Spurrier offers some confusing reasoning for walking away

[18IsTheMan]

"This bunch don’t listen to me. And that’s my fault. It’s not their fault. You’ve got to demand that they listen to you. So I just thought. I’ll get out now."

So instead of demanding that they listen to him, he retired. Not sure I get the rationale. I suppose it means at his age he just didn't have what it took to kick butts and make players straighten up.

I've never really had much a chip on my shoulder for the way he left, as some do, but I don't really get this rationale.

Steve Spurrier Opens Up On Why He Took and Left the Job at South Carolina

Former South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier is without a doubt the greatest football coach in school history. In (11) seasons he managed to win a school rec

www.si.com

 

[18IsTheMan]

Side note: I tried listening to the podcast but aborted. Garcia and DiMarco aren't great interviewers, to say the least, and Spurrier almost never answers the question that was asked.

 

[Gradstudent]

"This bunch don’t listen to me. And that’s my fault. It’s not their fault. You’ve got to demand that they listen to you. So I just thought. I’ll get out now."

So instead of demanding that they listen to him, he retired. Not sure I get the rationale. I suppose it means at his age he just didn't have what it took to kick butts and make players straighten up.

I've never really had much a chip on my shoulder for the way he left, as some do, but I don't really get this rationale.

Its the way the 2015 season, went, after the blow out loss to UGA, they started younger players against UCF, pissed off some older players, even below the article sites the Wilds "rib injury" or not wanting to play against LSU, Spurrier thought he could go, things like that were probably pissing him off.

He has been quoted before saying he lost the locker room, seemed like it was divided, which happens on bad teams like that one behind the scenes when older player lose their spot or players that probably are not better and some older players stop playing hard or wanting to play, etc.

Things can snowball, nothing new to me in his comments, and your right some people are more upset about him leaving them others and that will probably never change

With the thrill of coaching gone, it was time for Spurrier to walk away​

Eric Boynton [email protected]
Published 12:01 am ET Oct 13,2015

Spurrier was asked last week prior to the LSU game if he saw any parallels between his current team and the 2005 squad (during his first year at USC), which started a similar 2-3 before embarking on a five-game win streak, including a win over 12th-ranked Florida.

“No, not really, not too much,” he replied, before laughing uneasily. “I guess that's not too encouraging words right there.”

Four days after uttering that rather ominous statement, the Gamecocks got thumped by 21 points in Baton Rouge. No shame in losing to a strong team on the road, especially after having been displaced by tragic flooding at home, but there was plenty of shame surrounding the defeat. Starting senior tailback Brandon Wilds, expected to be a veteran leader, took himself out of the lineup due to injury despite being cleared to play, a surprise game-time move that clearly irked Spurrier.

After the game, a few players got after one another through social media and it started to become readily apparent the longtime coach may have lost the locker room and the players were no longer responding to his leadership.

Spurrier took stock of the entire situation and decided enough was enough. He acknowledged Tuesday that resigning first surfaced in his mind while having to stage a comeback win at home versus a Central Florida team ranked at or near the bottom nationally in both offense and defense. He informed athletic director Ray Tanner in the aftermath he would try and make it through the remainder of the season, but sensed he was about done.

With recruiting lacking and with Spurrier, one of the most notoriously competitive coaches on the planet obviously having lost his edge within his program, the thrill was completely gone. It was time to move on and let someone else inherit the current headache.

“The last several years as I've traveled around the country, I always get asked, how much longer are you going to coach, and my answer is always the same,” Spurrier said Tuesday. “As long as we keep winning, keep winning these bowl games, everybody's happy, we're ranked and life's pretty good, I guess I'll go several more years. But if it starts going south, starts going bad, then I need to get out.”

 

[18IsTheMan]

Its the way the 2015 season, went, after the blow out loss to UGA, they started younger players against UCF, pissed off some older players, even below the article sites the Wilds "rib injury" or not wanting to play against LSU, Spurrier thought he could go, things like that were probably pissing him off.

He has been quoted before saying he lost the locker room, it was divided, which happens on bad teams like that one behind the scenes when older player lose their spot or players that probably are not better and some older players stop playing hard or wanting to play, etc.

Things can snowball, nothing new to me in his comments, and your right some people are more upset about him leaving them others and that will probably never change

With the thrill of coaching gone, it was time for Spurrier to walk away​

Eric Boynton [email protected]
Published 12:01 am ET Oct 13,2015

Spurrier was asked last week prior to the LSU game if he saw any parallels between his current team and the 2005 squad (during his first year at USC), which started a similar 2-3 before embarking on a five-game win streak, including a win over 12th-ranked Florida.

“No, not really, not too much,” he replied, before laughing uneasily. “I guess that's not too encouraging words right there.”

Four days after uttering that rather ominous statement, the Gamecocks got thumped by 21 points in Baton Rouge. No shame in losing to a strong team on the road, especially after having been displaced by tragic flooding at home, but there was plenty of shame surrounding the defeat. Starting senior tailback Brandon Wilds, expected to be a veteran leader, took himself out of the lineup due to injury despite being cleared to play, a surprise game-time move that clearly irked Spurrier.

After the game, a few players got after one another through social media and it started to become readily apparent the longtime coach may have lost the locker room and the players were no longer responding to his leadership.

Spurrier took stock of the entire situation and decided enough was enough. He acknowledged Tuesday that resigning first surfaced in his mind while having to stage a comeback win at home versus a Central Florida team ranked at or near the bottom nationally in both offense and defense. He informed athletic director Ray Tanner in the aftermath he would try and make it through the remainder of the season, but sensed he was about done.

With recruiting lacking and with Spurrier, one of the most notoriously competitive coaches on the planet obviously having lost his edge within his program, the thrill was completely gone. It was time to move on and let someone else inherit the current headache.

“The last several years as I've traveled around the country, I always get asked, how much longer are you going to coach, and my answer is always the same,” Spurrier said Tuesday. “As long as we keep winning, keep winning these bowl games, everybody's happy, we're ranked and life's pretty good, I guess I'll go several more years. But if it starts going south, starts going bad, then I need to get out.”

No, nothing really new. Just the twist that he said the team wasn't listening, and it was his fault for not making them listen, so that's he walked away.

Of course, he had said previously that they started recruiting low character guys as well and that played out in the behavior of the team.

 

[Gradstudent]

Spurrier wanted to retire after the 2013 season, and Tanner talked him out of it, as Spurrier stayed as he wanted to reach 100 wins. but it all fell apart, that season was not going well, no matter if Spurrier had stayed, imho.

 

[kidrobinski]

Spurrier was never a Gamecock; he was here for Spurrier, and that was cool with me. Many say he proved you "could win at SC", but he actually set out to prove was that HE could win anywhere, and used us as that stepping stone. Fell apart after the Capital One. I remember his presser after the LSU game that was moved there and I think was played on a Sunday because of the rain deluge here, saying "you guys saw it. Their guy broke seven tackles (which he did, for a 70+ yard touchdown), our guy goes down on the first hit every time (which he did; David Williams)." His disgust was palpable; he resigned the next day.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Spurrier was never a Gamecock; he was here for Spurrier, and that was cool with me. Many say he proved you "could win at SC", but he actually set out to prove was that HE could win anywhere, and used us as that stepping stone. Fell apart after the Capital One. I remember his presser after the LSU game that was moved there and I think was played on a Sunday because of the rain deluge here, saying "you guys saw it. Their guy broke seven tackles (which he did, for a 70+ yard touchdown), our guy goes down on the first hit every time (which he did; David Williams)." His disgust was palpable; he resigned the next day.

I think Spurrier was mentally done after the inexplicable UK loss in 2013. There was a picture after the game that showed Spurrier from behind as he stood in a tunnel looking up at the scoreboard. You couldn't even see his face in the picture, but the picture spoke volumes.

 

[Uscg1984]

I'm ready to move on. If we're not careful, this generation of fans will still be talking about the final year of Spurrier's tenure the way @KingWard's generation can't stop talking about our exit from the ACC 50 years ago.

 

[KingWard]

I'm ready to move on. If we're not careful, this generation of fans will still be talking about the final year of Spurrier's tenure the way @KingWard's generation can't stop talking about our exit from the ACC 50 years ago.

Which would be an improvement on much of what people talk about.

 

[KingWard]

I think Spurrier was mentally done after the inexplicable UK loss in 2013. There was a picture after the game that showed Spurrier from behind as he stood in a tunnel looking up at the scoreboard. You couldn't even see his face in the picture, but the picture spoke volumes.

The 2010 loss to them was just as inexplicable, and more deflating. Disgraceful .

 

[RowdyRooster18]

Sounds clear to me, he had lost his edge. That mixed with the fact he couldn’t get the players to listen to him. I felt things took a downward turn when he made Jr recruiting coordinator.
But it is what it is. I still appreciate what he did when he was here and his heart was in it. But like everyone else I wish he would’ve handled leaving in a better manor.

 

[KingWard]

Coaches can't reel a team back in once they lose their grip on them. That has been true throughout modern times. There are sociological reasons but I don't have time to get into that, and I don't want to argue about it, either.

 

[Gamecock Jacque]

Coaches can't reel a team back in once they lose their grip on them. That has been true throughout modern times. There are sociological reasons but I don't have time to get into that, and I don't want to argue about it, either.

I was forced to take sociology in college. Seemed more matter of opinion than actual science.

 

[18IsTheMan]

The 2010 loss to them was just as inexplicable, and more deflating. Disgraceful .

Both games feel like classic Carolina, but for different reasons.

 

[KingWard]

Both games feel like classic Carolina, but for different reasons.

We went from the toast of the college football world to the grungy ring around a dirty toilet bowl in a mere week.

 

[Gamecock Jacque]

We went from the toast of the college football world to the grungy ring around a dirty toilet bowl in a mere week.

On a long bomb if I remember correctly.

 

[Fried Chicken]

Spurrier was never a Gamecock; he was here for Spurrier, and that was cool with me. Many say he proved you "could win at SC", but he actually set out to prove was that HE could win anywhere, and used us as that stepping stone. Fell apart after the Capital One. I remember his presser after the LSU game that was moved there and I think was played on a Sunday because of the rain deluge here, saying "you guys saw it. Their guy broke seven tackles (which he did, for a 70+ yard touchdown), our guy goes down on the first hit every time (which he did; David Williams)." His disgust was palpable; he resigned the next day.

I get why you might feel this way, but Spurrier and his wife Jerri still often comment that they will always be Gamecocks. He recently said this when he was in town as his teams were recognized last season.

Sure, we all know Spurrier is a Gator more than anything. But he’s gone out of his way to visit Columbia and talk about the Gamecocks often. Our Football Operations Building is named after him and his wife. His wife and son have degrees from USC. He has grandchildren that still live in Columbia. Many fans around the country certainly don’t consider Spurrier a Gamecock, but he does. I am appreciative of that.

He doesn’t have to do these things. I wouldn’t like him any less if he didn’t. But Spurrier is a different kind of dude. He loves our university. The dude turned down Alabama when they hired Saban because he and his wife loved Columbia among other reasons, one being he wanted to win somewhere that hadn’t won as you said. But there aren’t many guys like that! And that’s what convinced a number of players on those teams to come play for SC…to win somewhere that had never won before. Stephen Garcia makes it clear this was his main reason.

Spurrier also loves Duke. As brash and cocky as he can be, he’s a softy for the places that treated him well.

He regrets the way it all ended, as we do. He knew it was likely over the year before…but then we turned things around and finished the season on a high note. He’s admitted he made some bad hires, which he regrets. We all wish it would’ve been a better transition, but regardless it was going to be difficult to replace Steve Spurrier. I’d hate to see where our program would be right now if we didn’t get Steve Spurrier when Lou Holtz retired. People forget many felt that if we couldn’t win with Lou, we couldn’t win with anyone. We got really lucky he fell into our lap…first when UNC kept their HC (John Bunting) instead of firing and hiring him like he was expecting. We certainly wouldn’t have won the SEC East or double digit wins 3 consecutive years. And I’m pretty certain we’d still be way behind on our facilities.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I get why you might feel this way, but Spurrier and his wife Jerri still often comment that they will always be Gamecocks. He recently said this when he was in town as his teams were recognized last season.

Sure, we all know Spurrier is a Gator more than anything. But he’s gone out of his way to visit Columbia and talk about the Gamecocks often. Our Football Operations Building is named after him and his wife. His wife and son have degrees from USC. He has grandchildren that still live in Columbia. Many fans around the country certainly don’t consider Spurrier a Gamecock, but he does. I am appreciative of that.

He doesn’t have to do these things. I wouldn’t like him any less if he didn’t. But Spurrier is a different kind of dude. He loves our university. The dude turned down Alabama when they hired Saban because he and his wife loved Columbia among other reasons, one being he wanted to win somewhere that hadn’t won as you said. But there aren’t many guys like that! And that’s what convinced a number of players on those teams to come play for SC…to win somewhere that had never won before. Stephen Garcia makes it clear this was his main reason.

Spurrier also loves Duke. As brash and cocky as he can be, he’s a softy for the places that treated him well.

He regrets the way it all ended, as we do. He knew it was likely over the year before…but then we turned things around and finished the season on a high note. He’s admitted he made some bad hires, which he regrets. We all wish it would’ve been a better transition, but regardless it was going to be difficult to replace Steve Spurrier. I’d hate to see where our program would be right now if we didn’t get Steve Spurrier when Lou Holtz retired. People forget many felt that if we couldn’t win with Lou, we couldn’t win with anyone. We got really lucky he fell into our lap…first when UNC kept their HC (John Bunting) instead of firing and hiring him like he was expecting. We certainly wouldn’t have won the SEC East or double digit wins 3 consecutive years. And I’m pretty certain we’d still be way behind on our facilities.

Well said. I’ve never been a hater for how he left. As you said, we all wish it had been done differently, including Spurrier.

 

[KingWard]

On a long bomb if I remember correctly.

Lattimore got hurt - a preview of that season's Peach Bowl. It was a fumble in the open field when we were about to score at the end of the first half and which would have made our lead 35-10 that I recall. I told my son as soon as it happened that we are going to lose this ballgame.

 

[kidrobinski]

Lattimore got hurt - a preview of that season's Peach Bowl. It was a fumble in the open field when we were about to score at the end of the first half and which would have made our lead 35-10 that I recall. I told my son as soon as it happened that we are going to lose this ballgame.

Still led 28-23 with 1:15 left in the game and had them 4th and 7 at our 24. Gave up a td to randall cobb, uncovered, the only player they had that resembled an SEC football player, then gave up the 2 point conversion to Cobb also. Spurrier finished by botching our timeouts necessitating a wing and a prayer on the last play, then threw Garcia under the bus in the post game presser.

 

[kidrobinski]

I get why you might feel this way, but Spurrier and his wife Jerri still often comment that they will always be Gamecocks. He recently said this when he was in town as his teams were recognized last season.

Sure, we all know Spurrier is a Gator more than anything. But he’s gone out of his way to visit Columbia and talk about the Gamecocks often. Our Football Operations Building is named after him and his wife. His wife and son have degrees from USC. He has grandchildren that still live in Columbia. Many fans around the country certainly don’t consider Spurrier a Gamecock, but he does. I am appreciative of that.

He doesn’t have to do these things. I wouldn’t like him any less if he didn’t. But Spurrier is a different kind of dude. He loves our university. The dude turned down Alabama when they hired Saban because he and his wife loved Columbia among other reasons, one being he wanted to win somewhere that hadn’t won as you said. But there aren’t many guys like that! And that’s what convinced a number of players on those teams to come play for SC…to win somewhere that had never won before. Stephen Garcia makes it clear this was his main reason.

Spurrier also loves Duke. As brash and cocky as he can be, he’s a softy for the places that treated him well.

He regrets the way it all ended, as we do. He knew it was likely over the year before…but then we turned things around and finished the season on a high note. He’s admitted he made some bad hires, which he regrets. We all wish it would’ve been a better transition, but regardless it was going to be difficult to replace Steve Spurrier. I’d hate to see where our program would be right now if we didn’t get Steve Spurrier when Lou Holtz retired. People forget many felt that if we couldn’t win with Lou, we couldn’t win with anyone. We got really lucky he fell into our lap…first when UNC kept their HC (John Bunting) instead of firing and hiring him like he was expecting. We certainly wouldn’t have won the SEC East or double digit wins 3 consecutive years. And I’m pretty certain we’d still be way behind on our facilities.

Oh I loved Spurrier. My father and I had many a conversation on the way home from watching Spurrier wax us at W-B about what a thing it would be to have him as our coach; he died during Holtz and didn't get to see it. The presser when he was introduced as our head coach was one of the most emotional days of my life. But Spurrier was Spurrier, and even so I consider him a Gamecock also. Make no mistake, Duke and us aside, he's a Gator. And I'm good with that; I am grateful and feel extremely lucky we had him for when we did. My initial comments were in regard to him resigning.

 

[Slim Chickens Gamecock]

no way to justify it- he was attempting to save legacy points and not lose and taint his career.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Still led 28-23 with 1:15 left in the game and had them 4th and 7 at our 24. Gave up a td to randall cobb, uncovered, the only player they had that resembled an SEC football player, then gave up the 2 point conversion to Cobb also. Spurrier finished by botching our timeouts necessitating a wing and a prayer on the last play, then threw Garcia under the bus in the post game presser.

It's inexplicable how Cobb was so wide open. WIDE open on a sure-fire passing down. He was only their 3rd leading receiver in the game, but anyone in here could have caught that pass.

In terms if inexplicability, it's up there with UF"s 4th down conversion against us this past season.

 

[KingWard]

Still led 28-23 with 1:15 left in the game and had them 4th and 7 at our 24. Gave up a td to randall cobb, uncovered, the only player they had that resembled an SEC football player, then gave up the 2 point conversion to Cobb also. Spurrier finished by botching our timeouts necessitating a wing and a prayer on the last play, then threw Garcia under the bus in the post game presser.

You are talking about the 2010 game, I presume. It never should have come down to any of that near the end. I recognized exactly when we had lost it, and I called it at the time. I could see the terrible result in my mind's eye just before halftime. It was inevitable.

 

[18IsTheMan]

You are talking about the 2010 game, I presume. It never should have come down to any of that near the end. I recognized exactly when we had lost it, and I called it at the time. I could see the terrible result in my mind's eye just before halftime. It was inevitable.

Gamecock-vision. Drives my wife crazy. Something like that will happen early in a game and I'll say something ominously pessimistic about the final outcome and she'll scold me for being so doom and gloom. Always tell her it's not my first rodeo.

 

[The Reel Ess]

That comeback win against CFU, which seemed at the time another big nail in Spurrier's coffin, happened right before they went on a very long winning streak.

 

[Myrtlecock]

You are talking about the 2010 game, I presume. It never should have come down to any of that near the end. I recognized exactly when we had lost it, and I called it at the time. I could see the terrible result in my mind's eye just before halftime. It was inevitable.

Yes, Marcus was playing it seemed like every offensive position I knew we had nowhere to turn when he got injured. Still don't understand what happened to that offense that played against Alabama.

 

[KingWard]

Yes, Marcus was playing it seemed like every offensive position I knew we had nowhere to turn when he got injured. Still don't understand what happened to that offense that played against Alabama.

We would have beaten them anyway had it not been for the late first half fumble. This knowledge was imparted to me the moment it happened.

 

[KingWard]

That comeback win against CFU, which seemed at the time another big nail in Spurrier's coffin, happened right before they went on a very long winning streak.

Spurrier never had a coffin that anyone in Columbia could bury him in.

 

[The Reel Ess]

Spurrier never had a coffin that anyone in Columbia could bury him in.

Well, then the beginning of the end He had a shelf life here.

 

[KingWard]

Well, then the beginning of the end He had a shelf life here.

It was never going to be anyone else who removed him from the shelf.

 

[The Reel Ess]

It was never going to be anyone else who removed him from the shelf.

Did I say he was going to be fired? That's not what I meant. He had already hinted that he may not have 4 years left in him.

 

[dLogic]

"This bunch don’t listen to me. And that’s my fault. It’s not their fault. You’ve got to demand that they listen to you. So I just thought. I’ll get out now."

So instead of demanding that they listen to him, he retired. Not sure I get the rationale. I suppose it means at his age he just didn't have what it took to kick butts and make players straighten up.

I've never really had much a chip on my shoulder for the way he left, as some do, but I don't really get this rationale.

Steve Spurrier Opens Up On Why He Took and Left the Job at South Carolina

Former South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier is without a doubt the greatest football coach in school history. In (11) seasons he managed to win a school rec

www.si.com

He knew they sucked and he was going to lose. Therefore, he quit. I don’t blame him He’s old and probably thought why not give some else a try

 

[GCJerryUSC]

He tainted his legacy at USC by promoting Ward to DC when he could have picked up a phone and hired just about anyone he wanted and the promotion of Jr was one of the worst promos in CFB history. Plus he was warned about promoting Ward. He HAD to know Jr was incapable of holding down that job. Jr didn't like talking on the phone which is 25% of a recruiting coord's job plus he had 10 kids so his passion was somewhere else.
So disappointing. I thought USC was gonna join the CFB elite after three straight 11-2s.

 

[KingWard]

Did I say he was going to be fired? That's not what I meant. He had already hinted that he may not have 4 years left in him.

I said what I said. It wasn't necessarily to counter what you said.

 

[KingWard]

He tainted his legacy at USC by promoting Ward to DC when he could have picked up a phone and hired just about anyone he wanted and the promotion of Jr was one of the worst promos in CFB history. Plus he was warned about promoting Ward. He HAD to know Jr was incapable of holding down that job. Jr didn't like talking on the phone which is 25% of a recruiting coord's job plus he had 10 kids so his passion was somewhere else.
So disappointing. I thought USC was gonna join the CFB elite after three straight 11-2s.

I'd give that a 95. It has a good beat and it's easy to dance to.

 

[adcoop]

"This bunch don’t listen to me. And that’s my fault. It’s not their fault. You’ve got to demand that they listen to you. So I just thought. I’ll get out now."

So instead of demanding that they listen to him, he retired. Not sure I get the rationale. I suppose it means at his age he just didn't have what it took to kick butts and make players straighten up.

I've never really had much a chip on my shoulder for the way he left, as some do, but I don't really get this rationale.

Steve Spurrier Opens Up On Why He Took and Left the Job at South Carolina

Former South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier is without a doubt the greatest football coach in school history. In (11) seasons he managed to win a school rec

www.si.com

I understand clearly. He got old. He had money in the bank and did not have the energy or patience to demand things that he might have 20-30 years ago. Getting the social media generation to listen to you is a little bit different. It was just time. Wish he would have seen at the end of a season instead of in the middle of one.

 

[KingWard]

I understand clearly. He got old. He had money in the bank and did not have the energy or patience to demand things that he might have 20-30 years ago. Getting the social media generation to listen to you is a little bit different. It was just time. Wish he would have seen at the end of a season instead of in the middle of one.

The previous one, since he had already queered the staff.

 

[SuperCock99]

What happened- Spurrier was playing Golf, while Spurrier Jr. ran recruiting into the ground.