WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Possible Spurrier development could impact USC recruiting

Possible Spurrier development could impact USC recruiting

(Columbia) Nov. 18, 2004 - The uncertainty of Coach Lou Holtz's football future has one of Columbia's top high school athletes looking more closely at his options. WIS News 10 has learned that Coach Holtz told his squad at a Thursday evening meeting that he will retire.

Columbia High School's Mike Davis has been recruited by both Clemson and South Carolina, but he wants to know will Lou stay or go, "I can see myself in any uniform, but I can see myself as a Gamecock."
    
The Columbia High School football star met Holtz last summer, "It made me look at USC a lot harder than I was."

He says he won't write off becoming a Gamecock if Spurrier takes over the job, "If he comes, I wanna see if I can talk to him to see if we can relate together like I did with Lou Holtz."
    
He has good reason, "You have to spend the next four years with that coach. That coach will be one of the most important people in your lives at that time."
    
Davis says USC's recruiting coach has mentioned the possible change of command, "He said everything is gonna be Ok with any coach that's gonna be there." Still, that's not enough, "I wouldn't give USC the edge because it's Steve Spurrier. I would like to meet with him."

Former South Carolina Gamecock, New York Giant and Minnesota Vikings linebacker Corey Miller says the name Lou Holtz has helped South Carolina recruit football players

Miller says he expects a similar benefit if Steve Spurrier becomes coach, as was reported on Thursday, "Lou has done an outstanding job with this program. ... Nothing against Lou Holtz, but I think it's refreshing for a change. A guy like Steve Spurrier, noted for a high-powered offense. You know the fans want to see that ball thrown up and down the field."

Miller played for the late Joe Morrison and Sparky Woods, but would have loved to have played for Lou, "He's kinda like me, he's old school. I'm a throwback. He fits that mold as a coach." It's that traditional style Miller credits for breathing new life into USC football, "We've probably been on TV in the last four to five years more than anytime in history of South Carolina football, because people wanna see what Lou Holtz is doing."

Miller says he's included, "I've had a chance to watch him work, see him walk the sidelines seven or eight miles a game, pickin' grass." It's not from game time that Miller has learned the most, "His ability to work with his family and how he loves them. As a father you look at what he stands for off the field. His faith is something. Being a Christian, I really respect that as a coach."

It's faith Miller has seen go far, "Being able to pass that on to his players, because today young players really need that."

Miller says all the talk about coaching changes comes at a bad time, "It comes really at a devastating time coming into the game with cross-state rival Clemson," but says Spurrier's hire would be good for the school.

Updated 7:39pm by Chris Rees