Trib: No End in Sight for Spurrier Rumors

[USFMikeB]

I've always liked Coach Leavitt, but am concerned that he might be ready for a change if we don't play well for the remainder of the season.  I guess this would obviously be the dream replacement...

http://bulls.tbo.com/bulls/MGBR5G71H1E.html

No End In Sight To Spurrier Rumors

JOE HENDERSON

Published: Nov 13, 2004

Never has a coach who quit his last two jobs attracted so much interest as the visored genius from Crescent Beach.

He left the Washington Redskins after finishing 5-11 last season. His own players were openly laughing at him by the end, and you can imagine what the rest of the league was doing.

But there aren't many coaches out there like Steve Spurrier, so none of the above seems to matter. He's the hottest coach in America who isn't coaching. It seems like he turns down a job a week, usually before the job is ever offered.

Tampa Catholic High School needs a football coach. Why not Spurrier? He's been linked to every other coaching job in the land. Most of those jobs aren't open, but that seems to be a formality.

For all we know, he's on Malcolm Glazer's short list at Manchester United, although son Joel wants to play goalie and that could be a problem.

Nowhere is Spurrier's shadow longer than in Gainesville, of course, so it's only fitting tonight that he will eclipse the final game Ron Zook will coach at The Swamp. South Carolina is at the Gators, amid rumors - perhaps well-founded - that Lou Holtz will retire at the end of the season.

Guess who tops the list to replace Holtz, who isn't gone yet?

Spurrier To USF?

This one has been out there for awhile but has gained some legs in the last week or two. Spurrier also has been linked to Texas, where boosters supposedly want to dump Mack Brown and hire someone who can beat Oklahoma.

That was in September.

Before that even, he was ``a lock'' to replace John Bunting at North Carolina, but then Bunting had the poor taste to beat Miami and possibly save his job. Everyone kept hearing the Dolphins wanted him to replace Dave Wannstedt, but they say no and Spurrier says his game doesn't work in the NFL anyway.

He's right about that.

Spurrier's visor has even been tossed in the ring at South Florida - although not by him, of course. The job's not open, you say?

Like that matters.

You see, Missouri has had a lousy season and might need a coach - say, Tigers alum Jim Leavitt.

If Leavitt leaves USF, the Bulls' sideline would need an occupant. Since Spurrier's son Scotty may walk on next season at USF (that's legit), dad would follow.

Could happen. You could win the Lotto tonight, too.

Hire This Man

Of all the rumored destinations, South Carolina probably makes the most sense. You can win big there, and it's far enough away from the big media markets that Spurrier could have a little peace.

Plus, there's that gossip floating in cyberspace that Hootie Johnson, the Augusta National chairman and USC grad and booster, would offer Spurrier a membership in the nation's most prestigious golf club as an enticement to move to Columbia.

``You know, Jack Nicklaus couldn't get a membership there,'' Spurrier told The State newspaper of Columbia. ``What makes you think an old ballcoach like me could get one?''

Actually, Nicklaus does have a membership there. But that's not important right now.

What is important is that we get some resolution. Will somebody please hire this man?

Texas. Carolina, South or North. Doesn't matter.

USF, Tampa Catholic, somebody.

Give Spurrier a headset, quarterback and a sideline.

We all need a break.

[JeffreyBEllis]

Perhaps I am mistaken about Spurrier's affinity for his collegiate alma mater and his passion for the Gator intercollegiate football program, in particular, but I'm unable to foresee Spurrier becoming the head coach at an SEC constituent institution such as South Carolina.

In my opinion, the University of Florida is the only logical fit for Steve Spurrier, assuming that the public remarks espoused by Foley and Spurrier are serving as a mere facade.

Perhaps Spurrier could replace John Thompson at ECU given the amount of UF alumni on the Pirate coaching staff, compounded by the fact that Scotty Spurrier enjoyed his recent visit to Greenville.

[Omniscientbull]

That'll never happen.

[JeffreyBEllis]

Steve Spurrier continues to reside in the Technology Corridor of Northern Virginia.

Spurrier has repeatedly espoused a desire to return to the collegiate coaching ranks, preferably in a warm, Southern climate such as North Carolina or South Carolina and a "quality state institution."

Spurrier possesses a successful track record of experience as the head coach at nearby Duke University.

Spurrier, his wife and his son have attended a total of six games in Greenville thus far, partially due to his allegiance to Florida alumni and former coaches in the form of Noah Brindise, Jerry Odom and John Thompson.

Scotty Spurrier is an excellent student-athlete at Loudoun County High School in Northern Virginia, who is considering the institutional ilk of East Carolina, South Florida and Virginia Tech.

Moreover, ECU's new Director of Intercollegiate Athletics is none other than Terry Holland, a Hall of Fame coaching candidate from the University of Virginia, former ACC Coach of the Year in the sport of men's intercollegiate basketball and an alumnus of Davidson College in North Carolina. Terry Holland has mentioned his ties to the Southeastern Conference, the similarities of ECU's campus community culture to that of traditional SEC powerhouses and the ardent fan base of the ECU Pirates.

Nothing is inconceivable at the current critical juncture of ECU's development but, of course, I am quite confident that an "OmniscientBull" is all-knowing about all things ECU.  :

[Goldenbuc]

USF couldn't afford Leavitt's buyout...nonetheless Spurrier.

[Markeymark]

USC or Clemson is where he'll probably end up.

[smazza]

but if leavitt wanted to leave and spurrier would take a pay cut

everyone would be happy

[Omniscientbull]

Jeffrey - Steve Spurrier would never put his coaching credibility on the line for a pi$$ a$$ program like ECU.

[CyberBull]

Jeffrey - Steve Spurrier would never put his coaching credibility on the line for a pi$$ a$$ program like ECU.

Now you did it.....he is opening up his dictionary and thesaurus as we speak.

It is my understanding that ECU is seriously considering dropping to I-AA.

"Print it"

[GarySJ]

USF couldn't afford Leavitt's buyout.

Valid point, and one all the Spurrier-fans and FireLeavitt.com idiots (where have they all gone to BTW) have never once addressed. USF couldn't fire CJL if they wanted to.