Spurrier Leaves a Lasting Legacy

Love him or hate him, Steve Spurrier leaves a lasting legacy for a team and a conference.

The Florida Gators have played college football since 1906 and those first 83 years brought zero national championships. Florida joined the SEC in 1933 and went 58 years before winning their first conference title. In those six decades, the un-mighty Gators finished second only four times. Then, in 1990, Steve Spurrier came home. The former Heisman Trophy winner came back to coach his alma mater and the Florida Gator football program has never been the same.

Lets look at the facts. In twelve seasons at Florida, Spurrier won 122 games, six SEC titles and a National Championship. Not bad for the “Head Ball Coach.” In addition, Steve Spurrier turned an average program at best into one of the nation’s elite football powers.

The Steve Spurrier era will leave a lasting legacy in Gainesville like the “Bear” in Tuscaloosa and “Bobby” in Tallahassee. Granted, the tenure was not as long but the impact was just as great. Florida is no longer the laughing stock of the SEC but rather the measuring stick of the greatest conference in college football. And it is all due to one man – Steve Spurrier. Florida always had to tools to be a great program but it just took 83 seasons to find the right man to call the shots.

But Spurrier’s legacy is bigger than just Florida. He impacted a conference more so than any other. Think about it. The SEC was three yards and a cloud of dust for eight decades. The SEC was all about running the football, playing good defense and playing for field position.

Spurrier took over at Florida in 1990 and brought his high flying, passing offense with him. He took the conference by storm and it has evolved with him. The SEC, with all of its great tradition, turned into a wide open league and Steve Spurrier led the way. Spurrier’s Fun ‘n Gun dominated the SEC. And the SEC is now changed forever.

Spurrier will move on to the National Football League and he will bring his great offense with him. He will win on Sundays just like he won with the Tampa Bay Bandits, Duke Blue Devils and the Florida Gators. Love him or hate him, Spurrier has proved that he is a winner and a great coach. His legacy for a team and a conference will forever be remembered.

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