Page 21 - ATODAY
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SPORTS A21
Wednesday 14 October
Spurrier in the NFL. After beginning Gun attack.
his coaching career in the The Gamecocks are 11th in
Continued from page 17 USFL, and leading Duke, total offense in the SEC, av-
he returned to the Swamp eraging 341 yards a game.
But a win over Miami in the and took the Gators to a South Carolina plays at
Independence Bowl re- national championship home against Vanderbilt
energized him and gave with a high-flying, Fun-n- (2-3, 0-2) on Saturday.q
him hope for better things
ahead. In this Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, South Carolina coach Steve
The Gamecocks, though, Spurrier directs his team from the sideline during the first half of
have struggled at 2-4 and an NCAA college football game against Georgia in Athens, Ga.
are 0-4 in the Southeast-
ern Conference for the first Associated Press
time in Spurrier’s 23 seasons
in the league. help the team move for- league victories, said in
‘’I’m responsible. I’m the ward. 2013.
head coach,’’ Spurrier ‘’Our team is not in sham- Spurrier said this summer
said. ‘’It’s time for me to bles, as some might say,’’ he planned to coach two
get out of the way and let he said after Spurrier left or three more years, then
somebody else have a go the podium. ‘’Not sure the extended that to four or
at it.’’ change is what they’ve five years when several re-
Spurrier said he felt he needed but the change is cruits who had committed
needed to step down now what they’ve got. Going to South Carolina backed
because he doesn’t be- to do everything we can away before signing day in
lieve there is accountabil- to make the University of February. Then in July, Spur-
ity with players if they know South Carolina proud of rier held a defiant news
the coach won’t be back this football program.’’ conference, telling Game-
next year. He also said he Athletic director Ray Tan- cocks fans not to listen to
would be a recruiting liabil- ner said he would form a ‘’enemies’’ questioning his
ity. Spurrier said it was un- search committee and commitment level, or im-
likely he’d ever be a head hire a firm to help identify plying he could no longer
coach in college again candidates going forward. effectively coach at his
because of the recruiting Tanner said Elliott would be age. ‘’We haven’t lost it,’’
aspect. He did hope to a candidate to earn the Spurrier said in the summer.
consult for a team one day full-time job. ‘’We’ve got a dang good
and promised players he’d Spurrier was in the middle team.’’
still see them in the weight of his 11th season at South But things have quickly spi-
room and around town. Carolina and while the raled downward this sea-
He tried to keep things light Gamecocks are struggling, son.
hearted throughout the university officials praised The Gamecocks lost to
press conference. his accomplishments and Kentucky at home in the
‘’Why’s everyone all impact he has had on the season’s second week,
dressed up?’’ Spurrier said football program. then were blown out by
entering the room. ‘’This The winningest coach at SEC Eastern Division rival
isn’t a funeral.’’ Florida and South Carolina, Georgia, 52-20, a week
Spurrier’s decision ends a Spurrier joins the late Bear later.
16-year run for South Caro- Bryant as the only coaches Losses at Missouri and No. 6
lina football, which was led to win the most games at LSU last week guaranteed
by two of college football’s two SEC schools. Spurrier no better than a
all-time greats in Lou Holtz Some questioned Spur- break-even season in the
(1999-2004) and Spurrier. rier might want to last long SEC.
Spurrier had never had a enough to surpass the South Carolina’s inconsis-
losing season in 25 previous Bear’s mark of 159 SEC tency on offense this sea-
seasons coach at Duke wins. son has surely frustrated
(1987-89), Florida (1990- ‘’Had I wanted to break Spurrier, a Heisman Trophy
2001) or South Carolina, that record, I would’ve winning quarterback at
where he has been since stayed at Florida,’’ Spur- Florida who played for San
2005 talking about achiev- rier, who finishes with 131 Francisco and Tampa Bay
ing things that hadn’t been
accomplished before with
the Gamecocks.
‘’I was the best coach for
this job 11 years ago, but
I’m not today,’’ he said.
Interim head coach Shawn
Elliott said his job was to
