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Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Is Spurrier pulling a Mark Richt?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Steve Spurrier has been telling some of the “media boys” (sorry ladies, that’s what he likes to call them) who cover South Carolina that he may turn some of the play calling duties over to Steve Spurrier, Jr., this season.
The Head Ball Coach says he needs to spend more time looking at the big picture of his program instead of doing all of the offensive game planning. Spurrier is convinced that “Bubba,” as he is known in the family, is ready. After watching his team come unglued after a 6-1 start last season, Spurrier just says he is re-thinking the way he does some things.
Georgia coach Mark Richt made the same decision last season when he turned the play calling over to Mike Bobo. Richt was ready to let go of those duties in order to concentrate on the details that make a program successful. Given the way Georgia finished the season, you would have to say that Richt’s decision was a good one. It was part of the natural maturation process of a very good head coach.
But when it comes to Spurrier, I’ll believe it when I see it. As he approaches the age of 63, calling plays and out-thinking the opposing defensive coordinator still gets his competitive juices flowing. By calling the plays, Spurrier is STILL the quarterback. He can’t make the throws, but he can set up an offense, better than anyone I know, so that the quarterback knows WHERE he should throw the ball.
When Spurrier was at Duke, a reporter asked him who his starting quarterback would be and he said, in effect: “I don’t know. But he’ll average over 300 yards (passing) a game.” The point was, Spurrier knew that whoever took the snaps, he could “coach them up.”
Spurrier is one of the most competitive people I’ve ever met at any level of sport—or life, for that matter. Regardless of what happens at South Carolina, his legacy as one of the game’s great coaches is secure. He’s got plenty of money. The pursuit of fame and fortune is not why Steve Spurrier is still coaching instead of retiring to the new home he is building in Florida.
The thing that keeps the HBC in the coaching profession, with all of its frustrations, is the competition. Calling plays still gives him the opportunity to test his skill to move a football against another talented person trying to figure out a way to stop him. That’s why Spurrier always had so much admiration for Bill “Brother” Oliver, the long time DC at Alabama and Auburn. He knew that if he beat Brother, he had beaten the best.
To the great competitors that feeling, that “juice,” is why you get up in the morning and go to work when you’re already financially secure.
I’m just not sure that Steve Spurrier can give that up.
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