5 Reasons Spurrier Is Optimistic About The 2009 Season
posted by Scott Hood, Monday, May 11, 2009
If you listen to him closely when he speaks to the media and the crowds, Spurrier has offered five reasons for feeling that way. Here they are:
1. Garcia Is Starting To Get It: Spurrier has told the crowds on every stop of the tour that he spent a month coaching up Garcia for the Outback Bowl. Obviously, he didn’t get the result he was looking for. But spring practice showed the light bulb is starting to come on for the redshirt sophomore. His work ethic is better and he appears to be much more mature than he was two years ago when his celebrity status got the better of him. He also appears willing to become a leader on offense. The summer holds the key, though. Will Garcia show the commitment to "learn how to play the game" over the next three months? If so, he'll finally have a chance to fulfill his vast potential. As Spurrier has said, he's "nowhere close" to reaching that point.
2. Eric Norwood Is Back: Spurrier has pointed to Norwood as an example of a guy who WANTS to play for the Gamecocks, hoping the message gets through to the younger players when they have to decide whether to stay or leave early for the NFL Draft. With players like Norwood, Cliff Matthews, Moe Brown and Patrick DiMarco, Spurrier believes the 2009 edition of the Gamecocks will have better leadership. Of course, Norwood is a monster on defense, as well. He should be a Pre-Season All-America and a First-Team All SEC Player.
3. Six New Assistant Coaches: After the Clemson debacle, Spurrier sensed he had to make changes. He fired O-Line coach John Hunt within 24 hours after that game. He didn’t weep when David Reaves and Mark Smith left for Tennessee and Robert Gillespie for Oklahoma State. While no one has said this publicly, Spurrier has dropped hints he asked Ron Cooper to leave. Probably the only assistant coach Spurrier hated to see leave was Ray Rychleski, who went to the Indianapolis Colts. In their places, Spurrier has hired six coaches he feels are upgrades. He’s lauded new O-Line coach Eric Wolford and strength and conditioning coach Craig Fitzgerald on every stop. Without question, Spurrier sounds rejuvenated by the new hirings. He said in February that this might be the best staff he’s assembled in a long time and spring practice may have proved him correct.
4. Renewed Emphasis On The Running Game: While the perception throughout college football is that Spurrier wants to throw the ball every down, that’s wrong. Spurrier has been around long enough to know that a solid running game is a staple of most great teams. With Brian Maddox, Eric Baker, Kenny Miles and Jarvis Giles, the depth at the running back position appears to be the deepest in several seasons. New running game coordinator Eric Wolford brought some new ideas with him from Illinois and they had some promising early returns in spring practice. Obviously, it’s going to take a more stronger and aggressive offensive line, and that’s a question mark right now.
5. Improved Team Attitude: This is, by far, the most important summer of Spurrier’s tenure, and he knows it. That’s why he pushing 100 percent participation in the summer conditioning program. Spurrier views this summer as sort of a litmus test of whether the team’s attitude has improved enough to jump into the top half of the SEC because the workouts are ‘voluntary.’ No coaches can be present. However, the players know they must be there if they want to play in the fall. Spurrier hopes the workouts are better structured, as well, with strength and conditioning coach Craig Fitzgerald. If USC reaches a 100 percent participation rate, Spurrier will interpret that as evidence the players are willing to get better and compete in the SEC.
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During his most recent stop on the Gamecock Club tour in Aiken, Steve Spurrier used words like “excited” and “we're looking forward to it” to describe his anticipation for the 2009 college football season.
If you listen to him closely when he speaks to the media and the crowds, Spurrier has offered five reasons for feeling that way. Here they are:
1. Garcia Is Starting To Get It: Spurrier has told the crowds on every stop of the tour that he spent a month coaching up Garcia for the Outback Bowl. Obviously, he didn’t get the result he was looking for. But spring practice showed the light bulb is starting to come on for the redshirt sophomore. His work ethic is better and he appears to be much more mature than he was two years ago when his celebrity status got the better of him. He also appears willing to become a leader on offense. The summer holds the key, though. Will Garcia show the commitment to "learn how to play the game" over the next three months? If so, he'll finally have a chance to fulfill his vast potential. As Spurrier has said, he's "nowhere close" to reaching that point.
2. Eric Norwood Is Back: Spurrier has pointed to Norwood as an example of a guy who WANTS to play for the Gamecocks, hoping the message gets through to the younger players when they have to decide whether to stay or leave early for the NFL Draft. With players like Norwood, Cliff Matthews, Moe Brown and Patrick DiMarco, Spurrier believes the 2009 edition of the Gamecocks will have better leadership. Of course, Norwood is a monster on defense, as well. He should be a Pre-Season All-America and a First-Team All SEC Player.
3. Six New Assistant Coaches: After the Clemson debacle, Spurrier sensed he had to make changes. He fired O-Line coach John Hunt within 24 hours after that game. He didn’t weep when David Reaves and Mark Smith left for Tennessee and Robert Gillespie for Oklahoma State. While no one has said this publicly, Spurrier has dropped hints he asked Ron Cooper to leave. Probably the only assistant coach Spurrier hated to see leave was Ray Rychleski, who went to the Indianapolis Colts. In their places, Spurrier has hired six coaches he feels are upgrades. He’s lauded new O-Line coach Eric Wolford and strength and conditioning coach Craig Fitzgerald on every stop. Without question, Spurrier sounds rejuvenated by the new hirings. He said in February that this might be the best staff he’s assembled in a long time and spring practice may have proved him correct.
4. Renewed Emphasis On The Running Game: While the perception throughout college football is that Spurrier wants to throw the ball every down, that’s wrong. Spurrier has been around long enough to know that a solid running game is a staple of most great teams. With Brian Maddox, Eric Baker, Kenny Miles and Jarvis Giles, the depth at the running back position appears to be the deepest in several seasons. New running game coordinator Eric Wolford brought some new ideas with him from Illinois and they had some promising early returns in spring practice. Obviously, it’s going to take a more stronger and aggressive offensive line, and that’s a question mark right now.
5. Improved Team Attitude: This is, by far, the most important summer of Spurrier’s tenure, and he knows it. That’s why he pushing 100 percent participation in the summer conditioning program. Spurrier views this summer as sort of a litmus test of whether the team’s attitude has improved enough to jump into the top half of the SEC because the workouts are ‘voluntary.’ No coaches can be present. However, the players know they must be there if they want to play in the fall. Spurrier hopes the workouts are better structured, as well, with strength and conditioning coach Craig Fitzgerald. If USC reaches a 100 percent participation rate, Spurrier will interpret that as evidence the players are willing to get better and compete in the SEC.
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Scott Hood. Since February of 2005, Scott has covered the South Carolina football, men's basketball and baseball programs for GamecockCentral. He may be reached by email at scottblog(at)gamecockcentral.com. Replace (at) with @.