Steve Spurrier's message to Gators this week: ‘Beat the Dawgs’
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Steve Spurrier paid a visit to the Gators this week. Before Tuesday’s practice, the Head Ball Coach and UF ambassador addressed the Florida football team.
Spurrier has spent time around the coaches and players before, but he had something to say to them ahead of their next game.
“Beat the Dawgs,” sophomore linebacker Shemar James said of Spurrier’s message to the team. “It was amazing. Coach Spurrier came in and gave us some words of wisdom, I can tell you that.”
Spurrier dominated the Bulldogs during his dozen years as Florida’s head coach, winning 11 of the 12 matchups. He also beat UGA five times in his 11 seasons at South Carolina, including three straight victories.
UF starting left tackle Austin Barber is from Jacksonville and watched the Florida-Georgia game growing up. He knows the history of Spurrier’s run in the rivalry and appreciated hearing from the HBC himself this week.
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“I think it was great to get the head ball coach back, let him talk to us, because he’s been around, he’s done it. He’s beat these guys. He’s played these guys and it’s just great having that wisdom back,” Barber said. “I think him talking to us really is gonna boost us up.”
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Gators coach Billy Napier also spoke to the wisdom that Spurrier imparted on his team during Tuesday’s visit. Napier has enjoyed his relationship with the HBC and being able to use him on a resource, whether it’s hosting official visitors for dinner at his restaurant, delivering a message to the players or offering advice whenever asked.
“Coach has been great to me since my first day I got the job. He’s been awesome,” Napier said. “Ultimately, for me, it’s a blessing to have him around. The wisdom, had an opportunity to spend some time with him, and he’s the right balance of staying out of your way but also giving you some insight. I think you’d be foolish not to take full advantage of having such an accomplished coach.
“I think for me, in my career, as a young player I’m watching him coach. Ultimately, he comes back to South Carolina. Coach had tremendous success here, but I think to go to South Carolina and for him to do what he did at South Carolina, I think that’s kind of the exclamation point to his career, in my opinion. Coach has got conviction about the University of Florida. He cares about this place. It’s important to him. It’s always good to have him around.”
