Neo
11-23-2004, 12:41 PM
http://wistv.static.worldnow.com/images/2602855_SS.jpgSpurrier accepts job at USC.
By: WIS-TV Channel 10 (NBC)
(Columbia-AP) Nov. 23, 2004 - University of South Carolina trustees have agreed to hire former Florida coach Steve Spurrier as football coach after weeks of speculation.
Spurrier replaces Lou Holtz, who announced his retirement as the Gamecocks coach on Monday after six seasons with the Gamecocks.
USC Athletics Director Mike McGee said it was "my pleasure to introduce to you South Carolina head football coach Steve Spurrier."
"South Carolina is the very ideal spot for me to coach, and hopefully I'll be the ideal coach for South Carolina," the new Gamecocks coach said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon. "Why not us? Why not the University of South Carolina Gamecocks? Why can't we get to the top of the SEC?"
"Everything about South Carolina has intrigued me in years past," Spurrier said.
When asked about his allegiances to Florida, Spurrier admitted it's his alam mater, but he said of South Carolina, "This is my team now."
The school is holding a news conference at 1:00pm to formally introduce Spurrier.
Trustees approved a seven-year contract that will pay Spurrier $1.25 million a year. Incentives could increase that to $2 million annually.
South Carolina athletic director Mike McGee says Spurrier was contacted about the job shortly after South Carolina's loss to Tennessee on October 30th. McGee says Spurrier is interested in the challenge of making South Carolina a winner.
Spurrier met with the team Tuesday morning, and players say he told them he wants to bring fun back to the game. Spurrier's pass-oriented offense at Florida was known as the "Fun-and-Gun."
Spurrier would return to college football after a three-year absence. He was the Washington Redskins coach for two seasons after leaving Florida. Spurrier won one national championship and six Southeastern Conference titles while with the Gators.
Holtz says he doesn't know what he is going to do next or where he will do it. He did not give a specific reason for the retirement, other than to say he got worn down. Holtz says he is disappointed that he did not win a championship with the Gamecocks.
At his Monday morning news conference Holtz said he expects to be replaced by a well-known, proven winner with whom he plays golf, which appeared to be a reference to Spurrier. The Washington Post says Holtz and Spurrier became especially close after Spurrier helped Beth Holtz gain admission to a Florida hospital for cancer treatment five-years-ago.
The Washington Post says the president of Augusta National Golf Club, Hootie Johnson, a former USC fullback, is also involved in negotiations with Spurrier, himself an avid golfer. Holtz is a member of Augusta National, which each spring hosts the Masters.
Spurrier, 59, won a national title, six SEC championships and 122 games in 12 seasons at Florida.
By: WIS-TV Channel 10 (NBC)
(Columbia-AP) Nov. 23, 2004 - University of South Carolina trustees have agreed to hire former Florida coach Steve Spurrier as football coach after weeks of speculation.
Spurrier replaces Lou Holtz, who announced his retirement as the Gamecocks coach on Monday after six seasons with the Gamecocks.
USC Athletics Director Mike McGee said it was "my pleasure to introduce to you South Carolina head football coach Steve Spurrier."
"South Carolina is the very ideal spot for me to coach, and hopefully I'll be the ideal coach for South Carolina," the new Gamecocks coach said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon. "Why not us? Why not the University of South Carolina Gamecocks? Why can't we get to the top of the SEC?"
"Everything about South Carolina has intrigued me in years past," Spurrier said.
When asked about his allegiances to Florida, Spurrier admitted it's his alam mater, but he said of South Carolina, "This is my team now."
The school is holding a news conference at 1:00pm to formally introduce Spurrier.
Trustees approved a seven-year contract that will pay Spurrier $1.25 million a year. Incentives could increase that to $2 million annually.
South Carolina athletic director Mike McGee says Spurrier was contacted about the job shortly after South Carolina's loss to Tennessee on October 30th. McGee says Spurrier is interested in the challenge of making South Carolina a winner.
Spurrier met with the team Tuesday morning, and players say he told them he wants to bring fun back to the game. Spurrier's pass-oriented offense at Florida was known as the "Fun-and-Gun."
Spurrier would return to college football after a three-year absence. He was the Washington Redskins coach for two seasons after leaving Florida. Spurrier won one national championship and six Southeastern Conference titles while with the Gators.
Holtz says he doesn't know what he is going to do next or where he will do it. He did not give a specific reason for the retirement, other than to say he got worn down. Holtz says he is disappointed that he did not win a championship with the Gamecocks.
At his Monday morning news conference Holtz said he expects to be replaced by a well-known, proven winner with whom he plays golf, which appeared to be a reference to Spurrier. The Washington Post says Holtz and Spurrier became especially close after Spurrier helped Beth Holtz gain admission to a Florida hospital for cancer treatment five-years-ago.
The Washington Post says the president of Augusta National Golf Club, Hootie Johnson, a former USC fullback, is also involved in negotiations with Spurrier, himself an avid golfer. Holtz is a member of Augusta National, which each spring hosts the Masters.
Spurrier, 59, won a national title, six SEC championships and 122 games in 12 seasons at Florida.