In a weekend that saw the Baby Gators reclaim prominence on the national college football landscape, Steve Spurrier and his South Carolina gang loudly proclaimed their candidacy for the National Championship! Talk of Spurrier being the all time greatest SEC coach is a little overboard with the likes of Paul “Bear “ Bryant and Nick Saban both who share 9 National Championships and 17 SEC Championships between the both..certainly Spurrier can join the company of these gentlemen by winning it all at South Carolina!!
With that said the thing you can’t take away from the Ole Ball Coach is that he is KING at building traditionally losing programs into national contenders. Look at the resume starting with Duke, although there for a short stint - he lead them to their first bowl game since 1960 and an ACC Championship! Spurrier follwed his experiment at Duke with his historic reign at Florida, this is the man who put the Gators on the map, before his tenure the Gators were perennial underachievers. He was the one to term “The Swamp”, the one who branded the Gator trademark as a National program that competed for National Championships year in and out. During his 12 year tenure the Gators romped to 6 SEC Championships and 1 National Championship, could have been 2 if the Gators didn’t run into the Cornhuskers in 95’. Spurrier is responsible for every positive tradition that resides at the University of Florida, to include the over-demanding fan base that now resides in Gainesville…Spurrier set those expectations….every Florida Head Coach is measured against the Ole Ball Coach. Spurrier is to Florida what Bear Bryant is to Alabama…sorry Tebow! Now the Ole Ball Coach hangs his hat at South Carolina and in 7 years has turned a perennial loser into a national contender…sound familiar?
In two weeks when Spurrier brings the Gamecocks into “The Swamp” the first thing the Gator Nation should do is stand on their feet and pay tribute to the man who made their program what it is today. Visors off the Ole Ball Coach…see you in Atlanta coach!
I really think the Gamecocks are the #2 team in the country.
ReplyDeleteWho is #1?
DeleteRolltide!
DeleteLiving in the Upstate, I'm surrounded by Tigers (clearly pretenders), and though I claim no allegience, I must say, I'd root for the Gamecocks over the Tigers any day of the week. This weeks beatdown of Georgia was pretty convincing. As I seek to find a College Football team to call my own, proximity to Columbia and a good team makes a compelling case. I refuse however, if my loyalty eventually fell with USC, to ever wear a hat that just says Cocks. That may be as much the reason as any that I've not found myself in Garnet and Black on saturdays to this point.
ReplyDeleteWes, I'm glad your format has gone from email to blog. Love it.
Good post Jessee... but don't go to sleep on the Nictactor!!
DeleteWe will welcome Spurrier to the Swamp, but then he will be running out with his feathers ruffled...
ReplyDeleteNice Baby Gator..but you better watch out for those nasty Dores before tangling with Spurrier and the Cocks...don't bite off more than you can chew!
DeleteSC beat GA....wow. I am from GA and Bulldogs are all talk, talk, talk. That is why I used to go to the GA Tech games. Brains over Bronze! I think Muschamp has a good chance to win over Head Ball Coach. I just do not like the Gator chomp with the arms...so I will go with HBC on this one, because he always seems to find a way to win over tough teams in a crunch. HBC was coach of the week because Nick had an off week.
ReplyDeleteNote to the editor...please do not make me sit through the TX/OK Game.
And as always,, Rolltide!
SC 31 Florida 24
ReplyDelete