Neo
12-16-2004, 02:40 PM
Spurrier the toast of South Carolina.
By PETE IACOBELLI,
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Seems like Steve Spurrier can do anything he wants in South Carolina - except pay for a meal.
"I've found out in these restaurants, it's pretty hard to pay," Spurrier said Thursday.
His adjustment has gone smoothly in the three weeks since taking over South Carolina for retired Lou Holtz. Spurrier said high school prospects and coaches have been more than welcoming and the fans have been over the top supportive of an ol' ball coach they used to rue for beating their teams each year.
"These fans are as nice as anywhere I've ever lived," Spurrier said. "Maybe nicer."
And it figures to stay that way as long as Spurrier delivers on the championship dreams Gamecocks fans have clung to for so long.
"We're a pretty good team," Spurrier said. "I think we can be."
It has been a busy time for Spurrier. He's put together most of his staff - on Thursday he hired John Thompson as defensive coordinator after getting a cell phone call in the middle of a media session - and thinks he has made an impression on many of 75 recruits on the "quick list" of prospects that sits on his desk. "We've got some catching up to do" before national signing day on February 2, Spurrier said. "Hopefully next year, they'll like us a little bit more."
But Spurrier's not afraid to take chances right now. He stirred things up in the state by discussing jobs with Clemson running backs coach Burton Burns and, get this, offensive line coach and former South Carolina head coach Brad Scott.
Spurrier said he heard that Burns might be interested in joining the Gamecocks and gave him a call. Spurrier offered him the job last week that eventually went to former Arkansas star Madre Hill. In the end, Spurrier said Burns talked with his head coach and chose to remain at Clemson. "I guess he got a better offer and decided to stay, which is fine," Spurrier said.
There was no firm offer to Scott, the Gamecocks head coach from 1994 to 1998, Spurrier said. And after some conversation about becoming offensive line coach, Spurrier said the two agreed that it might not be the best thing. "He mentioned that if it was not South Carolina that maybe he would be interested," Spurrier said. "He's an excellent recruiter. He's a good guy and if I can help a few assistant coaches make more dough, than that's OK."
Scott, Clemson's assistant head coach and offensive line coach, did not immediately return a call to The Associated Press.
Spurrier had the opening because John Latina, the former Ole Miss offensive coordinator, left the offensive line coaching spot he accepted two weeks ago. From what Spurrier understood, Latina had the chance to reunite with his old boss David Cutcliffe as assistants at Notre Dame and its new head coach, Charlie Weis.
Latina "felt like his son who is going to college would have a chance to go to Notre Dame and being the good Catholic young man like John Latina is, that was important to him," Spurrier said.
Latina's departure led Spurrier to bring in John Hunt, who coached offensive linemen with him at Florida and in the NFL.
Spurrier said he'll continue doing what he can to gear up for January and the big recruiting weekends ahead. He won't hold a season-ending banquet this year - "It's not what we need right now" - but will after the 2005 season.
Offseason conditioning will start in early January with spring practice scheduled to open March 22. The spring game, which Spurrier rechristened the "Garnet and Black" game will take place Saturday, April 16.
As far as uniforms, always a big topic among South Carolina fans, Spurrier sketched out his plans to use all the school's basic colors of white, garnet and black - white helmets with the block "C" and Gamecock logo; garnet jerseys with names on the back and "Carolina" on the front; stripes on the pants and no long socks like you see in the pros.
For those fans worried about rival Clemson outpacing the Gamecocks in high-school commitments, Spurrier said to buck up. "We got to keep up on the guys we're on and see how it ends up (in) February," he said. "Simple as that."
http://www.beaufortgazette.com/state_news/sports/story/4339502p-4111761c.html
By PETE IACOBELLI,
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Seems like Steve Spurrier can do anything he wants in South Carolina - except pay for a meal.
"I've found out in these restaurants, it's pretty hard to pay," Spurrier said Thursday.
His adjustment has gone smoothly in the three weeks since taking over South Carolina for retired Lou Holtz. Spurrier said high school prospects and coaches have been more than welcoming and the fans have been over the top supportive of an ol' ball coach they used to rue for beating their teams each year.
"These fans are as nice as anywhere I've ever lived," Spurrier said. "Maybe nicer."
And it figures to stay that way as long as Spurrier delivers on the championship dreams Gamecocks fans have clung to for so long.
"We're a pretty good team," Spurrier said. "I think we can be."
It has been a busy time for Spurrier. He's put together most of his staff - on Thursday he hired John Thompson as defensive coordinator after getting a cell phone call in the middle of a media session - and thinks he has made an impression on many of 75 recruits on the "quick list" of prospects that sits on his desk. "We've got some catching up to do" before national signing day on February 2, Spurrier said. "Hopefully next year, they'll like us a little bit more."
But Spurrier's not afraid to take chances right now. He stirred things up in the state by discussing jobs with Clemson running backs coach Burton Burns and, get this, offensive line coach and former South Carolina head coach Brad Scott.
Spurrier said he heard that Burns might be interested in joining the Gamecocks and gave him a call. Spurrier offered him the job last week that eventually went to former Arkansas star Madre Hill. In the end, Spurrier said Burns talked with his head coach and chose to remain at Clemson. "I guess he got a better offer and decided to stay, which is fine," Spurrier said.
There was no firm offer to Scott, the Gamecocks head coach from 1994 to 1998, Spurrier said. And after some conversation about becoming offensive line coach, Spurrier said the two agreed that it might not be the best thing. "He mentioned that if it was not South Carolina that maybe he would be interested," Spurrier said. "He's an excellent recruiter. He's a good guy and if I can help a few assistant coaches make more dough, than that's OK."
Scott, Clemson's assistant head coach and offensive line coach, did not immediately return a call to The Associated Press.
Spurrier had the opening because John Latina, the former Ole Miss offensive coordinator, left the offensive line coaching spot he accepted two weeks ago. From what Spurrier understood, Latina had the chance to reunite with his old boss David Cutcliffe as assistants at Notre Dame and its new head coach, Charlie Weis.
Latina "felt like his son who is going to college would have a chance to go to Notre Dame and being the good Catholic young man like John Latina is, that was important to him," Spurrier said.
Latina's departure led Spurrier to bring in John Hunt, who coached offensive linemen with him at Florida and in the NFL.
Spurrier said he'll continue doing what he can to gear up for January and the big recruiting weekends ahead. He won't hold a season-ending banquet this year - "It's not what we need right now" - but will after the 2005 season.
Offseason conditioning will start in early January with spring practice scheduled to open March 22. The spring game, which Spurrier rechristened the "Garnet and Black" game will take place Saturday, April 16.
As far as uniforms, always a big topic among South Carolina fans, Spurrier sketched out his plans to use all the school's basic colors of white, garnet and black - white helmets with the block "C" and Gamecock logo; garnet jerseys with names on the back and "Carolina" on the front; stripes on the pants and no long socks like you see in the pros.
For those fans worried about rival Clemson outpacing the Gamecocks in high-school commitments, Spurrier said to buck up. "We got to keep up on the guys we're on and see how it ends up (in) February," he said. "Simple as that."
http://www.beaufortgazette.com/state_news/sports/story/4339502p-4111761c.html