AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > August > 07 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USSpurrier flies off the handle
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
THE TUESDAY COUNTDOWN
10: So I guess the SCLC just ran the first reverse of the football season.
9: Off to New York to watch the Braves vs. the Mets and Joey Harrington vs. the Odds.
8: Considering buying another fake Rolex in Battery Park. The last one I had lasted a year. I figure it’s worth getting another, just so I can conduct a little science experiment. Who/what stops ticking first: Harrington or the watch? Anybody want to post a favorite?
7: Seriously, I don’t have any idea how Harrington will do with his third team. I know he’s a good guy. I know he talks a good game, which may or may not mean a thing. But I’ll crawl out on this limb: If he does perform another face-plant, it won’t be because he feels overwhelmed, as was the case in Detroit. It’ll just be because he’s not very good.
6: Steve Spurrier is a great coach, great recruiter, great for college football. But if the man thinks anybody is going to bite on this woe-is-me act concerning the South Carolina admissions department, he’s a nut job.
5: Any university has a right to set its own admissions policy, regardless of NCAA minimum standards. The fact that school officials have rejected two of Spurrier’s recruits hardly ranks as an unusual occurrence in college athletics. Nothing against South Carolina. But it’s not the Harvard of the South. It’s not even the Harvard of South Carolina.
4: Spurrier said, “Hopefully, I truly believe this is the last year this is going to happen, because I can’t operate like that. I can’t operate misleading young men.” Yeah. OK, let me translate: “You had better start admitting my really fast but academically borderline recruits so I can start winning more football games, because otherwise, me and my golf clubs are so outta here.”
- Sitting on a plane right now. Read an item about the drunk (allegedly) ASA flight attendant who told a captain, “You’re dead.” (allegedly). Got an idea. Make her sit in an aisle seat as passengers keep slamming the drink cart into her knee.
2: Before you get too excited about Liberty Media blowing open the Braves budget: The real test of ownership is not paying one-third of a player’s contract (like Mark Teixeira’s this year) but after the season when Andruw Jones is a free agent and potentially after next season when Teixeira can walk.
1: Barry Bonds is at 755. Blindfolds in place, everyone?
Permalink | Comments (47) | Post your comment | Categories: Jeff Schultz, Quick Hit
Comments
By Gator Dan
August 7, 2007 12:19 PM | Link to this
Spurrier has a legitmate point and the nutjob is you.
By brewdawg
August 7, 2007 12:31 PM | Link to this
1a. Spurrier doesn’t want to mislead young men? Is that what he told his incoming recruits at Florida before bolting to the NFL?
By Spurrier is a joke
August 7, 2007 12:34 PM | Link to this
Spurrier did not genuinely want those two kids (who, by the way, are benchwarmers) to enroll at SC.
He oversigned by at least five players last season, and not enough of the recruits failed to qualify to keep his numbers in order. So, as Spurrier admits, his plan was to “greyshirt” those players (i.e., make them sit out a year and enroll in 2008) that he didn’t think would be a part of the team this season.
Unfortunately for Spurrier, two of those players did not want to “greyshirt.”
The solution? Just have the SC admission’s office tell these kids, “Thanks, but no thanks.”
The ironic part is that while this was happening, Spurrier was waiting for some of his highly recruited players to get approval from the NCAA, which, coincidentally, HAD approved the players that SC would not let enroll.
Spurrier is just trying to save face for the 2008 recruiting classes, because he does not want to face high school coaches that don’t want their star players to be refused into the school at the last minute.
By Buck in the NW
August 7, 2007 12:39 PM | Link to this
When did writing entrance requirements become a part of the FB coaches job?
By jackets fan
August 7, 2007 12:39 PM | Link to this
All the Spurrier bashing baffles me. Maybe it shouldn’t, since we are after all in Georgia, where Spurrier is almost a two decade old sore spot. But for anyone with a thinking brain (100% of all UGA fans just tuned out), we know he is in the right here and is not a freak for throwing Duke a vote in the coaches poll.
Spurrier isn’t saying he wants South Carolina to lower their standards. He wants them not to make him into a lyar by him thinking recruits are eligible and then they get rejected by the university. And for people like Schultz who accuse him of choosing athletics over academics, get a clue. There is no more serious disciplinarian than Spurrier when it comes to his players. He doesn’t put up with nonsense. Remember he dismissed some players right out of the gate when he came into SC. Not just scrubs, some key guys. He has suspended his starting QB once before and has held him out of practice recently for missing classes in the summer. The guy sticks to the rules and is not afraid to dump talented players who can’t follow them. So accusing him of wanting kids who are too dumb to get in just because they can run fast is ludicrous. If he didn’t think they weren’t going to be capable of making the grades at SC, he wouldn’t be recruiting them.
By Lou Vales
August 7, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this
Steve Spurrier—and I’m a 69 Florida grad—was an abject failure when it came to coaching men in the NFL as opposed to boys in college. But his petulant act will probably work in Columbia because it is not as if South Carolina has aspirations of being recognized as a bastion of higher learning—Really good School of Business. He will intimidate the school into accepting his edicts. He could never intimidate or motivate pro football players but college administrators in a football starved state are a different matter.
Would have been really nice if he could have beaten Florida State at their place ONCE or if he would have not become disillusioned with what he perceived as demanding Florida faithful, who he believed were only satisfied with SEC Championships. There was a LITTLE dropoff there after league caught up with his GENIUS—Oh, I forgot he is just a “Mastermind” and not a genius.
Well, sorry for the rant but I grew to dislike the petulant, pouting, pompous Master of the Visor Toss—BUT don’t discount his ability to twist the administration of a school that has NEVER won anything around his little finger.
By Lou Vales
August 7, 2007 12:44 PM | Link to this
Gator Dan, You sound like another one of those people who after his wife walks out on him with NO notice and then watches lovingly as she fails with a new lover, only to return to his block amd shack up with a stranger.
Steven Orr Spurrier in a nutshell. Dan, he left you, he doesn’t love you anymore, he will do all in his power to mess up your life. Send him some more roses and perfume.
By NHSeagle1
August 7, 2007 12:50 PM | Link to this
Jackets Fan - I believe “liar” is spelled with a i not a y. But don’t take it from a UGA fan with a non-thinking brain.
By Beary H
August 7, 2007 12:50 PM | Link to this
Spurrier is just laying the ground work for his departure. After another year or two of winning 60% at SCar Spurrier will leave and blame the “situation’ on his inability to turn the lamecocks into an SEC power.
By Jef
August 7, 2007 12:57 PM | Link to this
Regarding the Univ. of SC admissions department. Sure a school can set its own admission policies, but when USC is the topic you are wrong. I have had similar experiences with the admissions department for the USC system. Their system is broken.
By Bob
August 7, 2007 1:09 PM | Link to this
Lou,
Boy, you are totally hysterical. I am a Dawg fan and by very definition not a lover of SOS or anything Orange and Blue. But you my friend need help. Before Spurrier got to your school it had exactly 0 (ZERO) SEC Championships. He dominated the best conference in College Football for most of the 90s and won your schools first 6 conference titles. He won a national championship. And by the way, he walloped the Noles to win the National Championship. Florida Football IS Steve Spurrier.
I am sure that SOS is playing some mind games in Columbia right now. He is right in that these kids deserve to know their status earlier than the 1st of August. Set the standards, make sure you tell the recruits and their parents the process and ensure that they understand that process.
While I do not like SOS, he has been an outstanding coach and what he has accomplished at Carolina in two years is pretty remarkable. I doubt seriously if Urban has any chance of winning 5 straight SEC titles, but time will tell.
By D Ables
August 7, 2007 1:15 PM | Link to this
College recruits have to be approved for enrollment? Interesting… and as far as Joey “Dont throw cross the middle” Harrington, yes, he talks a good game, he’s got the sizzle let’s see if he’s got the meat… wait… that came out wrong… never mind…
By gt in sc
August 7, 2007 1:16 PM | Link to this
i think spurrier has every right to be upset with his schools admissions policy. its ok to have higher standards on admissions but these kids were signed in FEBRUARY, for goodness sakes. now they are scrambling around trying to find a school, any school so they can play football this year. USC waits till the week of starting practice to notify them that they need to go elsewhere. if i was the parent of a 5-star recruit with aspirations of pro ball after college and USC, or any school pulled this bone-headed stunt, i would sue the socks off. if schools are going to do these things, they should be done in a timely manner so the kid has time to relocate.
By FL Dawg
August 7, 2007 1:17 PM | Link to this
South Carolina is on the way to Division 2-A.
By Johnny
August 7, 2007 1:18 PM | Link to this
He’s not stupid! It’s all about the money. He needs to keep recruiting from penal system. They’re already conditioned.
By Hairy Dawg
August 7, 2007 1:44 PM | Link to this
South Carolina has a right to have a higher admissions policy and Steve Spurrier has an obligation to explain what those higher standards are to recruits and their families.
This whole situation is basically his own fault. If he doesn’t even know what the standards are at his own school, he’s not doing his job very well. If he does know what those standards are and chooses to ignore them in the process of recruiting players, he’s just a typical con man.
By mike
August 7, 2007 1:45 PM | Link to this
Its strange the 2 guys not admitted were rated as a 3 star and 2 star by rivals. Also, Spurrier oversigned anyway so how were thses guys going to get a full ride anyway? He is already doing his annual “chopping” of some scholarships to non-performers. Also if they got Clifton geathers in school, their standards are low enough.
By Roswell Ed
August 7, 2007 1:47 PM | Link to this
Spurrier:
Would you like some cheese with your whine?
I like Steve even though I’m an AU fan. He’s funny, but he also can pitch a fit on par with a 3 year old.
Note to UF fans- he is not your coach any more. He would like nothing in the world better than to beat you 50-0.
What is up with the SCLC? If Hosea was still alive he would have driven his Caddy off the side of the rode when he heard they were going to honor Vick for his community service.
What was the service? Saving the Humane Society $$$ by killing his own dogs?
By edvedder
August 7, 2007 1:47 PM | Link to this
Hey “JacketsFan”, I would’ve responded quicker but I had to clean up the water that shot out of my mouth on my computer when I read your “there is no more seriour disciplinarian”….HUH? Are you on dope, Spicoli? His “prized recruit” QB from Tampa gets popped by the PoPo twice within, what, a week or two, and he is “suspended” for the spring? GIVE ME A FRIGGING BREAK!!!!!! Recently, another “prized recruit” is STABBED by someone and not two weeks later is arrested for possession of pot. Guess what, that kid is still on the team. He sounds like a “good kid” to me. Yes, Spurrier might’ve been more of a disciplinarian at UF, but you must be hanging out smoking the good stuff with his new recruits if you think he is now!!!
By Mike
August 7, 2007 1:58 PM | Link to this
What, Spurrier does not work with the Administrations Department in recruiting? Oh I get it, the Student part of Student Athlete is just for window dressing. I mean it’s not like they were planning on having the KIDS/Athletes graduate in the first place. Just use em up for 4* years. It’s a philosophy that is disgusting. Shame on him!
By War Eagle
August 7, 2007 2:05 PM | Link to this
So now USC is University of Spurrier at Columbia? Since when does the football guy tell the academics dean to lower his standards and admit a clown who can barely get 800 on his SAT to take up space and a SCHOLARSHIP away from a deserving student who will make adifference in the world? Spurrier only cares about himself instead of the U. he will embarrass USC by inviting these project kids who get in trouble with the law, skip class, etc-all for the sake of winning football games. Is he trying to reconstruct the Bengals? USC should do the right thing and FIRE SPurrier! Let him try this at DUKE! I beleive USC has a Medical and Law College-THAT is where the efforts should be. I believe they also have an MBA school. THAT TOO is where they need to concentrate-not on Joe Football.Joe Morrison is turning over in his grave over this. USC will never overthrow Tennessee, FLA or UGA in the East. USC is not a football school-it is a learning institution. Vanderbilt prides itself on graduating students-not football wins. they wer happy as pigs in slop after they had a winning season and went to a bowl game. But how many really went on to play pro? Most went for the degrees in medicine or law or business. The LSU QB tried the NFL and then went back to LSU for his Dentistry degree. now THERE is an intelligent man! Manning stayed at UT for his MBA-another Smart man! I think Herschel Walker finally got his degree in Criminal Justice. MAy have taken him another few yrs while palying for the Cowboys and Generals, but he did it. Another Smart man! Go away Spurrier-to Africa!
By tim
August 7, 2007 2:09 PM | Link to this
to edvedder:
I, uh, hate to tell you, but Spurrier has NEVER been a disciplinarian and never will.
“Spurrier is a joke” had it right; he signed too many players, and is merely using the admissions department to cut down the total of incoming freshman. Geathers (4-5 star recruit) can get in, but these other kids can’t? It’s all about him screwing up his recruiting and placing the blame elsewhere (the admissions department).
College football teams can’t sign 31 players a year. Simple as that. Spurrier is just trying to deflect the attention he should be getting for screwing these kids over the way he did.
By Lowcountry Bulldawg
August 7, 2007 2:20 PM | Link to this
War Eagle,
I got your point, but you cannot compare USC to Vandy or Duke. I have been to Nashville and watched UGA fans fill up there 45k stadium. That cannot be said in Columbia. They always put 85k in the stands. They have increases season ticket packages and have recently increased booster revenue to update facilities. Why? Because of Steve Spurrier. He is a great X’s and O’s coach, but he has gotten himself in trouble in this situation. Steve just needs to shutup and go coach.
By Nick Saban
August 7, 2007 2:36 PM | Link to this
Please tell those boys to go to LSU…they’ll fit right in.
Did you know that they can’t have Drivers Ed and Sex Ed at the same time at LSU….They only have one mule.
Shut up Coonass go fix me a Possum Pot Pie.
By David A
August 7, 2007 3:01 PM | Link to this
Come on folks…..The board actually took the time to review these guys school records and test scores to see if the fellows had a reasonable chance of succeeding and graduating. They didn’t think the kids would make it. Why would we want to set a kid up for failure by letting him into a program he doesn’t have a chance on earth of getting through?
As far as those of you who have made comments about The University of South Carolina’s academic credentials…I think you need to look at the rank of our major programs as compared to other public state supported institutions…..we hold our on.
We will take the criticism for at least having a legitimate review of marginal students, athletes or not.
The process should give the Ball coach a better picture of the candidate prior to an offer being extended so things like this don’t happen….but that however is easier said than done. One thing is for sure we will get it right.
David A.
By Big Daddy in Dville
August 7, 2007 3:11 PM | Link to this
I agree with #7, The part about “talking a good game”. At least this quarterback can complete two lucid sentences.
By gatorhater27
August 7, 2007 3:14 PM | Link to this
David:
can you please explain why it was two low rated recruits who were turned away? Why not a couple 5 stars? Does someone like, I don’t know, [_] Geathers really have a chance of succeeding academically in college?
This is all just a way for Spurrier to get rid of the kids who didn’t want to greyshirt without looking like (as much of) a complete jacka**.
You can’t sign 31 players a year. NCAA rules prohibit it.
By edvedder
August 7, 2007 3:33 PM | Link to this
Hey LowCountry Bulldawg,
The reason the “Lamecocks put 85,000 people in that dump they call a stadium is because there is NOTHING ELSE TO DO IN THE HELLHOLE CALLED COLUMBIA!!! TRUST ME, I LIVE THERE!!
By psycock
August 7, 2007 4:58 PM | Link to this
Boy, that is a lot of pathetic comments from many of you, no doubt still having nightmares and flashbacks of Spurriers whipping of your team when he was at Florida. Thats a lot of criticism of a man who insists that his kids attend class (many suspended for the opening of fall practice, including starting QB), has an exellent graduation rate, and has never been in trouble with the NCAA. Kicked off 5-star running back (Demetris Summers) prior to his 1st season. We oversigned - big deal. This is a very common practice and we didnt have depth. Looks like a good thing, since now we are 1 under the mimnimum for this class. Spurrier wanted these guys - it is our university President (that Alabama ran off) and our "Special Admissions Committee" that pulled the plug on these guys right before fall practice. SOS was ticked off and rightfully so. Watch the video on www.wltx.com if you want. By the way, if our administration doesnt run him off, he will be very successful at USC. Methinks some of you are just a bit concerned about that.
By psycock
August 7, 2007 4:58 PM | Link to this
Boy, that is a lot of pathetic comments from many of you, no doubt still having nightmares and flashbacks of Spurriers whipping of your team when he was at Florida. Thats a lot of criticism of a man who insists that his kids attend class (many suspended for the opening of fall practice, including starting QB), has an exellent graduation rate, and has never been in trouble with the NCAA. Kicked off 5-star running back (Demetris Summers) prior to his 1st season. We oversigned - big deal. This is a very common practice and we didnt have depth. Looks like a good thing, since now we are 1 under the mimnimum for this class. Spurrier wanted these guys - it is our university President (that Alabama ran off) and our "Special Admissions Committee" that pulled the plug on these guys right before fall practice. SOS was ticked off and rightfully so. Watch the video on www.wltx.com if you want. By the way, if our administration doesnt run him off, he will be very successful at USC. Methinks some of you are just a bit concerned about that.
By Lee
August 7, 2007 7:51 PM | Link to this
WHAT!! You mean to tell me that there are still colleges that emphasize the STUDENT in student athlete? Say it ain’t so.
About time that some of these colleges stood up for academics and quit letting the football and basketball program load the school up with various thugs and lowlifes who otherwise wouldn’t be allowed on campus without a mop and broom in hand.
It’s very simple. Apply to college. Get accepted like every other applicant. Sign up to play ball.
By Proudgrad
August 7, 2007 8:31 PM | Link to this
South Carolina’s MBA in international business has been #1 or #2 ranked by US News & World Report for nearly two decades. You Georgia or Florida boys have a single program ranked that highly? I didn’t think so. I know you left the field of journalism years ago for your smarmy schtick, Shultz, so you’re forgiven for having no clue. Nyuk yuk yuk.
By Roswell Ed
August 7, 2007 9:16 PM | Link to this
Proudgrad:
Wow these kids were going for their MBA? Now I’m impressed!!!!! Can’t get in to USC but we’ve pushed them in to the prestigious MBA program!!
International business? What do they teach them trailer speak 101?
Here’s the 1st question:
How much meth is in an 8 ball?
A: 1 gram B: 2 grams C: 3 grams D: 4 grams
For all you MBA USC grads that don’t know, a gram is a weight measurement that most of the commie world and all the drug dealing world uses to weigh their stuff!!
By Proudgrad
August 7, 2007 10:04 PM | Link to this
Roswell Ed:
Hey man, just glad to see you got the first four letters of the alphabet in the right order lol
I don’t think any of us need to kid ourselves that our teams are comprised entirely of rocket scientists. My only point was that if you’re going to disparage the academics at one of my alma maters (and I did get my BA from UGA), be ready to back it up.
Smoke that with your 8 ball.
By Denver Dog
August 8, 2007 1:48 AM | Link to this
What is the big fuss? All they needed to do was go over and get a valid fishing license. That is all you need to get admission to SC anyway.
Hey Jacket Fan, take some of your wonderful brain power and learn how to spell. Oh yeah, I saw your class ring when you were picking your nose
By dgreen
August 8, 2007 4:58 AM | Link to this
If the Ole Ball Coach has a problem w/ SC admissions standards, I’m sure there are more than a few snickers coming out of the Vandy coaching offices.
By Baghdad Gamecock
August 8, 2007 7:26 AM | Link to this
USC is going to kick some UGA, UT and UF bu** this year. All of you want SOS to leave USC as soon as possible; we all know why too…re-read my first sentence!
By KB
August 8, 2007 8:30 AM | Link to this
Roswell Ed
You sir are an idiot. South Carolina has the #1 rated International Business program in the COUNTRY!! Look it up sometime, jackass!
By Russ Mims
August 8, 2007 9:00 AM | Link to this
Jeff,
You are the idiot. His comment was that it was unfair to tell a kid he can’t come just weeks prior to fall practice. He is all for the university having high standards and I am too. the point is let the kid know a lot earlier and don’t screw around evaluating him. We all want them to be successful and as far as being the Harvard of South Carolina, it is as fine a school as any in the state of Georgia as far as educating the folks that attend it.
Regards, Russ Mims
By Gene
August 8, 2007 9:07 AM | Link to this
I have never particularly liked Spurrier, but I never questioned his integrity. College is to be a learning experience—a time when young people come in contact with different kinds of people and interact with ideas in an academic context. This process should foster intellectual and spiritual growth wherein the student learns to respect others and make intelligent decisions for the remainder of their lives. Spurrier’s approach, which holds the athlete is different and better than the rest of us, will only give us more dog fighters and gun-toting gangstas.
By Bill
August 8, 2007 10:42 AM | Link to this
Coach Visor does not have a point - when a coach starts trying to dictate to admission who to accept - he is a nut job! And we wonder what is wrong with college athletics - try getting some great kids instead of these outlaws!
By Delta
August 8, 2007 12:26 PM | Link to this
1 in international business? Of course. Spend 5 minutes in Columbia and anyone in their right mind would pick a discipline that would guarantee the possibility of getting as far away from there as possible!!Bangalore here we come!!! CoooCooooo
By Randy
August 8, 2007 1:46 PM | Link to this
I could be wrong, but I read this to be the HBC being upset about the timing of these two signees being turned down by the University. They have been told since Feb. that they would be accepted if they met the NCAA requirements. I think all the HBC is looking for is a streamlined review policy that does not leave these young men without a team when August practices start. I agree with him on that question, but I do wish he had vented to the administration behind closed doors.
By Tertius
August 10, 2007 5:48 AM | Link to this
Did you know that they can’t have Drivers Ed and Sex Ed at the same time at LSU….They only have one mule.
That’s funny.
By Tertius
August 10, 2007 6:19 AM | Link to this
…a gram is a weight measurement that most of the commie world and all the drug dealing world uses to weigh their stuff…
commie world???
Roswell Ed, you are an absolute beacon of awareness and sensibility, illuminating the rest of the ‘ignorant planet’ as to just how backwards they are because they aren’t living in ‘God’s Country.’ I want to thank you for representing us all so very well. In fact, you should have bid on the Secretary of State job for Bush when there was an opening. Let me guess your foreign policy, “If they don’t want to do it our way, give them half the peace sign. We don’t need ‘em.”
Is that about right?
Commie World??
Riddle me this. How many countries that utilize the SI measurement system have had a major commuter bridge just fall down within the last five years? Ten years? Happens all the time in those ignorant countries that use that whole kilogram-meter thingy, eh?
It is a nice example of the type of attitude that is taking this country straight down the tubes while the rest of the planet moves forward. Been to Shanghai lately? How ‘bout Dubai? They actually build things in places like this other than ‘box stores’ and fast food joints and — you got it baby — they don’t do it measuring things in inches. The imperial measurement system is old news and — unfortunately — so is the only major country left in the world using it exclusively. Yeah…that’s us.
By mpd
August 10, 2007 7:44 AM | Link to this
you uga folks would’nt still be upset that OBC hung more than half-a-hundred on you in between your precious hedges……now would you??? not to mention all the other beatdowns. i would be upset too!!
By fall
August 10, 2007 8:13 PM | Link to this
Did South Carolina have enough scholarships to cover the two players they reject?