Steve Spurrier's place in the SEC...Thoughts?

#1
coach12

coach12

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#1
In recent years my hatred for Steve Spurrier has softened somewhat. The "old ball coach" has mellowed a bit in recent years and has taken on the persona of the crazy uncle at the family reunion. I've actually come to appreciate his presence in the SEC. Dont get me wrong, I still want to embarrass his team every chance we get. But I have come to appreciate him much the way stand up comedians enjoyed George W's terms in office. Every year at the SEC media days there is a buzz about "what's the old man got to say this year?"

Of course that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. I'm interested to hear what volnation has to say about it.
 
#2
#2
I would rank him probably the 4th best coach in SEC history behind Saban, Bryant, and Neyland, in that order.
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#3
#3
I can't stand the guy, but his 4 wide offense back in the day at Florida changed the game. It changed the game.
 
#4
#4
MyBloodRunnethOrange said:
I would rank him probably the 4th best coach in SEC history behind Saban, Bryant, and Neyland, in that order.
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This.

I'd also add that his run in the 90s is second only to Bryant's run in the 70s as far as one coach/team dominating a decade.
 
#7
#7
If he were to win a national title at USCe I think he goes up. It's like Bear winning a title at KY or any other predominantly terrible at the sport school. But he's top 5 and its not even a question.
 
#8
#8
He's a great coach, and his sarcastic comments are the best.
 
#9
#9
Top 3 in the SEC with Neyland and Bear. Saban is close behind. I think Spurrier has a case for top ten all-time.
 
#11
#11
WoodstockVol said:
Do you think Steve could have kept Florida at the top rung of the SEC had He stayed at Florida?
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That's actually a really interesting question. The last couple of years he was there he looked a little worn down. But it's still Florida, and he's still Steve Spurrier, so I assume he would have.
 
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#12
#12
zjcvols said:
Top 3 in the SEC with Neyland and Bear. Saban is close behind. I think Spurrier has a case for top ten all-time.
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How is Saban behind Spurrier when Spurrier "only" has 2 NC appearances and Saban has 4 titles? And Saban has done it when the SEC is at an all time high in competitiveness and parity. Spurrier and Fulmer were the only coaches worth a damn in the mid 90's then the rest of the conference wised and ponied up and decided to became relevant.
 
#14
#14
bowlinggreenvol said:
How is Saban behind Spurrier when Spurrier "only" has 2 NC appearances and Saban has 4 titles? And Saban has done it when the SEC is at an all time high in competitiveness and parity. Spurrier and Fulmer were the only coaches worth a damn in the mid 90's then the rest of the conference wised and ponied up and decided to became relevant.
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While winning the national title is impressive, it also is a little bit of a crapshoot. Spurrier also coached the majority of his run at UF pre-BCS and played Florida State every year OOC. Also I put major stock at what he has done at USCe.
 
#15
#15
Also those games against FSU were in November, usually hurting their chances greater with a loss.
 
#17
#17
zjcvols said:
Also those games against FSU were in November, usually hurting their chances greater with a loss.
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True. But Spurrier's UF teams were often not as good as those FSU teams. There's no question that Spurrier ruled the conference, but Saban has been better vs. the rest of the country.

It's also worth noting that Spurrier has 6 SEC championships in 21 years of coaching in the conference. Saban has 4 in 11.
 
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#18
#18
Not taking anything away from Saban but when his teams lose a game in the regular season, he's gottten the luck of the draw with the bcs and other teams getting upset more so than spurrier did at Florida in the 90's
 
#19
#19
Vol_51 said:
Not taking anything away from Saban but when his teams lose a game in the regular season, he's gottten the luck of the draw with the bcs and other teams getting upset more so than spurrier did at Florida in the 90's
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Actually, Spurrier's title came under that exact scenario: lost to Florida St at the end of the year, but Nebraska lost the Big XII title game, allowing UF to get the rematch in the Sugar Bowl. His one other shot came after an undefeated season, but he lost the national championship game to Nebraska. In every other season, the Gators lost more than one game and were not in national championship contention at the end of the year.

So Saban has been no more or no less fortunate than Spurrier was.
 
#20
#20
bamawriter said:
Actually, Spurrier's title came under that exact scenario: lost to Florida St at the end of the year, but Nebraska lost the Big XII title game, allowing UF to get the rematch in the Sugar Bowl. His one other shot came after an undefeated season, but he lost the national championship game to Nebraska. In every other season, the Gators lost more than one game and were not in national championship contention at the end of the year.

So Saban has been no more or no less fortunate than Spurrier was.
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And don't forget that if Arizona State had held on to beat Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, they would have won the National title and not Florida.
 
#22
#22
bamawriter said:
True. But Spurrier's UF teams were often not as good as those FSU teams. There's no question that Spurrier ruled the conference, but Saban has been better vs. the rest of the country.

It's also worth noting that Spurrier has 6 SEC championships in 21 years of coaching in the conference. Saban has 4 in 11.
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Saban hasn't been at a deadbeat program at USCe for nine years either. Saban's LSU turnaround was solid but not anything like Spurrier at USCe.
 
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#23
#23
zjcvols said:
Saban hasn't been at a deadbeat program at USCe for nine years either. Saban's LSU turnaround was solid but not anything like Spurrier at USCe.
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I don't disagree with that. And UF wasn't a world beater when he took over.
 
#24
#24
He took Florida from a slightly above average program to a great program and is building a solid program at South Carolina. Depending on how long he coaches and if he wins any SEC championships at USCe, both he and Saban could finish their careers being ranked above the Bear.
 
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