Even our local UF homer is trashing SOS...
Is it time for Spurrier to finally let it go?
David Jones, FLORIDA TODAY 3 p.m. EDT July 15, 2015
(Photo: AP)
Sooner or later, if you stick around long enough, it doesn't matter what you've done.
They're going to get you.
That's the case for just about anyone in any occupation in today's society. Especially in sports, where rosters change, the ball bounces a different way than it did a few years ago, a key player gets hurt. Or you just simply lose too much and are appreciated too little.
But in this case, sure, it's pretty incredible that the vultures are starting to circle in Columbia, S.C., where Steve Spurrier is coming off a 7-6 season after being forecast by many to play in the SEC title game after three straight 11-win seasons.
But there they are flying up above, looking down, hungry. From fans to media to anyone who follows college football there are whispers. Spurrier, who hit the big 7-oh this year just might finally be coaching his last year.
"We're hoping to return to where we were the prior three years, a top 10 team. We believe we have a fighting chance to do that," Spurrier said earlier this week at the annual SEC media days. "I know the critics are out there, and that's why they're called critics. They criticize every chance they get, and we gave them some chances to criticize us last year, which is okay.''
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Spurrier just doesn't get it. Frankly, that kind of shocks me. After all, this was the guy who for years while winning SEC titles in Gainesville made jokes about Bobby Bowden at FSU and why he wouldn't just give it up.
I hope Spurrier doesn't become Bowden.
The clock is ticking, Steve. And all you have to do is talk to a few high school recruits and coaches to understand.
It's not just a question of what Spurrier can accomplish this year, or even the next. It's about the fact that nobody realistically expects him to be around that much longer. Bowden, as fine a human being as you could meet, had the fault too many of us own. He held on too long at Florida State. The program suffered. The losses piled up, the recruits started looking over his shoulder to see who else was in line.
Realistically, if you are a high school senior in Brevard County, do you really want to think about South Carolina? A handful of coaches and players in the last 4-5 months have asked me the same question. Spurrier calls their schools. He's got his eye on a few guys.
But those elite Brevard recruits are asking the same question. Will you still be there when I'm in my third year of college? And Spurrier has to look them all in the eye and has no answer. Not any more.
It's all about the recruits. It's all about building in college football. High school athletes after sophomore years get piles recruiting letters now. The push to add talent often includes athletes who don't even have a license to drive a car.
What they do have is the license to drive a recruiting class. The way recruiting is now, with years invested in players, they have to believe 2-3 years ahead of time you're going to be there. The key is landing the top guys right now who are at their oldest high school juniors. Which means they'll be in college in two years.
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Does anyone really believe Spurrier will be at South Carolina four years from now? Come on. He may not want to admit it but to hang around a while longer? He's killing his own program's future.
"None of us know how long we're going to be here,'' he said. "None of us know. ... When the recruits sign on, they're sort of looking you in the eye and saying, 'Coach, you know I'm signing on to play for you, don't you?' That's what they're sort of saying. It's tough.''
Spurrier vowed he'd never be Bowden. Maybe he just doesn't get it. Everyone has a time, everyone has a place. Unlike most of us, he gets to pick. When even recruits in Brevard wonder if you'll even be there when they get to campus?
It's time Steve. It may hurt. It may be hard. But we all need to try to realize when it's our time.
Is it time for Spurrier to finally let it go?
David Jones, FLORIDA TODAY 3 p.m. EDT July 15, 2015
(Photo: AP)
Sooner or later, if you stick around long enough, it doesn't matter what you've done.
They're going to get you.
That's the case for just about anyone in any occupation in today's society. Especially in sports, where rosters change, the ball bounces a different way than it did a few years ago, a key player gets hurt. Or you just simply lose too much and are appreciated too little.
But in this case, sure, it's pretty incredible that the vultures are starting to circle in Columbia, S.C., where Steve Spurrier is coming off a 7-6 season after being forecast by many to play in the SEC title game after three straight 11-win seasons.
But there they are flying up above, looking down, hungry. From fans to media to anyone who follows college football there are whispers. Spurrier, who hit the big 7-oh this year just might finally be coaching his last year.
"We're hoping to return to where we were the prior three years, a top 10 team. We believe we have a fighting chance to do that," Spurrier said earlier this week at the annual SEC media days. "I know the critics are out there, and that's why they're called critics. They criticize every chance they get, and we gave them some chances to criticize us last year, which is okay.''
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Spurrier just doesn't get it. Frankly, that kind of shocks me. After all, this was the guy who for years while winning SEC titles in Gainesville made jokes about Bobby Bowden at FSU and why he wouldn't just give it up.
I hope Spurrier doesn't become Bowden.
The clock is ticking, Steve. And all you have to do is talk to a few high school recruits and coaches to understand.
It's not just a question of what Spurrier can accomplish this year, or even the next. It's about the fact that nobody realistically expects him to be around that much longer. Bowden, as fine a human being as you could meet, had the fault too many of us own. He held on too long at Florida State. The program suffered. The losses piled up, the recruits started looking over his shoulder to see who else was in line.
Realistically, if you are a high school senior in Brevard County, do you really want to think about South Carolina? A handful of coaches and players in the last 4-5 months have asked me the same question. Spurrier calls their schools. He's got his eye on a few guys.
But those elite Brevard recruits are asking the same question. Will you still be there when I'm in my third year of college? And Spurrier has to look them all in the eye and has no answer. Not any more.
It's all about the recruits. It's all about building in college football. High school athletes after sophomore years get piles recruiting letters now. The push to add talent often includes athletes who don't even have a license to drive a car.
What they do have is the license to drive a recruiting class. The way recruiting is now, with years invested in players, they have to believe 2-3 years ahead of time you're going to be there. The key is landing the top guys right now who are at their oldest high school juniors. Which means they'll be in college in two years.
FLORIDA TODAY
Memories of the USFL, Bandits and what could have been
Does anyone really believe Spurrier will be at South Carolina four years from now? Come on. He may not want to admit it but to hang around a while longer? He's killing his own program's future.
"None of us know how long we're going to be here,'' he said. "None of us know. ... When the recruits sign on, they're sort of looking you in the eye and saying, 'Coach, you know I'm signing on to play for you, don't you?' That's what they're sort of saying. It's tough.''
Spurrier vowed he'd never be Bowden. Maybe he just doesn't get it. Everyone has a time, everyone has a place. Unlike most of us, he gets to pick. When even recruits in Brevard wonder if you'll even be there when they get to campus?
It's time Steve. It may hurt. It may be hard. But we all need to try to realize when it's our time.
