What is your favorite Steve Spurrier moment?

[sadgator]

Yeah. It poured like hell. That was the first game that sadgator ever took the soon-to-be mrs. sadgator to. We did kamikaze shots at the Porpoise at halftime, ran back as the 3rd was starting, and stripped down in the rain as the gators poured it on. sadgator was smitten and falling in love.

 

[GatorNation79]

My brother and I were talking about this the other day and I don't know that exact game but it was classic SOS...lol Mick Hubert was interviewing Spurrier before a game and trying to hype the game between us and some D2 team that was really good at the time and had won a championship or something...this was around '96 and we were rolling with talent and players...the opposing team had bunch of returning players...it was one of our cupcakes at the beginning of the season and it went something like this:

Mick - " Coach you are playing ______ team today, they come in with a bunch of returning players, they won a National title in their division last year, and I know that the Gators will be favored in this game but don't you worry about the potential threat that a team like this can present to the Gators if you don't play a good game?"

Spurrier - "Well actually no Mick they pretty much have no chance to win this game, we should beat them badly. They are a good team for their division but I expect to win by quite a few touchdowns."

This is so great...because most coaches are always trying to keep their team humble and to never look past an opponent....certainly never would say something like this but ole Spurrier would just say exactly what he though and didn't care one bit. It was awesome!

 

[KLeonidas]

Really? It was a monsoon in the second half.

Yes, the rain was amazing. One of the best games ever. Gators were way behind.

 

[Gaylord Focker]

Punting on 3rd down against MSU.......so HBC.

 

[DocZaius]

I liked the part where he won 6 conference championships, 1 national championship and averaged more than 10 wins a season during his tenure at Florida.

 

[GatorGray]

I liked the part where he won 6 conference championships, 1 national championship and averaged more than 10 wins a season during his tenure at Florida.

Well, there's that, too.

 

[Dannygator1989]

I can never remember the exact quote, but they asked him about recruiting kickers and he said something like

"Well if I'm kicking for three then I ain't scoring six, which means I'm not doing my job."

 

[Gaylord Focker]

What about when he shook the goalpost in the SWAMP after the 1997 FSU game, as if to tell the fans to tear down the posts?

The few who rushed the field regretted it.

 

[Rushie]

Yes, the rain was amazing. One of the best games ever. Gators were way behind.

UT was up 30-14 late in the 2nd. Got one TD just before half.....the beginning of 48 unanswered points.

Then go into Knoxville the next season and go up 35-0 just 20 minutes into the game.

Think about that.....in less than 60 minutes of game time the Gators outscored the Vols 83-7.

 

[LizardGrad89]

I will say this, there is more good reason to name Florida's field "Spurrier Stadium" than there was to name many of the stadiums around the country their respective names. He played and won a Heisman and coached and won championships on that field.
However, the Griffin's wrote a pretty dang big check to receive the naming rights. Not sure how you navigate the name change in light of that.
But I'd vote for the new name right now.

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Spurrier Field

 

[LizardGrad89]

November 3, 1990

Walking out of Florida Field chanting "It's great, to beat, the sh*t out of Auburn".

 

[Dannygator1989]

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Spurrier Field

This. I've thought this for 20 years.

Auburn named their field after Pat Dye.

Nobody has EVER done more at a school (both as a player and coach) than Steve Spurrier, let alone the fact that he is one of the greatest, most innovative coaches to ever live.

Without him, what are we today?

 

[Michi-Gator]

I'm into the classic lines....

"Free Shoes University" and "You can't spell Citrus without U.T." The man did one thing and that was back it up.

Never losing to Peyton Manning including a rain soaked game at the Swamp when we went for over 60.

UT - Citrus comment will forever be my favorite

 

[Michi-Gator]

The 97 fsu game has to be his finest display of coaching ever.

Especially after Corso picked F$U by 33

 

[Michi-Gator]

Should we rename BHG as Spurrier Stadium? Good case for it HERE.

Spurrier made UF the brand that allowed us to win big for many years and again soon. However, I still striggle with him coaching at an SECe rival. His team was a fingernail from us not having the '06 crystal football. Is that right for a Gator Great?

 

[GatorNation79]

This. I've thought this for 20 years.

Auburn named their field after Pat Dye.

Nobody has EVER done more at a school (both as a player and coach) than Steve Spurrier, let alone the fact that he is one of the greatest, most innovative coaches to ever live.

Without him, what are we today?

I think that it's only a matter of time. Spurrier is the greatest Gator ever. Heisman...coach that put the program on the map and hall of fame coach with so many memorial moments.

 

[sadgator]

November 3, 1990

Walking out of Florida Field chanting "It's great, to beat, the sh*t out of Auburn".

Great one. They were like #3. 48-7.

 

[TennesseeGator]

Spurrier made UF the brand that allowed us to win big for many years and again soon. However, I still striggle with him coaching at an SECe rival. His team was a fingernail from us not having the '06 crystal football. Is that right for a Gator Great?

I'm with you in that 100%

My favorite Spurrier moment is when he quit being a damn Cock.

He is now 100% Gator again. He is ours to just us now.

 

[passoverGator]

I'm with you in that 100%

My favorite Spurrier moment is when he quit being a damn Cock.

He is now 100% Gator again. He is ours to just us now.

But does he consider himself 100% Gator? I don't think so. To us, we want him to be 100% Gator, but I bet if you were to ask him, he'd say he's 50-50 Gator / USCe.

 

[TennesseeGator]

But does he consider himself 100% Gator? I don't think so. To us, we want him to be 100% Gator, but I bet if you were to ask him, he'd say he's 50-50 Gator / USCe.

He is no longer against us. He won't be calling plays to beat us nor will he be recruiting against us.

But to be technical he is 75% Gator 12.5% Blue Devil 12.5% Cock

 

[Panhandle Slim1]

November 3, 1990

Walking out of Florida Field chanting "It's great, to beat, the sh*t out of Auburn".

First game I went to that Spurrier coached in. The atmosphere that day was awesome

 

[Panhandle Slim1]

My brother and I were talking about this the other day and I don't know that exact game but it was classic SOS...lol Mick Hubert was interviewing Spurrier before a game and trying to hype the game between us and some D2 team that was really good at the time and had won a championship or something...this was around '96 and we were rolling with talent and players...the opposing team had bunch of returning players...it was one of our cupcakes at the beginning of the season and it went something like this:

Mick - " Coach you are playing ______ team today, they come in with a bunch of returning players, they won a National title in their division last year, and I know that the Gators will be favored in this game but don't you worry about the potential threat that a team like this can present to the Gators if you don't play a good game?"

Spurrier - "Well actually no Mick they pretty much have no chance to win this game, we should beat them badly. They are a good team for their division but I expect to win by quite a few touchdowns."

This is so great...because most coaches are always trying to keep their team humble and to never look past an opponent....certainly never would say something like this but ole Spurrier would just say exactly what he though and didn't care one bit. It was awesome!

I'm pretty sure it was Ga southern we were playing that day.

 

[MJWilliamson]

But does he consider himself 100% Gator? I don't think so. To us, we want him to be 100% Gator, but I bet if you were to ask him, he'd say he's 50-50 Gator / USCe.

I think he said, not too long ago, that when he left USCe, he would be mostly all Gator, with just a little of GameCock. Much like he still likes Duke.

 

[MJWilliamson]

First game I went to that Spurrier coached in. The atmosphere that day was awesome

Pat Dye in general and the Auburn players in particular were very smug leading up to that game. Dye said something like 'We know what they are going to do...no, we know what they are going to try and do. We have a plan for that.' The players said all week that Florida was a team that would quit in the 4th quarter. That we were not tough.

Spurrier ran the score up as intentionally and as obviously in that game more than any other in memory. When asked about it he said something like, 'There are players..err...there were those that said the Gators would quit in the 4th quarter, that we were not a tough football team. We just wanted to show them we do not quit in the 4th quarter.'

Classic Spurrier.

 

[LizardGrad89]

Great one. They were like #3. 48-7.

Auburn isn't anything special to me now, but in those days I hated them nearly as much as Georgia.

 

[passoverGator]

I think he said, not too long ago, that when he left USCe, he would be mostly all Gator, with just a little of GameCock. Much like he still likes Duke.

So he's a blue gator cock?

 

[CompuGator]

November 3, 1990
Walking out of Florida Field chanting "It's great, to beat, the sh*t out of Auburn".

Alas, I missed out on the exit chant, being stuck in Silicon Valley. If the score--and other circumstances--of any other game at Florida Field has ever resulted in a more historic exit procession, I don't know which one it'd be.

First game I went to that Spurrier coached in. The atmosphere that day night was awesome

Fortunately, I was able to watch it on t.v., because it was broadcast by ESPN as their nationwide college night game. Perhaps 'twas just my intense hatred of Auburn, but I still remember that broadcast for its unusual effectiveness at conveying, to its viewers, the atmosphere--and nearly bloodthirsty excitement--of that night game at Florida Field.

Great one. They were like #3. 48-7.

"They" being Auburn. The 6--1 Gators were #15 in that same week's AP Poll[*] (the 1 Gator loss, away, had left severe doubt in the minds of the AP voters). It was bad enough for Auburn that they lost to a long-time SEC rival, but doing it when ranked #3 might've evoked even more frustration for what most likely would've been: The ESPN pregame show reported, shortly before the kick-off, that that the #1 & #2 teams either had already lost, or were losing with score(s) that made rally (rallies) look unlikely. So an Auburn win would most likely have elevated them to #1. Awww! Did Pat Dye give poor Aubie any catnip as consolation?

-------
Note *: AP rankings per game, and broadcasting network, as shown in Florida 2001 Guide: the final edition featuring the Head Ball Coach. Overseen by A.A.D.-Communications & de facto team historian Norm Carlson.

 

[MJWilliamson]

 

[G8RMark]

From a coaching standpoint definitely the 97 F$U game. Brilliant game calling. From a quote standpoint. The Auburn books not being colored in was the best...