Steve Spurrier and his well-earned “Head Ball Coach” moniker have been the subject of several fantastic stories.

Perhaps the best one has been a secret for nearly 30 years.

Spurrier, now an ambassador and consultant for Florida, revealed in an interview with CBS Sports that he assisted his Duke coaching staff during the only game he was suspended for in his 31-year career. Duke golf director Ed Ibarguen conveyed messages scribbled on a piece of paper from Spurrier to the coaches’ booth to help the Blue Devils beat North Carolina in 1988.

Running backs coach Carl Franks called plays in place of the second-year coach, who was suspended for criticizing officials.

“Most of (the messages) were, ‘Carl, run the damn ball occasionally,'” Spurrier told CBS Sports. “I could see most of the field. I’d give him some messages — run this, run that or whatever because I had a runner. Eddie said he’d sneak in the press box a little bit, look around, and under the table he’d give Carl notes. He didn’t want anybody to know about that. I used to scare him.”