HOOVER, Ala. — Steve Spurrier, the SEC’s eldest statesmen, seemed at home Tuesday at SEC Media Days, graciously responding to various questions concerning his future as a 70-year-old football coach.

Last season’s 7-6 finish was tough, but the Head Ball Coach wasn’t as close to retirement as most of thought, he says, and is anxious to hit the field in August and help South Carolina compete for that elusive first SEC Championship.

“I breezed right through 60, breezed right through 65 and I’m going to try my best to breeze right on through 70,” Spurrier said. “I can still remember just about everything. So mentally, I think I’m the same as I was.”

Spurrier said losing multiple games at the end despite two-touchdown leads in the fourth quarter was frustrating and admitted to needing to get away at times, specifically after the Tennessee game.

“It wears on you a bit,” Spurrier said. “You need something to pick you back up. Obviously, the bowl games and all the recruits coming. When the recruits sign on, they’re sort of looking you in the eye and saying, Coach, you known I’m signing on to play for you don’t you? That’s what they’re sort of saying. It’s tough.”

Tasked with reshaping an under-performing defensive line and replacing a veteran quarterback entering August, the Gamecocks are picked to finish in the middle of the pack in the East, but Spurrier says he’s fine with the lack of preseason respect.

“We’re anxious to see what we can do,” Spurrier said. “We got rejuvenated in Shreveport and felt good going through the offseason being a winner at 7-6. I know the teams in Knoxville and Arkansas were fired up and very happy to be 7-6 and we were too. We were a happy bunch of Gamecocks, because it could’ve been worse.

“But we’re going to try to do better this year.”