The college football season begins tonight, and you can't help but wonder if it's the beginning of the end for Steve Spurrier. The South Carolina quarterback might provide the answer against North Carolina State.
One of the most puzzling aspects of Spurrier's four years at South Carolina has been his inability to develop an exceptional quarterback. That's less puzzling in South Carolina.
Spurrier might have a history for productive quarterbacks, but South Carolina doesn't.
Since the SEC went to divisional play in 1992, South Carolina and Mississippi State are the only programs who haven't had a quarterback make first- or second-team All-SEC. Florida has had five All-SEC quarterbacks, and three of them played for Spurrier.
It's not just what Spurrier did at Florida. He had a better quarterback at Duke than he has had South Carolina.
Who would have guessed that quarterbacks would be Spurrier's undoing at South Carolina? You might have wondered if he would recruit enough defense, fall short in the running game, or be betrayed by his kicker. But you figured he would have somebody who could throw and catch.
Sidney Rice could catch. So could Kenny McKinley. The throwing has been the problem.
Blake Mitchell was wildly inconsistent. Tommy Beecher was a disaster. Chris Smelley was somewhere in between. Converted wide receiver Syvelle Newton had a brief fling with success in the middle of the 2006 season.
Yet none of them provided what you would expect from a Spurrier quarterback. He doesn't demand a big arm or great athleticism. He does need someone who can follow instructions, read a defense, spot an open receiver and deliver an accurate pass.
Is that someone Stephen Garcia? Not based on what you saw last season when he demonstrated more arm than head as a part-time starter, then committed four first-half turnovers in an embarrassing Outback Bowl loss to Iowa.
Maybe he has improved, though his last scrimmage performance wasn't exactly riveting. "So-so," Spurrier called it.
"So-so" is not what Spurrier had in mind when he signed on with the Gamecocks.
You can't argue that he has improved South Carolina, which has won 28 games in his four seasons. That's the most triumphant stretch of South Carolina football since the Gamecocks won 28 games from 1987 through 1990 under two different coaches. And no other South Carolina coach has won that many games in four years.
But this isn't Brad Scott. This is one of the best coaches in SEC history.
His Florida teams dominated the conference in the 1990s. He has won a Heisman Trophy as a Florida quarterback and a national title at his alma mater. He has made all the money he will ever need.
So why stick around if this season leads to nothing more than last season did?
The Gamecocks only start a handful of seniors, so they should be better in 2010. But if the quarterback can't get it done, how much better can they be?
And how much more so-so can Spurrier take?
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
Want to use this article? Click here for options!
NCAA Tennessee 83 - Ohio 68
Vols' spring practice wit…
NCAA Tennessee Lady Vols 75-4…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 28
SHAWVOL writes:
why do we care about south carolina surely you have something that pertains to Tenn you can write about
Greer_Vol_22 writes:
he deserves the same treatment you gave Phil...
behuman13 writes:
I thought College football started tomorrow...
TNdog writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
CLEMSONVOL716WASBANNED writes:
This could be the end for ol visor boy. He had to remain a chicken for 5 years for Hootie to push through his membership at Augusta National. Welcome to year 5 of the chicken curse. YOU CAN'T MAKE CHICKEN SALAD OUT OF CHICKEN PHOOEY.
rockytopatl writes:
We care about South Carolina because:
1. They are in our league, our division, and we play them every year.
2. They start the season by playing Thursday night, which makes the piece timely.
3. You might remember that Steve Spurrier used to be our arch rival.
4. He's from Johnson City, was spurned by the Vols out of high school, and won the Heisman Trophy at Florida.
5. It's an interesting angle that the old ball coach hasn't been able to find a QB at South Carolina.
So yes, those of us who are football fans care.
SHAWVOL writes:
I am also what you refer to as football fan myself. With all the obvious facts you listed i still cant find myself caring much about the ol ball coaches situation.
eefor10c writes:
I will take Brad Scott over john adams any day!
SHAWVOL writes:
thats what i am saying the column above is stuff every college football fan in sec already knows
seventysevenvol writes:
Good response. I concur. We as a UT fan base suffer from 'volarrogance' at times.
dch2929 writes:
Mr. Adams is this a shaky ploy to write a little about your beloved Gators without anyone reading the fine print. Really will you please go and write for the Orlando Sentinel like you so much desire to
bigaldaddy writes:
Can't believe that I took time to read Adams' column. The boycott is back in effect.
bigaldaddy writes:
All points are well taken but I don't care either. The real reason is that Spurrier is a mediocre recruiter at best choosing to golf rather than beat the palmettos for players. At Florida he did not need to recruit and at Duke his offensive schemes were novel for that period of time. Time has caught up with the "Old Ball Coach." He certainly was and is still entertaining.
givehim6 writes:
Spurrier's next to join Phil and tommy in the SEC's dinosaur gravyard.
ETNFB writes:
Good article John. The struggles at QB for the Gamecocks are well documented. My only suggestion is an interview with their QB coach during that stretch of time would have been a nice addition to the article. It would have been easy to get, because David Reeves is UT's QB coach now.
vscebail#247785 writes:
South Carolina's mascot may be "COCKY", but Spurrier hasn't been so cocky since he left his little comfort zone in Florida. He sucked as an NFL coach, and South Carolina has sucked for so long, they actually think 7-5 seasons are are a winner. I agree with the earlier post: When he had superior talent, he had superior teams. Now he is stuck in mediocrity -- and all the X's and O's in the world ain't gonna change that! You can't spell "SUCK" without "South Carolina Gamecocks!"
JackDaniels writes:
Spurrier has always been so-so. He just happened to coach for a while in the middle of recruiting heaven.
bobbarbilly writes:
You hit the ol' nail right on the head.
doubledown writes:
Spurrier sees other quarterbacks play in the same light of his play, so that's why he's never satisfied (and why he's so cocky too)
TommyJack writes:
TJ's got nothing good to say about Spurrier. Never will.
dsbyrd#287440 writes:
I have this neat trick when I come across a story or column that doesn't interest me: I skip it and go on to read something else. I certainly don't feel compelled to comment on it.
A similar trick works for TV shows too.
gnm53108 writes:
He's got nothing to do with the Vols.
Thats good.
Joboo642 writes:
Here comes Dr Death. He got Fulmer fired and not he takes off on Coach Superior. Whe is next for the kiss of death from Dr Death?
vol_chaz writes:
I'll admit it, i read the article...but only to see when Adams would drop a reference to Tim Tebow...
crimsonviper writes:
I don't know TJ,but i would guess he would agree that you are still a racist and an idiot.
Volunatic writes:
This could be proof that spurrier is NOT one of the greatest coaches in SEC history.
He was at the right place at the right time.
Sure, Duke did decent with him at the helm, but that was in the ACC before FSU joined.
Still, even at lackluster South Carolina, he got in Fulmer's head.
VolunteerLifer writes:
You can't spell Citrus without a U, an S, and a C.
After all the years Fulmer choked on Spurrier, it was fitting that Fulmer's back was finally broken by Spurrier's win last year. So, wouldn't it be sweet if Kiffin applies the coup de grace to Stevie in our game with them this year? I hope if Kiffin gets up on him he looks to run it up. Imagine running up the score on him for a change and knocking him out at USC and turning some tables. Man, that would be so sweet.
Bearwuzacheater writes:
Spurrier is trying to what Lou Lisp tried to do at South Carolina, and that is set up their sons to be the next head coach. Skip Holtz had to take the ECU job which was probably the smart thing to do and I think a bigger school will probably come somewhere down the road for Skip.
Spurrier's arrogance probably makes him believe that even though he has done nothing at USC they still owe him enough to make SOS Jr their next head coach. I don't think it will happen, but I do believe that is the only reason he is hanging on.
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.