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Steve Spurrier’s UF Honor Shows He Never Really Left

By Ben Richardson

Jul 15, 2014; Hoover, AL, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Steve Spurrier talks to the media during the SEC Football Media Days at the Wynfrey Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 15, 2014; Hoover, AL, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Steve Spurrier talks to the media during the SEC Football Media Days at the Wynfrey Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Love him or hate him, Steve Spurrier is a Florida Gators legend.

Steve Spurrier has not been the head coach of the Florida Gators since 2001, but I challenge you to find someone who really identifies him as anything else. Yes, for a fleeting moment in time, he was in fact the head coach of the Washington Redskins, but needless to say that time is easy to forget. Yes, for 10 years he was the head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks, and his signing and his departure may be the most memorable moments of his tenure. But, this whole time, Steve Spurrier has never been anything other than a Florida Gator.

Steve Spurrier has been a staple of the Florida Gator community since the 1960’s and his “legendary” Florida Gator status began to take shape when he won the Heisman Trophy in 1966. His official coaching career also began at Florida in 1978 the quarterbacks coach. He then proceeded to bounce around from promotion to promotion until he landed back at Florida in 1990. From there, the rest is history as he lead the program to their first national championship in 1996.  He is credited with deeming Ben Hill Griffin Stadium “The Swamp” on his way to a career 68-5 career record at home.  The lasting of that name seemed to symbolize the influence of Steve Spurrier would never be forgotten, even as the Ole Ball Coach’s career led him elsewhere.

After his abrupt departure from South Carolina, many wondered how Steve Spurrier would be remembered? Was his departure deemed worth of calling Steve Spurrier a quitter? Was the departure a disgraceful act that may be remembered as a tarnish on an other wise solid legacy?

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The University of Florida announcing that the field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium will be renamed “Steve Spurrier-Florida Field” answered those questions with a resounding “no.” The honor recognizes that Gators football wouldn’t be where it is today had they never had Steve Spurrier. Spurrier had already left his legacy on the Florida Gators’ football program in every other way possible, it is only right for the field he made famous to be named after him.

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