Poll People Not Happy With Spurrier

posted by Brian Shoemaker, Friday, August 03, 2007

The preseason USA TODAY Coaches' Poll was released on Friday. And, as he always does, Steve Spurrier put Duke, who's lost 20 straight games, at No. 25 on his ballot. Jim Welch, USA TODAY deputy managing editor for sports, doesn't like the Blue Devils' inclusion on the ballot.

"It's clear that what once might have seemed quaint has begun to lose its charm. We're hopeful that before next season the coaches association can prevail upon Coach Spurrier to find another way to salute his former team — or that Duke gets better in a hurry."

Grant Teaff, executive director of the American Football Coaches Association, added that he plans to talk with Spurrier about it.

"This has come up over a period of time, and Coach Spurrier has his reason for doing this," Teaff said. "However, we will discuss this at the appropriate time as we have done with other issues regarding the poll as they come up."

The Gamecocks received 90 votes in the poll, which put them in the 'others receiving votes' category and a tie for 29th with Notre Dame.

*** In other news, South Carolina head baseball coach Ray Tanner has scheduled a press conference for 4 p.m. on Friday to make an announcement regarding the vacant assistant coach position, which was created when Jim Toman took the head coaching job at Liberty. Tanner is expected to promote Monte Lee.

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