College Football Commentary: Should Spurrier Hang Up the Visor?

Sep 20, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Steve Spurrier during the first half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

After three straight eleven win seasons, one would’ve never thought it. But the startling reality is that Gamecocks’ head man Steve Spurrier may have to walk out the door this season in crash-and-burn fashion.

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At Florida, he’ll always be remembered. It’s not just the collection of a Heisman Trophy in college, eight ten-win seasons, six Southeastern Conference Championships, or one national championship. It was the way he did it, with that cocky, bigmouthed attitude and a knack for the occasional shot at ‘Free Shoes University.’

Florida may always be Spurrier’s home. But he’ll always be loved in Durham and Columbia, whether you’re a Blue Devil or a Gamecock.

At Duke, he’s the last to win the ACC Championship. He never forgets to stick them in the preseason top 25 each season, either.

At South Carolina, the wins weren’t all. Milestones were met on and off the field. The SEC East was finally conquered and rivals like Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and Clemson were the Gamecocks’ whipping boy for quite some time. When combined with conquering instate recruiting and tossing millions of dollars at new facilities, as well as the combination of a big-mouth and statesman attitude, fans fell in love with the Ole Ball Coach.

But after a ’14 season went to Shreveport without a defense, Gamecocks’ fans are now wishing they at least had an offense. The ’15 unit enters week six looking for it’s first conference win.

Recruiting is looking worse than ever, which does not bode well for the future. Only one blue-chip quarterback (Brandon McElwain) is the only thing that could change Spurrier’s mind. If Spurrier is to make up his mind, he needs to make it up now. If he wants to stay, mass personnel changes must be enforced on the coaching staff. A rebuilding project must ensue.

Additionally, recruiting efforts must be improved vastly. As you see here, the Gamecocks invested hundreds of thousands of dollars less than their rivals, and it’s starting to hurt on the field.

Not only that, but South Carolina’s head coach would have to adjust to the times. Players crave heavily engaged coaches that can stroke the fabric of America’s modern high school football talent by grinding at work twenty-four seven, along with being socially savvy.

That means dedicating attention to social media activity, along with a can’t-sleep obsession with recruiting. Not only that, but you might need to whip or nae-nae every now and then.

And when the subject of firing assistants comes along, business decisions must be made.

Spurrier can walk off whenever he wants, and for that you must give him credit. He put the Gamecocks’ team on the map and gave their fans something to cheer about.

But an eleven-win standard will have South Carolina fans starving for success, and the Head Ball Coach must take a long look in the mirror and decide if he has what it takes to strip down and rebuild a once proud program.

If not, a college football legend may go out with a crash and burn, rather than landing softly.

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