BeltwayVol
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There was a time when Stephen Orr Spurrier's decision-making and sense of theatrics was impeccable. SOS always seemed to make just the right call at just the right time.
A week before the Heisman Trophy ballots went out in 1966, Spurrier the quarterback put on a kicking shoe, trotted out and booted a winning field goal to beat Auburn and claim the Heisman. Perfect timing.
When Spurrier the coach faced a fourth-and-11 on the opening drive at Tennessee in 1996, he shocked everyone and went for it. The result was a 35-yard touchdown pass that led to a 35-0 halftime lead, and Florida went on to win a national title that season. Perfect timing.
What happened? Where did it go?
Why has Spurrier gone from one of coaching's great visionaries to a guy who seemingly keeps walking into coaching booby traps?
First, he took an NFL job with the Washington Redskins and meddlesome owner Dan Snyder. It wasn't long before Snyder was telling the Ol' Ball Coach what quarterback to play, and a bedraggled Spurrier walked away after two seasons. Now he has resurfaced at South Carolina -- a program bereft of tradition, discipline and ethics.
"Ah, it's not that big of a mess," Spurrier said the other day.
This might be the greatest understatement since Richard Nixon said Watergate was just "a little bugging."
Nixon's downfall was caused by Deep Throat. If Spurrier goes down, look no further than Sweet Lou. Spurrier thought Lou Holtz was leaving him a football team, not a halfway house. Holtz, our Lake Nona neighbor, may look like Granny Clampett, but he evidently runs his programs like Ma Barker.
Carolina admitted last week to 10 NCAA transgressions during Holtz's tenure, five of which were major violations. In his two previous stops -- Minnesota and Notre Dame -- Holtz also left town just as NCAA investigators arrived. Some coaches leave legacies of victory; Lou leaves letters of inquiry.
Holtz's last game at Carolina was marred by an on-field melee, which was only a hint of the thuggery he left Spurrier. Since then, Spurrier has kicked his leading rusher off the team, and 11 other players have been arrested, including six on charges of stealing commemorative framed photographs from Williams-Brice Stadium. Question: How big of a crook do you have to be to break into your own house?
"I'm not blaming anybody," Spurrier says when asked if Holtz should be held accountable. "We're not making excuses. We didn't know we'd have quite this many players arrested, but it's not as bad as it looks. As a new coach, you've got to set some standards, and that's what we're in the process of doing."
For all the problems, Spurrier is typically confident. Of possible NCAA scholarship sanctions, he says flippantly, "Heck, we've got some guys who don't deserve to be on scholarship anyway."
He then resurrects a quote from his early days at UF when a reporter asked about the team's lack of depth. "Depth?" Spurrier chides, "What position does he play?"
Spurrier says there are comparisons to be drawn between South Carolina and the program he inherited at UF. Both were under NCAA investigation. Both were classic underachievers. Both have big stadiums and rabid fans.
"Just like at Florida," he says, "we have a wonderful opportunity to do things that have never been done."
Steve Spurrier once again has turned into Stevie Spoiler. He is an underdog again, which is how he prefers it. If Spurrier can turn this wayward program into a champion, he truly is a miracle worker.
But don't bet on it.
Let's be honest: The only way the Gamecocks get a championship trophy this year is if one of their players breaks into the Southeastern Conference office and steals it.
Mike Bianchi can be reached at mbianchi@orlandosentinel.com.
A week before the Heisman Trophy ballots went out in 1966, Spurrier the quarterback put on a kicking shoe, trotted out and booted a winning field goal to beat Auburn and claim the Heisman. Perfect timing.
When Spurrier the coach faced a fourth-and-11 on the opening drive at Tennessee in 1996, he shocked everyone and went for it. The result was a 35-yard touchdown pass that led to a 35-0 halftime lead, and Florida went on to win a national title that season. Perfect timing.
What happened? Where did it go?
Why has Spurrier gone from one of coaching's great visionaries to a guy who seemingly keeps walking into coaching booby traps?
First, he took an NFL job with the Washington Redskins and meddlesome owner Dan Snyder. It wasn't long before Snyder was telling the Ol' Ball Coach what quarterback to play, and a bedraggled Spurrier walked away after two seasons. Now he has resurfaced at South Carolina -- a program bereft of tradition, discipline and ethics.
"Ah, it's not that big of a mess," Spurrier said the other day.
This might be the greatest understatement since Richard Nixon said Watergate was just "a little bugging."
Nixon's downfall was caused by Deep Throat. If Spurrier goes down, look no further than Sweet Lou. Spurrier thought Lou Holtz was leaving him a football team, not a halfway house. Holtz, our Lake Nona neighbor, may look like Granny Clampett, but he evidently runs his programs like Ma Barker.
Carolina admitted last week to 10 NCAA transgressions during Holtz's tenure, five of which were major violations. In his two previous stops -- Minnesota and Notre Dame -- Holtz also left town just as NCAA investigators arrived. Some coaches leave legacies of victory; Lou leaves letters of inquiry.
Holtz's last game at Carolina was marred by an on-field melee, which was only a hint of the thuggery he left Spurrier. Since then, Spurrier has kicked his leading rusher off the team, and 11 other players have been arrested, including six on charges of stealing commemorative framed photographs from Williams-Brice Stadium. Question: How big of a crook do you have to be to break into your own house?
"I'm not blaming anybody," Spurrier says when asked if Holtz should be held accountable. "We're not making excuses. We didn't know we'd have quite this many players arrested, but it's not as bad as it looks. As a new coach, you've got to set some standards, and that's what we're in the process of doing."
For all the problems, Spurrier is typically confident. Of possible NCAA scholarship sanctions, he says flippantly, "Heck, we've got some guys who don't deserve to be on scholarship anyway."
He then resurrects a quote from his early days at UF when a reporter asked about the team's lack of depth. "Depth?" Spurrier chides, "What position does he play?"
Spurrier says there are comparisons to be drawn between South Carolina and the program he inherited at UF. Both were under NCAA investigation. Both were classic underachievers. Both have big stadiums and rabid fans.
"Just like at Florida," he says, "we have a wonderful opportunity to do things that have never been done."
Steve Spurrier once again has turned into Stevie Spoiler. He is an underdog again, which is how he prefers it. If Spurrier can turn this wayward program into a champion, he truly is a miracle worker.
But don't bet on it.
Let's be honest: The only way the Gamecocks get a championship trophy this year is if one of their players breaks into the Southeastern Conference office and steals it.
Mike Bianchi can be reached at mbianchi@orlandosentinel.com.
