Spurrier’s Farewell to Florida

As shocking as Spurrier’s abrupt walking away from Florida was, I was not as surprised as to when I heard that he would not make a return to his alma mater next season. With the expected but all too soon firing of Florida’s coach Ron Zook, Spurrier was asked to make a quick decision to be part of a quick fix in Gator Country. When Steve Spurrier resigned as coach of his beloved Gator’s on January 2, 2002 the only thing that was more shocking than his resignation was the announcement that he would cross over into unfamiliar territory: the NFL. Even though he played in the NFL from ’67 to ’76, he knew that taking control of 22 guys instead of his own performance on the field would be more difficult with the fact that he was to deal with the alter ego’s with fat wallets.

Like the great Jimmy Johnson before him, who succeeded as one of the many great Hurricane coaches of college football, also took it to the next level when winning consecutive championships with the Dallas Cowboys (1992-93).  Like Johnson, Spurrier left to prove to himself that he was more than just a one-way coach. Even if it meant that Spurrier would have to do away with his run-n-gun offense, he would succeed no matter what.

But after his two less than mediocre seasons with the Washington Redskins, Spurrier took it upon himself to resign even with a few years left on his five-year contract. Then again, even Spurrier’s heard of the expression “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again”.

When Spurrier left Florida in 2002, he left with a mission: A mission to become one of the greatest college / NFL coaches of all time. Even though he did not succeed with the Washington Redskins, there are two reasons why the buck will not stop at the Capital.

1)    Ever since Spurrier’s 1966 Heisman Trophy winning season, he was destined to become a success at the University of Florida.  For roughly 40 years, Spurrier has been a winner just about everywhere he has been. When Florida hired him as their head coach in 1990, no one knew how high he would actually take the Gators.  But even with every knockout win and continuing successful season, it seemed to be that only Gator fans and his players grew fond of him for the fact that they were winning football games.  Still, with Spurrier’s extremely bright football mind and his winning ways, I don’t see any reason why he cannot and will not succeed as a NFL head coach.

2)    Football in his blood. He has been around it for 40 years and for him to just turn and walk away from football would be outrageous. This man is 6 months shy of 60.  That may seem old, but in becoming a NFL head coach, his timing couldn’t be anything short of perfect.  He is extremely divulged in the football tradition and any team would be crazy not to give Spurrier another shot.

With Zook gone and Spurrier out of the picture, Florida is pressed with a decision to fill the most coveted spot in college football.  With this, there are a few candidates in mind.  The one that sticks out the most is the head coach of Utah: Urban Meyer.  Two years ago, the president of Utah, Bernie Machan, now the president at Florida, hired Meyer to coach the Utes. Since then, Meyer has compiled a 17-2 record in season and a half.

When Florida hired Zook, I don’t think they expected him to be just like Spurrier. I mean let’s face it; Spurrier is one of a kind. Still, I don’t think Zook fully comprehended what he was getting himself into. It’s not like he came from a winning situation himself, serving as the New Orleans Saints’ defensive coordinator.  Yet, you have to know coming into the SEC, which games you should win. Now with him out of a job, and certainly no where near another chance at a head coaching position at any level, look for him to go back to the NFL and get a job as an assistant or a defensive coordinator.

 As for Spurrier, look for him to do something that `ol Jimmy couldn’t: bringing a championship to Miami (not the Hurricanes).

Now the first time I submitted this story, I inserted a false statement about one Steve Spurrier and I do apologize for that statement. I guess I caught up in the moment of just how idiotic Jeremy Foley is. Again, sorry for that false statement.