(Hoover, Alabama) July 27, 2005 - If the rest of the season goes like Wednesday, the Gamecock football team is in for a media frenzy this year.
In Hoover, Alabama, Steve Spurrier took part in his first SEC Media Days since 2001, his last season with the Florida Gators.
Crowds followed the coach, recording every step taken and word spoken by the Gamecocks' head man. Spurrier had his own take on that treatment, "Coaches, they put us on too high a pedestal, I think. We're just a bunch of stiffs and lucky to be the head coach."
And he also had some words specifically for the media, "I've missed you guys. Even all you guys that called me loud-mouthed and arrogant, that's okay. It's neat being a head college coach. One thing I have learned is that the head college coach is in charge of his team. The athletic director and president, they don't mess with you unless you're losing too much or you're cheating."
Seven hundred members of the media besieged the event. Used to hearing Steve Spurrier talk a lot of trash, referring to Florida State as "Free Shoes University" and taking jabs at Tennessee, like, "you can't spell Citrus Bowl without the 'U' and the 'T," reporters followed the coach, waiting for the jokes.
But Wednesday Spurrier kept his remarks more subdued. When given the opportunity to hurl some zingers at Tennessee Head Coach Phil Fulmer, he didn't, "I've toned it down a lot, really. I think I used to say some things at the Gator Clubs in the summer that got all over the wire, so yeah, I've toned that down a lot."
When asked about replacement Florida Head Coach Urban Meyer, Steve Spurrier said he's had an excellent "four year career." In explanation, Spurrier said, "Well, if he'd coached ten years, I'd say he had an excellent ten-year career. No, that wasn't any needle. It's just, he's got an excellent record, there's no question about it."
Meyer responded, "No, I agree with him. I think we've had a pretty good four-year run. I know that, I think I got 75 e-mails with that quote, and explaining to me what that quote meant."
Spurrier was optimistic about the coming year, "We've got a pretty good team in South Carolina. We believe we can play with everyone. We've got to play extremely well to beat the Florida, Georgia, Tennessee teams and so forth. And Alabama, gosh they're all tough. It's a tough league, but if it was easy it wouldn't be as much fun trying to get it done."
Reported by Rick Henry
Posted 6:35pm by Chantelle Janelle
