Spurrier opens up about South Carolina resignation decision on ESPN Radio
By Nick Cole
Published:
By now, most SEC fans may be a little fatigued by the Steve Spurrier midseason resignation storyline.
But hang with me, because the Head Ball Coach did give some interesting insight into what led him to that decision on Thursday morning while on ESPN Radio discussing tonight’s College Football Playoff games.
247 Sports’ Brad Crawford caught some quotes from the interview, during which Spurrier cited a conversation with UCLA coach Jim Mora Jr. about the details of his dad’s retirement that was not too much unlike his own decision earlier this season.
“Jim Mora Sr., I think he was either with the Indianapolis Colts or New Orleans Saints, but he said he got up one morning and said ‘I’m retiring today. I don’t want to do this anymore. It’s not in me.’
Spurrier has faced plenty of criticism for that decision, which has tainted what otherwise should have been a celebration of one of the most accomplished coaches of the modern era.
He acknowledged as much with this statement:
“My situation, obviously hindsight is 20/20, but after we won the bowl game last year I should’ve said it’s been a wonderful career and thank you South Carolina. The next guy needs to have a go at it.”
Spurrier reiterated his stance that he would not wait around for an administration to tell him that it was time to go, and that trailing at half time of all six of the games he coached in 2015 let him know that he had very little left in the tank with a 2-4 record and six games to go.
Spurrier also complimented new Gamecocks coach Will Muschamp, who did retain interim coach and offensive line coach Shawn Elliott on his staff.
The continued transition from Spurrier to Muschamp at South Carolina will be one of the more interesting SEC storylines to follow as 2016 begins.
Nick Cole is a former print journalist with several years of experience covering the SEC. Born and raised in SEC country, he has taken in the game-day experience at all 14 stadiums.
