SOUTH CAROLINA
Without a doubt, Steve Spurrier will go down as one of the best coaches in the history of the Southeastern Conference. Be that as it may, some fans will never get over how he left South Carolina as the former Gamecock coach led the team to a disappointing 2-4 start before leaving midseason.
South Carolina actually won its first game without Spurrier but finished the season 3-9 after the leader of the program quit on the Gamecocks after six games.
During his appearance at the Midlands edition of South Carolina’s offseason Spurs Up Tour, Mike Gillespie of ABC Columbia caught up with Spurrier to get his thoughts on his final season leading the Gamecocks. The way Spurrier sees it, he deserves all the blame he gets for the disastrous ending of his SEC coaching career and for letting the program slip so far in his final season.
“I deserve all the criticism they want to throw at me that last year, I should have let one or two coaches go because I brought some new ones in but I kept them – I did a lot of things bad,” Spurrier said. “Delegated too much to the offensive coaches… It was the worst attitude of ’bout any team I’ve ever had, and I’m the head coach, so I’m responsible.
“They can criticize me all they want, I’ve had enough praise to offset that.”
You can view a video of Spurrier sharing his response below:
Caught up with the HBC himself tonight in Columbia. Coming back to the midlands always reminds him of the way he left… says #Gamecock fans have every right to criticize him for that 2015 season, but "that team had the worst attitude of about any team I ever had." @abc_columbia pic.twitter.com/hMlyk728tw
— Mike Gillespie (@MikeABCColumbia) April 25, 2019
When the ole bourdon coach showed up for his post-game show so drunk he couldn’t make coherent, English statements – you just knew the end was near. The ole bourdon coach also quit recruiting a couple of seasons before he left.
I actually felt sorry for the SCAR fan base. The ole bourdon coach elevated the program, made them legit, then just checked out and rode his reputation for a few extra millions.
Did you mean to say Ole Bourbon Coach?
Yep, #$#& smart phone keypad
Not to mention the 52 UGA put on him in Athens that year to equal the 52 he nailed us with in Athens in the mid 90s. We were only too happy to hold the door for his exit.
Just think, Greyson Lambert set the NCAA completion record against the ole bourbon coach.
Finally something I can agree on about Superior. He deserves a lot of criticism about that last season.
He made some bad hires, but I though it was shortsighed of Muschamp not to take the DC job at SC. Even though recruiting suffered, the overall program was definitely in better shape than what he inherited. SC was a notch above Vandy, and a small one at that.
Muschamp gets plenty of hate, and deserves some of it, but ppl r quick to forget just how bad spurrier left the program, we’re still digging our way out of the recruiting hole he left us in. It took some time, and may not reflect in our record this year, but usc is heading in the right direction.
I’m reminded of how spurrier left it every time I see them play.
As for the record this year, I don’t see why it shouldn’t be an accurate reflection. After all, we can always take everything coaches say as absolute gospel truth, and Muschamp said the schedule is nothing special (/s).
Just making a bowl would be a good season. 8-5 would probably be worthy of an extension.
From this Clemson fan’s observation, it seems that Muschamp has done yeoman’s work recruiting, considering what he’s up against & the talent depletion he inherited. Even going into year 4, with some okay-to-good classes, he still has some obvious holes to plug, & he’s nowhere near closing the talent gap with Clemson & Georgia. We know he can recruit, but the question is whether he can develop his talent, motivate his players & get consistent play out of his team. (I mean, they put up 600+ yards & 35 points on the #1 defense in America & then turned in that clunker in the Belk Bowl.) Maybe his staff adjustments will help some in that regard.
Is it possible that #1 defense in America had skewed stats cause they were beating up on powerhouses like Duke, NC State, Florida State, Wake Forest and friends?
I appreciate fair commentary from a Tater. See you in November