Fisch Tank: The Thrill is Gone Gamecocks
The Thrill is Gone GamecocksThe honeymoon has been over, and the South Carolina and Steve Spurrier’s marriage is going through it’s first exceptionally rocky struggle. I wrote about this same topic a year ago following the South Carolina-Vanderbilt game. And finally the national and local media are buzzing about Spurrier’s capability to turn South Carolina around. Matt Lincoln and I were talking about how teams always have a nemesis they can’t get past, but Vanderbilt, honestly. Many things have been leading toward the “Head” or “Ole” ball coach’s problems. So let’s look at a couple of topics leading to this.
1. Why Spurrier came to Columbia, he knew he couldn’t take the job at Florida and possibly live up to the expectations he set in Gainesville.
2. Following Spurrier’s ONLY National Championship, he let the coordinators take care of everything else from there on out. Which is his current coaching style at USC?
3 If you chalk up the NFL experience; it was demoralizing for such a prideful man to get his teeth kicked in and become such a failure.
4. Now we come to the Gamecocks. Why did USC throw in a membership to Augusta, it gives him more of a reason to be lazy. If you believe the talent in the Palmetto State is NOT equivalent to that of Florida, look again. Remember there are 3 major programs in the sunshine state. Not to mention all the hands (Universities) in the cookie jar (Florida). There is plenty of talent to compete in South Carolina.
5. The Recruiting issue, Spurrier uses his name to land recruits, that’s bogus. Les Miles visits kids, Mark Richt goes to their high school games, and Urban Meyer is a text messaging machine. Spurrier has got a great putting game.
6. To be successful in anything, you have to adapt. Spurrier still believes slinging the ball around like he did with the Tampa Bay Bandits will be best served for the Gamecocks. In a state loaded with kids that are taught to pound the rock, he should be preaching the throwing to the high school programs. Adapt, educate, and set the system in the youth programs so when they come to Williams Brice you have more than one receiving target.
7. The empty cupboard factor, Spurrier and Holtz are partners in this one. Both coaches left programs with a locker room bare of talent. Spurrier did it at Florida when he left for Washington and Holtz did it with USC. Now Spurrier is in year four of a rebuilding scheme, with his son set to take over when he leaves. If you don’t see that coming your blind.
So Gamecock fans know this, there is no reason a coach should be unable to win in Columbia, no matter the conference. It’s will power; Spurrier just doesn’t have it anymore.
“Next on the Tee Box: Steve Spurrier”
Fisch Tank: OCT. 21, 2007
IAre Gamecock fans under the impression Steve Spurrier is the Grand Facilitator? YES! Is he? NO! But one thing is for sure, Spurrier is a confidence boost for a program that has struggled to work their way out of the S.E.C. East cellar for several years. Just like Lou Holtz before him, Spurrier offers an identity and wisp of arrogance to a football starving community. Look, I am not trying to open an argument from 2004. I am saying, if it wasn't for the inconsistant year of college football, especially in the S.E.C. East, USC would never even cracked the top ten. Spurrier even said it following the Vanderbilt game" We knew we were living dangerously." George Rogers their programs best player ever said it live on the air, "I don't believe they are deserving of a number six ranking." I'm not ripping on Gamecock fans, but lets be honest, Eric Norwood has really stepped up, as well as Emmanuel Cook, but your defense is not that great. When Jasper Brinkley went down and Nate Pepper followed, when a defense losses it's best player for the year and your head coach has the quarterbacks dangling like puppets, How are you ranked number six in the country? A loss to Vanderbilt is not inexcusable, you haven't earned that right yet. It wasn't even ten years ago when USC was a meeger step above the Commodores. It is great to see the excitement of the Gamecock nation, but their is a difference in being cocky and confident. Confidence would have won a must win game against the 'Dores, because seriously, at Kneeland this Saturday, I'm calling a loss on that one.
Now to Spurrier the figure head. No he is not a figure head, he does run the team. But remembering the days of Spurrier as a God in Gainesville, he's lost something! His touch on his players, some discipline, and probably something else I haven't figured out. I do believe Spurrier is a great coach, but after hearing fans call in on the post game show Saturday, I believe they have a case of blind faith in him. Remember, he lost alot of pride in failing in the NFL, he could have never have gone back to Florida and duplicated his success. So why not build up another Lou Holtz havoc program, but my question is, Has Spurrier built up a program on beliefs on hope or on confidence?
Posted by
on 09/05 at 05:16 PM
I agree with everything you said, except one thing. Steve Jr. will not be the next head coach at USC. The same deal was in place for Skip to replace Lou when he retired. USC will not replace Steve Sr. with Jr. because they have always felt you have to have a big name coach. If Senior doesn’t finish above .500 this yea, and there is a good chance they will not, Senior may not return in 2009. He is finding out the Lee Corso was right, you can’t win in Columbia.