] Trailing 28–14 in the third quarter, South Carolina scored seventeen unanswered points to lead 31–28.[106] With only seconds remaining, Clemson's field goal attempt missed wide left and the Gamecocks celebrated their first victory over Clemson in five years.[105][107]

On December 2, 2006, amid speculation he was a candidate for head coaching jobs at Miami and Alabama, Spurrier received a contract extension through 2012 and a raise from $1.25 million to $1.75 million annually.[108] Spurrier and the Gamecocks went on to defeat the Houston Cougars in the Liberty Bowl on December 29, and finished the season 8–5.[100] All five of the Gamecocks' 2006 losses were to ranked opponents.[109] Spurrier became the first head coach in Gamecock football history to take a team to a bowl game in each of his first two seasons.[110]

The 2007 football season, got off to a quick start winning at SEC rival Georgia early in the season as well as Louisiana-Lafayette and South Carolina State, and climbed into the top 10 in the national rankings. South Carolina stumbled down the stretch dropping the final five games, including a home loss in the season finale to arch-rival Clemson. The 6-6 (3-5 SEC) season record marked the first non-winning college season for Spurrier since his first season at Duke in 1987.[111][112]

Spurrier won his 100th SEC game on October 11, 2008, coaching the Gamecocks to a 24–17 victory over Kentucky.[113] In his ten seasons as the Gamecocks' head coach, Spurrier has beaten each of South Carolina's traditional SEC Eastern Division rivals at least five times.[110] Against their annual SEC Eastern Division opponents, his ten teams have posted an 8–2 record against Kentucky, 8–2 against Vanderbilt, 5–5 against Tennessee, 5–5 against Georgia, 5–5 against Florida, and 2-1 against Missouri who began competing in the SEC in 2012.[110] Against South Carolina's major in-state rival, Clemson, Spurrier's Gamecocks have gone 6–3.[110] While Spurrier's teams at USC have shown flashes of his old "Fun 'n' Gun" offense, they have mostly relied on stout defense to win upsets. The Gamecocks have been bowl eligible every year Spurrier has been their head coach, a feat no other Carolina coach has accomplished. Also, the Gamecocks have been ranked in the AP Poll Top 25 at some point during the season in nine out of Spurrier's ten years at USC.

Steve Spurrier in 2010

Spurrier's Gamecocks won the SEC Eastern Division championship for the first time in school history in 2010, clinching the title with a convincing 36–14 victory at "The Swamp" over the Florida Gators. It was a season of firsts for South Carolina, including their first win at Florida, first win over a No. 1 ranked team (Alabama), and first time sweeping the November "Orange Crush" portion of their schedule with wins over Tennessee, Florida and Clemson. Following a 9–3 regular season and an appearance in the SEC championship game, Spurrier was named SEC Coach of the Year by his fellow coaches in the conference.[114]

The Gamecocks had another strong season in 2011, beating every opponent in the division. However, losses to Arkansas and Auburn cost them a return appearance in the SEC title game. With a 34-13 rout of Clemson, the Gamecocks won 10 games for only the second time in their 119-year football history. In the 2012 Capital One Bowl, the Gamecocks dispatched Nebraska 30-13 to win their school-record 11th game. They also finished eighth in the AP Poll and ninth in the Coaches' Poll—their first top-ten finishes in a major media poll in school history.

In 2012 Spurrier led the Gamecocks to their second-consecutive regular season with double-digit wins—something no Gamecock team had ever achieved. The 2012 regular season culminated with the annual season-ending game against Clemson at Clemson's Memorial Stadium. Spurrier and his Gamecocks emerged with a fourth consecutive double-digit victory over the Tigers. That win was also Spurrier's 65th win with the Gamecocks, vaulting him past Rex Enright to become the winningest coach in South Carolina's history. Spurrier led the Gamecocks to a thrilling 33-28 victory in the 2013 Outback Bowl against the winningest program in college football, the Michigan Wolverines. The victory elevated the Gamecocks to an 11-2 record for the 2nd consecutive season. Additionally, by finishing 8th in the Associated Press poll and 7th in the Coaches poll, South Carolina finished in Top 10 of both polls for the second year in a row.

During the 2013 season, Spurrier led his Gamecocks to a third consecutive 11-2 record. Only two other programs (Alabama and Oregon) have won 11 or more games each of the last three seasons (2011–13). During the season, the Gamecocks defeated three teams that finished ranked in the Top 10 in the final AP Poll (Missouri, University of Central Florida, and Clemson). The Gamecocks were the only team to accomplish this feat. They also became the first and only team to defeat two teams that won BCS bowl games. Following their 34-24 win over Wisconsin in the Capital One Bowl, the Gamecocks were ranked 4th in the final AP Poll,[115] setting a record for the program. This also marked the third straight year that the Gamecocks finished with a Top 10 ranking in the final AP Poll. While defeating Clemson, again, the Gamecocks ran their winning streak over their archrival to five games, which is the longest winning streak in the rivalry, for either team, since 1940. The 31-17 score marked the 5th straight double-digit margin of victory over their ACC foe. Also, for the 5th straight year, the Gamecocks defense held the Tigers to 17 points or less.

On October 12, 2015, Spurrier announced to his team and staff that he had resigned as head coach. He publicly confirmed his intentions at a press conference the following day. Spurrier reiterated that he was not officially retiring, but added he will probably never coach again.[116] Spurrier is regarded as the greatest coach ever to coach the Gamecocks.

The Ladies Clinic

A popular tradition, started during the Sparky Woods era at USC, occurs on the last Saturday of July when the University of South Carolina athletics department hosts the annual "Steve Spurrier Ladies Football Clinic." Only female fans are invited to attend the clinic where football coaches and players discuss the X's and O's with fans who want to understand the game better. All attendees get a tour of the football facilities, and finish the day running onto the football field through the players' tunnel accompanied by artificial smoke and theme music in the same way the team does during the season. The event was hosted by Spurrier and his wife Jerri.[117][118][119]

After coaching

In July 2016, Spurrier returned to the University of Florida to serve as an ambassador and consultant for the athletic program.[120]

Personal

Spurrier married his college sweetheart, the former Jerri Starr, on September 14, 1966, during his senior year at the University of Florida.[5] They have four children —Lisa, Amy, Steve, Jr., and Scott, as well as over a dozen grandchildren.[25] Spurrier's oldest son, Steve Jr., has been an assistant football coach for several years, including stints as a receivers coach on his father's staffs in Washington and South Carolina. After his father retired in 2015, Steve Jr. joined Bob Stoops' staff at Oklahoma.[121] Spurrier's youngest son, Scott, played wide receiver for the Gamecocks through the 2009 season.[122][123]

While he was a University of Florida student, Spurrier was a member of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity (Alpha Omega chapter), and was inducted into the University of Florida Hall of Fame, the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame,[124] and Florida Blue Key leadership honorary.

Head coaching record

USFL

Team Year Regular Season Postseason
Won LostTiesWin %FinishWonLostWin %
Tampa Bay Bandits1983 1170.6113rd in Central Div. - - -
Tampa Bay Bandits1984 1440.7782nd in Southern Div. 0 1 .000
Tampa Bay Bandits1985 1080.5565th in Eastern Con. 0 1 .000
Total 35190.648

College

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Duke Blue Devils (Atlantic Coast Conference) (1987–1989)
1987 Duke 5–6 2–5 7th
1988 Duke 7–3–1 3–3–1 6th
1989 Duke 8–4 6–1 T–1st L All-American
Duke: 20–13–1 11–9–1
Florida Gators (Southeastern Conference) (1990–2001)
1990 Florida 9–2 6–1 1st ‡ ‡ ‡ 13
1991 Florida 10–2 7–0 1st L Sugar 8 7
1992 Florida 9–4 6–2 T–1st (Eastern) W Gator† 11 10
1993 Florida 11–2 7–1 1st (Eastern) W Sugar† 4 5
1994 Florida 10–2–1 7–1 1st (Eastern) L Sugar† 7 7
1995 Florida 12–1 8–0 1st (Eastern) L Fiesta† 3 2
1996 Florida 12–1 8–0 1st (Eastern) W Sugar† 1 1
1997 Florida 10–2 6–2 T–2nd (Eastern) W Florida Citrus 6 4
1998 Florida 10–2 7–1 2nd (Eastern) W Orange† 6 5
1999 Florida 9–4 7–1 1st (Eastern) L Florida Citrus 14 12
2000 Florida 10–3 7–1 1st (Eastern) L Sugar† 11 10
2001 Florida 10–2 6–2 2nd (Eastern) W Orange† 3 3
Florida: 122–27–1 87–12 ‡ Ineligible for SEC title, bowl game and Coaches' Poll
South Carolina Gamecocks (Southeastern Conference) (2005–2015)
2005 South Carolina 7–5 5–3 T–2nd (Eastern) L Independence
2006 South Carolina 8–5 3–5 5th (Eastern) W Liberty
2007 South Carolina 6–6 3–5 T–4th (Eastern)
2008 South Carolina 7–6 4–4 T–3rd (Eastern) L Outback
2009 South Carolina 7–6 3–5 T–4th (Eastern) L PapaJohns.com
2010 South Carolina 9–5 5–3 1st (Eastern) L Chick-fil-A 22 22
2011 South Carolina 11–2 6–2 2nd (Eastern) W Capital One 8 9
2012 South Carolina 11–2 6–2 3rd (Eastern) W Outback 7 8
2013 South Carolina 11–2 6–2 2nd (Eastern) W Capital One 4 4
2014 South Carolina 7–6 3–5 T–4th (Eastern) W Independence
2015 South Carolina 2–4[note 3] 0–4[note 3] (Eastern)[note 3]
South Carolina: 86–49 44–40
Total: 228–89–2
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title
†Indicates Bowl Coalition, Bowl Alliance, BCS, or CFP / New Years' Six bowl.
#Rankings from final Coaches Poll.
°Rankings from final AP Poll.

National Football League

Team Year Regular Season Postseason
Won LostTiesWin %FinishWonLostWin %Result
WAS2002 790.4383rd in NFC East - - - -
WAS2003 5110.3133rd in NFC East - - - -
WAS Total 12200 .375 0 0 .000
Total 12200.375 0 0 .000

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Spurrier set the Sugar Bowl passing record with 352 yards in 1966 Sugar Bowl. This record would not be broken until the 1992 Sugar Bowl, when Florida quarterback Shane Matthews passed for 370 yards, and was broken again in the 1995 Sugar Bowl, when Florida quarterback Danny Wuerffel passed for 394 yards, both under head coach Steve Spurrier. Ironically, both of Spurrier's proteges also lost their record breaking Sugar Bowl contests. The current Sugar Bowl passing record is currently held by another Florida quarterback, Tim Tebow, who threw for 482 yards in the 2010 Sugar Bowl, which Florida won. However, Tebow played for the Gators after Spurrier had left.[24]
  2. ↑ Florida's athletic administration brought back blue uniforms, installed natural grass, and signed a contract to renew the Miami rivalry before Spurrier's first Florida team took the field in 1990. However, the contract to play Miami was cancelled several months later when the SEC decided to move to an eight game league schedule and establish the SEC Championship Game beginning in 1992.
  3. 1 2 3 Spurrier resigned on October 12, 2015. Shawn Elliott was named interim head coach the next day.

References

  1. ↑ "Steve Spurrier: Career Stats at NFL.com". Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  2. ↑ Kendall, Josh (14 October 2015). "Gamecocks ex-coach Spurrier: 'I sort of fired myself'". The Herald. Rock Hill. South Carolina. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  3. 1 2 Low, Chris (4 September 2016). "Swamp Sweet Swamp: Steve Spurrier is back home at Florida". ESPN. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  4. ↑ Pro-Football-Reference.com, Players, Steve Spurrier. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 GatorZone.com, Football History, 2001 Roster, Steve Spurrier Biography. Retrieved July 25, 2009.
  6. 1 2 S.L. Price, "Steve Superior", Sports Illustrated (October 23, 1995). Retrieved September 15, 2009.
  7. 1 2 3 Williams, Trey (22 October 2015). "Before he was Head Ball Coach, Steve Spurrier was just a kid from Johnson City". The Johnson City News & Neighbor. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  8. ↑ Longman, Jere (1 September 2002). "With Innovation, Winning Is the Only Thing for Spurrier". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  9. ↑ databaseFootball.com, Players, Steve Spurrier. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Spurrier, Steve with Buddy Martin (2016). Head Ball Coach: My Life in Football. New York: Blue Rider Press. ISBN 0399574662.
  11. ↑ Haney, Travis (27 October 2007). "Spurrier's Hometown Conflicted". The Post and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  12. ↑ Jenkins, Henry (19 November 1962). "Sideline Review: Spurrier Widely Sought by Colleges". Kingsport Times-News. Kingsport, Tennessee. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  13. 1 2 Gordon Weidler, "Steve's Story: New Book Unlocks Spurrier Mystery," The Gainesville Sun (September 28, 2002). Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  14. 1 2 Henry, Ran (2014). Spurrier : how the ball coach taught the South to play football. Guilford, Connecticut: Lyons Press. ISBN 9780762791842.
  15. ↑ Siler, Tom (11 September 1964). "College Football Roundup". El Paso Herald-Post. Knoxville News-Sentinel. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  16. 1 2 McEwen, Tom (1974). The Gators : a story of Florida football. Huntsville, Ala: Strode Publishers. ISBN 087397025X.
  17. ↑ "Harper's Running Sets Florida's Pace". The Progress-Index. AP. 20 September 1964. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  18. ↑ Moffitt, David (11 October 1964). "Floridians Chew Up Ole Miss". News-Journal. UPI. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  19. ↑ Land, Charles (October 25, 1964). "Alabama fights off Gators, 17–14". The Tuscaloosa News. Google News Archives. p. 11. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
  20. ↑ "Spurrier Top SEC Soph". Kingsport Times. Kingsport, Tennessee. UPI. 15 December 1964. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  21. 1 2 3 2012 Florida Football Media Guide, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 70, 72, 74, 75, 80, 87, 89, 92, 93, 94, 96, 98, 102, 106, 112–113, 116, 122, 124, 129, 136, 141, 142, 144–146, 149–150, 153–154, 155, 157, 165, 171, 182 (2012). Retrieved September 16, 2012.
  22. ↑ S.L. Price, "Spurrier: Call Me Mastermind", Sports Illustrated (October 3, 2007). Retrieved April 8, 2010.
  23. ↑ Mabe, Logan (November 14, 1996). "Heisman was Spurrier's 2nd Best Catch". The Gainesville Sun. pp. 1C, 6C. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  24. ↑ "Sugar Bowl Record Book" (PDF). Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  25. 1 2 3 Heisman.com, 1966: Steve Spurrier. Retrieved July 25, 2009.
  26. ↑ 2012 NCAA Football Records Book, Award Winners, National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, Indiana, pp. 7 & 14 (2012). Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  27. ↑ Sports_Reference.com, College Football, 1966 Heisman Trophy Voting. Retrieved April 26, 2012.
  28. ↑ Dirocco, Michael (9 September 2005). "SEC EXTRA: Payback's for the 'Dogs". Jacksonville Times-Union. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  29. ↑ Low, Chris (6 September 2013). "Is Steve Spurrier in Georgia's head?". ESPN. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  30. ↑ Robbie Andreu & Pat Dooley, "No. 2 Steve Spurrier", The Gainesville Sun (September 1, 2006). Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  31. ↑ NFL.com, NFL Draft History, 1967 Round 1. Retrieved July 25, 2009.
  32. ↑ "Steve Spurrier career statistics". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  33. ↑ Macomber, Frank (24 December 1972). "Spurrier Extends 49ers QB Dynasty". The Sunday News and Tribune. Copley News Service. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  34. ↑ "49ers to Rely on Passing Game". Panama City News-Herald. UPI. 23 December 1972. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  35. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Chastain, Bill (2002). The Steve Spurrier Story. Lanham, Maryland: Taylor Trade Publishing.
  36. 1 2 Mabe, Logan (15 November 1996). "Steve Spurrier: #1 Gator". The Gainesville Sun. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  37. ↑ SportsIllustrated.com, SI Vault, Sports Illustrated (July 23, 1976). Retrieved July 25, 2009.
  38. ↑ "Spurrier Puzzled, Disappointed by His Release". The Lakeland Ledger. Lakeland, Florida. 15 April 1977. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  39. ↑ National Football League, Historical Players, Steve Spurrier Career Statistics. Retrieved July 25, 2009.
  40. ↑ "Spurrier Joins Gator Staff". The Naples Daily News. UPI. 21 December 1977. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  41. ↑ "UF Fans can thank Vol's AD for Spurrier". Orlando Sentinel. 29 November 2001. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  42. ↑ UPI (20 November 1978). "No Title so Florida Gives Ax to Dickey". The Evening Independent. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  43. 1 2 Hamilton, Brian (1979). "Spurrier Joins Coaching Staff". Georgia Tech Alumni Magazine. 55 (03): 12–13.
  44. ↑ "Florida football: Gators to rename field after Steve Spurrier". NCAA.com. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  45. 1 2 3 4 Gamecocks Online, Steve Spurrier Profile. Retrieved July 25, 2009.
  46. ↑ Sigiura, Ken (16 October 2015). "Did Georgia Tech and Pepper Rodgers keep Steve Spurrier's career alive?". Atlanta Journal-Constitution / ajc.com. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  47. ↑ Mell, Randall (12 September 1993). "Spurrier Enjoys It When He Beats Kentucky". Orlando Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  48. ↑ Kendall, Josh (17 August 2012). "Spurrier: No Ill Will Towards Bill Curry". The State. Columbia, South Carolina. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  49. ↑ Featherston, Al (26 Nov 2009). "Duke Record Book Forever Changed". goduke.com. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  50. ↑ Holliday, Bob (14 October 2015). "Steve Spurrier's days at Duke". WRAL.com. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  51. ↑ The Miami News - Google News Archive Search
  52. ↑ Zier, Patrick (26 December 1985). "Buccaneers are also losing at turnstiles". The Lakeland Ledger. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  53. 1 2 Keeley, Laura (28 August 2014). "Steve Spurrier still remembers his time at Duke like it was yesterday". The News & Observer. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  54. ↑ Low, Chris (24 May 2012). "Spurrier loves speaking his mind". ESPN. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  55. ↑ Matt Hayes, "Spurrier legacy at South Carolina in QB Garcia's hands", The Sporting News (May 27, 2009). Retrieved July 25, 2009.
  56. ↑ Kallestad, Brent (1 January 1990). "Spurrier Takes Florida Job". The New York Times. AP. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  57. ↑ Jeff Browne, "UF-Spurrier 'merger' everything but official", The Gainesville Sun, Sports Weekend Section, p. 3 (December 30, 1989). Retrieved September 11, 2016.
  58. 1 2 Pat Dooley, "It's official; Spurrier is head Gator", Gainesville Sun, pp. 1A & 6A (January 1, 1990). Retrieved September 5, 2009.
  59. ↑ Associated Press, "Spurrier takes Florida Job", The New York Times (January 1, 1990). Retrieved February 8, 2011.
  60. ↑ Dame, Mike (31 May 1995). "Gators Maneuvering to Add Miami to Schedule". The Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  61. ↑ Harry, Chris (30 August 2016). "'HACKS' LOOK BACK AT SPURRIER'S ARRIVAL, GATORS' REVIVAL". floridagators.com. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  62. ↑ Associated Press, "Football and Basketball Teams Placed on Probation at Florida", The New York Times (September 21, 1990). Retrieved February 8, 2011.
  63. ↑ The Gators won the 1984 SEC championship, but were stripped of the title by a vote of the SEC university presidents in the spring of 1985 because of fifty-nine documented violations of NCAA rules by the previous coaching staff. The Gators also had the best record in the SEC in 1985, but were ineligible for the SEC championship because of NCAA probation.
  64. ↑ S.L. Price, "'96: For The Love Of Gator Nation", Sports Illustrated (October 3, 2007). Retrieved April 8, 2010.
  65. 1 2 3 Matthew Zemek, "Urban Meyer, Meet 1997", Gator Country (October 18, 2005). Retrieved July 26, 2009.
  66. ↑ "Offensive Revolution: The Steve Spurrier Fun 'n' Gun", Sports Illustrated (August 8, 2005). Retrieved July 26, 2009.
  67. ↑ Gatorzone.com, Facilities, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field. Retrieved July 26, 2009.
  68. 1 2 3 Dave Kindred, "Spurrier dares to imagine always", The Sporting News (January 28, 2002). Retrieved July 26, 2009.
  69. ↑ Ray Goff responded publicly: "He's a good coach, but I'd like to run into him some night down a dark alley." Jack Hairston, "Spurrier Has Built a Sugar Bowl Legacy", Times-Picayune (January 8, 2008). Retrieved July 26, 2009.
  70. ↑ Associated Press, "Spurrier resigns as Gators coach", ESPN (January 4, 2002). Retrieved July 25, 2009. See also American Rhetoric, Online Speech Bank, Steve Spurrier: Resignation Speech (University of Florida). Retrieved August 30, 2009.
  71. ↑ SECSports.com, Football, SEC Football Roundup - Saturday, September 2nd. Retrieved July 26, 2009.
  72. 1 2 SECSports.com, Football, SEC Football Roundup - Saturday, September 30th. Retrieved July 26, 2009.
  73. ↑ Andy Staples, "At Florida, loyalty still runs deep for the Head Ball Coach", Sports Illustrated (November 14, 2008). Retrieved September 10, 2009.
  74. ↑ Antonya English, "Gators start Ring of Honor with four former greats", St. Petersburg Times (October 1, 2009). Retrieved July 26, 2009.
  75. ↑ College Football Data Warehouse, All-Time Coaching Records, Urban Meyer Records by Year: 2005. Retrieved July 26, 2009.
  76. ↑ Spurrier, No. 22 Gamecocks clinch SEC East title
  77. 1 2 "Schottenheimer out, Spurrier in for Redskins". ESPN. January 14, 2002. Retrieved July 26, 2009.
  78. ↑ "USATODAY.com – Spurrier preseason era opens with Redskins rout". Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  79. ↑ "Redskins vs. Buccaneers - Game Recap - August 24, 2002 - ESPN". Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  80. ↑ "Cardinals vs. Redskins - Box Score - September 8, 2002 - ESPN". Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  81. ↑ Hack, Damon (December 31, 2003). "Spurrier Resigns As Head Coach Of Redskins". New York Times.
  82. ↑ Demasio, Nunyo (July 28, 2003). "Owning Up, Snyder Learns From the Past". Washington Post.
  83. ↑ Olivia, SM (August 27, 2011). "Saban, Petrino & Spurrier: Why Didn't They Make It In The NFL?".
  84. ↑ Jenkins, Sally (December 10, 2013). "Washington Redskins are being undermined by Dan Snyder's corrosive star culture". Washington Post.
  85. 1 2 "Low: Unhealthy culture hurt Spurrier in NFL". Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  86. ↑ "USATODAY.com – Spurrier quits as Redskins coach". Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  87. ↑ Steinberg, BIll (30 September 2015). "Steve Spurrier says he couldn't even pick his quarterback during his second year with the Redskins". The Washington Post – DC Sports Blog. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  88. ↑ "Spurrier's new plan: Just keep winning". Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  89. ↑ Gaither, Steven J. (20 April 2016). "Steve Spurrier regrets Florida departure". Sporting News. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  90. ↑ See, e.g., Mark Maske, "Spurrier Considering Options in Florida", NFL Insider, The Washington Post (October 29, 2004). Retrieved July 26, 2009.
  91. ↑ "With Zook out, will Spurrier get a call?", ESPN News Services (October 26, 2004). Retrieved July 26, 2009.
  92. ↑ David Jones, "Spurrier withdraws name from Florida coaching search", USA Today (November 4, 2004). Retrieved April 8, 2010.
  93. ↑ Mark Schlabach, "Teams in Fight To Skip Bowls", Washington Post, p. D1 (November 23, 2004). Retrieved September 5, 2009.
  94. ↑ Viv Bernstein, "With Less Swagger, Spurrier Returns to SEC", The New York Times (November 24, 2004). Retrieved September 5, 2009.
  95. ↑ Karl Taro Greenfeld, "Meet Mr. Humble", Sports Illustrated (August 22, 2005). Retrieved April 8, 2010.
  96. 1 2 College Football Data Warehouse, All-Time Coaching Records, Steve Spurrier Records by Year: 2005. Retrieved July 26, 2009.
  97. 1 2 College Football Data Warehouse, South Carolina Opponents, South Carolina Record by Team, South Carolina vs. Tennessee. Retrieved July 26, 2009.
  98. 1 2 College Football Data Warehouse, South Carolina Opponents, South Carolina Record by Team, South Carolina vs. Florida. Retrieved July 26, 2009.
  99. ↑ Ben Crane, "Coach Gives funds to USC: Spurrier's gift seeks to aid renovations of athletic facilities", Daily Gamecock (September 6, 2006). Retrieved July 26, 2009.
  100. 1 2 College Football Data Warehouse, All-Time Coaching Records, Steve Spurrier: 2006. Retrieved August 26, 2009.
  101. ↑ College Football Data Warehouse, Florida vs. Mississippi St. Retrieved September 4, 2009. Spurrier's Gators lost to Mississippi State in Starkville in 1992 and 2000.
  102. ↑ College Football Data Warehouse, All-Time Coaching Records, Steve Spurrier Records by Year. Retrieved July 26, 2009.
  103. ↑ Antonya English, "Gators start Ring of Honor with four former greats", St. Petersburg Times (October 1, 2006). Retrieved July 26, 2009.
  104. 1 2 3 Alex Riley, "Spurrier's past still outshines his future: Battle with best of SEC leaves Carolina, Florida fans pondering legacy", Daily Gamecok (November 13, 2006). Retrieved August 26, 2009.
  105. 1 2 Michael Aguilar, "Defense uses 'bend don't break' mantra for win: Stops on Tiger offense allow gutsy Gamecocks to wrangle seventh win", Daily Gamecock (November 27, 2006). Retrieved August 26, 2009.
  106. ↑ Jonathan Hillyard, "Victory over rival will spark turnaround for USC: Spurrier says Clemson win could get Carolina ready for future success seasons", Daily Gamecock (November 27, 2006). Retrieved August 26, 2009.
  107. ↑ College Football Data Warehouse, South Carolina vs. Clemson (SC). Retrieved August 26, 2009.
  108. ↑ Associated Press, "Suitors beware, SC gives Spurrier $500K raise", ESPN (December 2, 2006). Retrieved July 25, 2009.
  109. ↑ AP Poll Archive, 2006 Final AP Football Poll. Retrieved August 26, 2009. In the final AP Poll, the five teams that defeated South Carolina finished as follows: Florida 1st, Auburn 10th, Arkansas 15th, Georgia 23rd, and Tennessee 25th.
  110. 1 2 3 4 College Football Data Warehouse, South Carolina Yearly Results: 2005–2009. Retrieved August 26, 2009.
  111. ↑ College Football Data Warehouse, South Carolina Coaching Records, Steve Spurrier Records by Year. Retrieved July 26, 2009.
  112. ↑ Pete Iacobelli, "Spurrier holds down Gamecocks expectations", USA Today (August 25, 2008). Retrieved September 11, 2009.
  113. ↑ College Football Data Warehouse, All-Time Coaching Records, Steve Spurrier: 2008. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
  114. ↑ GamecoocksOnline.com, Football, "Spurrier, Lattimore Earn SEC Superlatives", (December 8, 2010). Retrieved December 10, 2010.
  115. ↑ "2013 NCAA College Football Polls and Rankings for Week 17 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
  116. ↑ ESPN.com News Services (October 13, 2015). "Steve Spurrier announces resignation". ESPN. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  117. ↑ "2010 Steve Spurrier Ladies Football Clinic". thestate. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  118. ↑ "University of South Carolina Official Athletic Site". www.gamecocksonline.com. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  119. ↑ "Steve Spurrier Ladies Football Clinic a Big Hit". South Carolina Gamecocks. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  120. ↑ Brockway, Kevin (29 July 2016). "Spurrier named UF ambassador". The Gainesville Sun / Gatorsports.com. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  121. ↑ Kersey, Jason (2 March 2016). "Steve Spurrier Jr. joins Sooners' staff in off-the-field role". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  122. ↑ Gamecocks Online, Football, Scott Spurrier Profile. Retrieved July 26, 2009.
  123. ↑ Gamecocks Online, Football, Steve Spurrier, Jr. Profile. Retrieved July 26, 2009.
  124. ↑ F Club, Hall of Fame, Gator Greats. Retrieved December 14, 2014.

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