🏈 Spurrier with "surprise" presser. What do you make of this?

[TerryP]

 

[psychojoe]

Getting a little thin skinned at age 70.

 

[Nothing_But_A_Winner00]

He sounds like a crazy old man telling you he's not crazy and old

 

[BamaFan334]

I agree with everything he's said. I would have done punched someone in the media for half the crap they say, so I see no problem with him defending himself. Once again, we may not be used to hearing this kind of talk on a daily basis from these coaches, but you can damn sure believe they all think it and they are all saying the same thing when the media isn't around. Technically he doesn't need to prove himself as he's done that for years, but I can see where it finally pissed him off to the point where he had had enough and felt like jabbing a few folks. The guy is still a scratch golfer, and that definitely means he is still young enough to coach!

 

[BAMANEWSBOT]

Dear Coach Spurrier: What the heck was that about?

So there I was, packing up at the ballyard after Braves-Dodgers, when I saw an email from John Clay, sports columnist for the Lexington Herald-Leader. “Why are you always making Spurrier mad?” he wrote, and I thought … huh?

Spurrier? Steve Spurrier? I’d heard nothing from him since he answered — politely and thoughtfully and at length — a question I’d posed in Hoover, Ala., last Tuesday. (For the record, the question was about his possible retirement.) But that was, I note for emphasis, last Tuesday. A column I wrote about Spurrier ran in last Wednesday’s AJC. I’d had plenty of time since to make lots of other folks mad.

I got in the car and headed home. You know how people say, “My phone was blowing up?” Well, my phone has never blown up, literally or figuratively, because — to be frank — I’m not very interesting. But what happened in the time it took to get from the media lot at Turner Field to Cobb County was as close as this iPhone 5 will get to full-blown Blowing Up.

I got texts, calls, requests from radio stations. I was thinking, “What in the wide world of sports is going on?” (I was also driving in 5 p.m. traffic, which meant I couldn’t do a Google search to find out.) Finally esteemed colleague Chip Towers phoned to say, “Have you heard about this press conference Spurrier had to talk about you?”

And I thought: Steve Spurrier, who’s no worse than the third-best coach in SEC history, had a press conference to talk about … me? Am I hearing this right?

Apparently I was. Apparently — I’ve since done some catch-up Googling — the Ol’ Ball Coach had a bee in in his ol’ bonnet over something I’d said to Josh Kendall, the intrepid journalist who covers South Carolina for The State. Last week Josh asked, “What do you think of South Carolina?” and held out his tape recorder. I answered thusly (and boy do I cringe at the thought of quoting myself):

I think they are a program on the descent, and I think it’s going to be interesting to see how long the coach stays. There are some guys you think, “Yeah, he’s going to be coaching when he’s 70.” Steve Spurrier was never one of those guys for me, and it’s hard for me to envision him coaching much beyond this if he doesn’t think he has a chance to win, and I’m not sure he’s going to have a chance to win the next few years the way he’s had it the last few years.

That ran in The State two days ago. I freely admit those are my words, right down to the last run-on sentence. Those sentiments were raised at greater length (and, I can only hope, with more palatable sentence structure) in the AJC of July 15. The headline on that column: “The Great Spurrier Is Surely Nearing An End.“

So that’s what I said/wrote, and I stand by it. What I don’t get is why Spurrier would call a press conference — on a Wednesday afternoon in the dog days of July — to rant (and, having seen the video, I believe that word fits) about it. But that’s the thing with Spurrier: Even at 70 — even after working in Florida, a state overflowing with fine newspapers, and in Washington D.C., for Pete’s sake — he hasn’t grasped that the media isn’t his to control.

I don’t mind that he seemed to refer to me as “the enemy.” (I don’t consider myself as such, but I’ve been called worse — including a barnyard epithet in a postcard written by, er, Steve Spurrier.) I have no recollection of writing that he would “flame out” at Florida. (I never for a minute thought he’d fail there; he was a splendid coach in a bountiful setting, and he did a fabulous job.) I did write that he was cocky and arrogant, but sometimes the shoe fits.

I’m not exactly a disinterested bystander, but — I say again — I don’t get it. How can a man of such accomplishment not know that a certain amount of criticism comes with his high-profile (and high-salaried) job? How can he not have learned that such criticism is best ignored? How can a guy who has spent his adult life tweaking others, from Ray Goff to Can’t-Spell-Citrus-Without-U-T to Free Shoes U. to Dabo Swinney, feel he’s above the fray?

But enough. This is the enemy, signing out.

 

[BamaFan334]

Dear Coach Spurrier: What the heck was that about?

So there I was, packing up at the ballyard after Braves-Dodgers, when I saw an email from John Clay, sports columnist for the Lexington Herald-Leader. “Why are you always making Spurrier mad?” he wrote, and I thought … huh?

Spurrier? Steve Spurrier? I’d heard nothing from him since he answered — politely and thoughtfully and at length — a question I’d posed in Hoover, Ala., last Tuesday. (For the record, the question was about his possible retirement.) But that was, I note for emphasis, last Tuesday. A column I wrote about Spurrier ran in last Wednesday’s AJC. I’d had plenty of time since to make lots of other folks mad.

I got in the car and headed home. You know how people say, “My phone was blowing up?” Well, my phone has never blown up, literally or figuratively, because — to be frank — I’m not very interesting. But what happened in the time it took to get from the media lot at Turner Field to Cobb County was as close as this iPhone 5 will get to full-blown Blowing Up.

I got texts, calls, requests from radio stations. I was thinking, “What in the wide world of sports is going on?” (I was also driving in 5 p.m. traffic, which meant I couldn’t do a Google search to find out.) Finally esteemed colleague Chip Towers phoned to say, “Have you heard about this press conference Spurrier had to talk about you?”

And I thought: Steve Spurrier, who’s no worse than the third-best coach in SEC history, had a press conference to talk about … me? Am I hearing this right?

Apparently I was. Apparently — I’ve since done some catch-up Googling — the Ol’ Ball Coach had a bee in in his ol’ bonnet over something I’d said to Josh Kendall, the intrepid journalist who covers South Carolina for The State. Last week Josh asked, “What do you think of South Carolina?” and held out his tape recorder. I answered thusly (and boy do I cringe at the thought of quoting myself):

I think they are a program on the descent, and I think it’s going to be interesting to see how long the coach stays. There are some guys you think, “Yeah, he’s going to be coaching when he’s 70.” Steve Spurrier was never one of those guys for me, and it’s hard for me to envision him coaching much beyond this if he doesn’t think he has a chance to win, and I’m not sure he’s going to have a chance to win the next few years the way he’s had it the last few years.

That ran in The State two days ago. I freely admit those are my words, right down to the last run-on sentence. Those sentiments were raised at greater length (and, I can only hope, with more palatable sentence structure) in the AJC of July 15. The headline on that column: “The Great Spurrier Is Surely Nearing An End.“

So that’s what I said/wrote, and I stand by it. What I don’t get is why Spurrier would call a press conference — on a Wednesday afternoon in the dog days of July — to rant (and, having seen the video, I believe that word fits) about it. But that’s the thing with Spurrier: Even at 70 — even after working in Florida, a state overflowing with fine newspapers, and in Washington D.C., for Pete’s sake — he hasn’t grasped that the media isn’t his to control.

I don’t mind that he seemed to refer to me as “the enemy.” (I don’t consider myself as such, but I’ve been called worse — including a barnyard epithet in a postcard written by, er, Steve Spurrier.) I have no recollection of writing that he would “flame out” at Florida. (I never for a minute thought he’d fail there; he was a splendid coach in a bountiful setting, and he did a fabulous job.) I did write that he was cocky and arrogant, but sometimes the shoe fits.

I’m not exactly a disinterested bystander, but — I say again — I don’t get it. How can a man of such accomplishment not know that a certain amount of criticism comes with his high-profile (and high-salaried) job? How can he not have learned that such criticism is best ignored? How can a guy who has spent his adult life tweaking others, from Ray Goff to Can’t-Spell-Citrus-Without-U-T to Free Shoes U. to Dabo Swinney, feel he’s above the fray?

But enough. This is the enemy, signing out.

It appears the reason he called the Presser has just been answered due to the fact the "enemy" responded. Spurrier has won.

 

[TheChief]

Runs his big mouth... then, the first time someone says something he doesn't like (albeit true), he goes off. Childish. Whiny. Waa-waaa-waaaaa.

 

[TerryP]

It appears the reason he called the Presser has just been answered due to the fact the "enemy" responded. Spurrier has won.

Or lost the minute he started reading his own clippings?

 

[planomateo]

He gave the story legs by holding a presser by an elevator just to address the AJC. Seems to me he's cracking under his own pressure and expectations he's set.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

He's a man. He's 70.

 

[BamaFan334]

Or lost the minute he started reading his own clippings?

You can say that too, and in a lot of cases I would agree, but I also firmly believe in putting people in their place if they're guilty of something. Facts are a damning argument and he has proved his ability. the media is always looking for a fight, so in this case they got one. The bigger man doesn't always walk away, sometimes he needs to take care of business.

 

[TheChief]

You can say that too, and in a lot of cases I would agree, but I also firmly believe in putting people in their place if they're guilty of something. Facts are a damning argument and he has proved his ability. the media is always looking for a fight, so in this case they got one. The bigger man doesn't always walk away, sometimes he needs to take care of business.

The Gamecocks were 7-6 last year, the season after quotes by the Ol' Ball Coach surfaced about how he didn't work very hard in the offseason. The coach even seemed to criticize Saban, whose maniacal work ethic has taken the Tide to almost unprecedented heights. Saying he may finally be past his prime seems to be on target. As the commercial says,Life comes at you fast.

 

[BamaFan334]

The Gamecocks were 7-6 last year, the season after quotes by the Ol' Ball Coach surfaced about how he didn't work very hard in the offseason. The coach even seemed to criticize Saban, whose maniacal work ethic has taken the Tide to almost unprecedented heights. Saying he may finally be past his prime seems to be on target. As the commercial says,Life comes at you fast.

But one 7-6 season doesn't require a full freak out. The media simply needed so egging to write about during the slow period and they hop on a story like stink on you know what. They said the same thing about Saban after we lost three games that one season and the one writer said we lose five this year! They're all just looking to be the guy that said something first or the ones to report a breaking story. Spurrier is Spurrier, just like Saban is Saban, and Harbough is Harbough. These coaches aren't cookies cutters and they deserve the right to defend theirselves, especially when one season doesn't write your life story or legacy.

 

[planomateo]

You can say that too, and in a lot of cases I would agree, but I also firmly believe in putting people in their place if they're guilty of something. Facts are a damning argument and he has proved his ability. the media is always looking for a fight, so in this case they got one. The bigger man doesn't always walk away, sometimes he needs to take care of business.

Do you think Spurrier put this guy in his place? I don't, he just fueled the fire. He bit hard.

 

[BamaFan334]

Do you think Spurrier put this guy in his place? I don't, he just fueled the fire. He bit hard.

I think by throwing facts that guys way and contributing the vitriol to success and beating folks was his way, yes. He didn't go hit the guy or put his finger in his face, but he threw facts back at the guy that contradicted what he was saying. I am just making the point that it's ok that Spurrier said what he said. I don't think he cracked, I just think he had enough. How would you feel if an Auburn fan or Tennessee fan got in your face calling you a loser, a sissy, Alabama sucks, your coach is a cry baby, bla bla bla? You'd be inclined to engage him. That's all I'm saying here.

 

[jlabit]

I think he also must be concerned about those news reports, and its effect on his recruiting efforts. The man still wants to win. I, personally do not blame him. One 7-6 year does not equal his demise.

 

[Bamabww]

July 23, 2015

HURT: Spurrier's biggest opponent: Time

Cecil Hurt
TideSports.com Columnist

Paul "Bear" Bryant did it right.That sentence would apply to a number of circumstances. In this case, what the former Alabama coach and legend did right was manage his own departure from coaching football. That's become something to reflect on in the past week or so as Steve Spurrier, one of the coaches who will stand beside Bryant, Robert Neyland and a few others in the pantheon of the greatest SEC coaches, has seemed to struggle against the only true undefeated opponent: Time.

Spurrier spoke reflectively and well about his career just a week ago at SEC Media Days. He said he felt healthy and happy and wanted to keep on coaching at South Carolina. That's fine, most people agreed. But some of the reactions nagged at Spurrier, especially when a dissenting opinion about the wisdom of staying, words from columnist Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, appeared in The State, the newspaper in Spurrier's home, Columbia, S.C. That set off a rant - there seems no other word for a diatribe that refers to "enemies" and quotes the philosophy, if not the actual words, of Attila the Hun. As far as anyone knows, Attila could fight and ride and menace, but he couldn't write.

All really good coaches will eventually come to the same place. If they aren't really good, they'll get fired. But for even the great ones, the end isn't easy. Joe Paterno's final act was clouded by scandal, but age was gaining on him quickly. Woody Hayes melted down in a fit of rage. Bobby Bowden and Mack Brown stayed until their own fan bases were divided, a self-fulfilling guarantee of decline.

Bryant didn't do that. He looked at the situation - his age, his health, the rigors of the game - and made the decision to step away. No one forced him to do so. No one could have. He knew, though, that it was best for the Alabama program.

Would his decision have been different, his departure prolonged, had he not surpassed Amos Alonzo Stagg and become, at the time, the winningest coach? Maybe, but the question is moot. He had conquered that world, and there were, as Alexander the Great once lamented, no more worlds left to conquer. So he retired, to let someone else fight the grueling daily battles, which had taken their toll.

Spurrier faces some of the same issues Bryant did, and Bowden, and Brown. When you get older, and there is one season that is short of expectations, the whispers begin on the recruiting trail.

If you are looking for "enemies," that's where you find them, not in the newspaper.

Times have changed. Spurrier has always had a wariness about writers he didn't trust. If he cared, he'd probably call me an "enemy" too, since I've been in Tuscaloosa since Attila was on the Hun junior varsity pillaging team.

But as much as I wish it were different, newspapers don't wield much power anymore. He who controls ESPN controls the message, and Spurrier should know that. It might not have been that way in Bryant's time, but he didn't rant about newspapers, either.
I'm not saying that now is the time for Steve Spurrier to go. Age isn't an absolute - ask Bill Snyder. Spurrier knows more than I do about his health, physical and mental. He knows more than I do about his support at South Carolina. He doesn't need to recite his achievements to impress people. We're impressed.

Great coaches are fiercely competitive. That's a given. But in reality, Steve Spurrier, like all of us, has only one opponent: Time. That opponent will win, sooner or later. Bryant knew that - and knew when it was time to go.

 

[XXL TideFan]

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[RC Crimson]

I think it is Spurrier going Spurrier. Dude has rabbit ears.

 

[Mr. Pink]

I think it is Spurrier going Spurrier. Dude has rabbit ears.

He's certainly entertaining to listen to. I've always hoped that he would retire and take over Lou Holthzis role on finale, but so much for that idea.