I read with amusement and interest the David Climers' midlife crisis article regarding Steve Spurrier.
The coach who was the Dale Earnhardt of the coaching world leaves the SEC and NCAA amidst varying opinion and personal memories for all who enjoy college football. Say what you will about his style and motives, but can anyone question his role in the bigger scheme of innovation, personality, and accountability toward next level collegiate football?
To say that he will be missed as more than a worthy adversary of the University of Tennessee and other schools on Florida's schedule, as well as the national media and sports fans is an understatement. But it was indeed time for Steve Spurrier to make a change for himself and the world of sport. I personally hope that being defeated by the Volunteers in the Gators' last home regular season game played a part in it. For it was a sweet victory never to be forgotten by the living Tennessee fan.
But I wish Coach Spurrier all good things in his bid to make the transformation to the NFL. It is this fan's belief that, not only will he succeed as a Head NFL Coach, but lay the ground work and example to what again can be a pro sport that generates excitement and inovation in place of the parody that now surrounds it. Pro sport needs a Steve Spurrier and more like him.(Leave Coach Fulmer alone however...)
So as REM's "Its the end of the world as we know it" song was felt in the heart of Florida's fans, the rest of us should "feel fine" about what could be up and coming in the NFL.
Good luck to You Coach Spurrier,
Alan D. Ross
Knoxville, Tn
Editor: Sports Parlor South
Internet Communications
There are a few real idiots posting on this board. I have to remind myself that they are the minority.
I think Steve Spurrier was a shot in the arm for the SEC. If nothing else, he raised the level of competition. He had that "refuse to lose" attitude that many coaches lack. I think that won a lot of games for the Gators.
I hope he does well at the next level.
The Gators will live on. We may dip a little, but those who think this marks the beginning of the end of us are in for a big disappointment. As great of a coach as Spurrier is, he was not the ONLY reason for our success. Jeremy Foley will bring in another competitor, and in two years (tops) we'll be competing for championships again.
TBA and Gator TD I couldn't agree with you more. Steve Spurrier was responsible for raising the bar in the SEC. I have no doubt that Stoops will keep the Florida football program at a high level. But it just won't be the same. Stoops lacks the flair for drama that Spurrier possessed and that's probably the thing I'll miss most about Spurrier.
I am a BIG ORANGE fan through and through, but I would rather have Tennessee earn elite status rather than get it by default. I don't believe for one second that Florida's football program will fade one iota because of this change.
I wish "ole shiny pants" all the luck in the world, but I believe he'll find life in the NFL much different than college football. This situation reminds me of Pitino's disastrous foray back to the NBA, I just hope Spurrier has better results .
SOS cannot be the Dale Earnhardt of football, for Dale won multiple championships at the highest level of competition. Spurrier is just now getting there. I think of him as maybe the Mark Martin of football - never got it done at the top level, but step back down a notch to the series below and then hold the record number of wins at that level.
