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What they said: SEC coaches and others comment on Muschamp, UF opening
By Drew Laing
Published:
The dismissal of a head coach is always a stark reminder to fellow coaches of the reality that football is a “what have you done for me lately” kind of business.
With the news that Will Muschamp would no longer be the head coach of the Florida Gators after the end of the season, both SEC head coaches and coaches from around the country spoke about Muschamp and the current opening at Florida.
RELATED: Herbstreit talks Florida vacancy
SEC coaches
Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel
“I know he’s a great coach and a great person. He’s been very respectful to me since I’ve gotten to know him the last three, four years. It’s the tough part of the business. It’s sad. A lot of times a little Lady Luck’s thrown in there. … I just hope he gets another opportunity. He’s so well respected as a defensive coordinator.”
(h/t to Dave Matter of St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier
“I hate to hear it about Coach Muschamp. Will’s a good person, he’s a very good coach. His Florida teams were unlucky, as you could say. The losses that he’s had over the years, we all complain about close losses, but he has had his share of them. And unfortunately, coaches, we’re all based on whatever your record is. And I guess Florida decided they want to make a change.”
“But he’s a good coach and if he wants to coach again next year, I’m sure a lot of people will be after him.”
(h/t to David Jones of Florida Today)
Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze
“I have a policy, and I don’t discuss my job status good or bad. I don’t think anything good comes from that. My family and I are extremely happy in Oxford. I love working for Chancellor Dan Jones and Ross Bjork. We’re extremely happy. I have great admiration for Will Muschamp. Your heart goes out to him. The way he’s handled the adversity is a great lesson for a lot of us that we can learn. My total focus is getting our kids ready for Arkansas.”
Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen
On name being brought up in coaching carousel
“I live in reality. My reality is to win football games at Mississippi State and building this program to be the best program that I can be in. I don’t live in the chat-line, blog-line and call-in radio world.”
Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn
Gus Malzahn asked about Florida job: “I’ve got one of the best jobs in college football in Auburn, and I’m totally committed to that.”
— John Zenor (@jzenor) November 18, 2014
Georgia head coach Mark Richt
Richt on Will Muschamp: “It’s the nature of the business. I wish him well. I know he’s a good ball coach and a really good person.” — Anthony Dasher (@AnthonyDasher1) November 17, 2014
RELATED: A comprehensive list of UF coaching candidates
Non-SEC coaches
Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops
Bob Stoops: ‘All I want to be is a candidate at Oklahoma. I am not a a candidate anywhere else.” — Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) November 17, 2014
Texas head coach Charlie Strong
Charlie Strong on Florida in presser: “I have a great job here. We have a lot of work to get done here.” — OnlyGators.com (@onlygators) November 17, 2014
Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher
“Will’s future is going to be very bright. Will is a heck of a football coach and I hate it. But they’ll have two more games and he’ll definitely have them ready for the next two games. They’ll play very hard, I know they will when they come here. Will is a good friend, he’s a good person, he’s a heck of a football coach and he has a bright future, a great future in this game. There’s no doubt about that.”
(h/t to Brendan Sonnone)
Drew Laing will be providing analysis and insight on Florida, Georgia, Missouri and South Carolina.
