Spurrier returning to South Carolina

Published on Monday, 12/14, at 5:23 p.m. Eastern. 

Steve Spurrier has 225 career wins, leaving him behind only Frank Beamer among active coaches.

Steve Spurrier has 225 career wins, leaving him behind only Frank Beamer among active coaches.

I never had any doubt that Steve Spurrier would be coming back to South Carolina for an 11th season, but many pundits had recently speculated that he might call it quits after a disappointing 2014  campaign.

Nonsense.

Spurrier put that ignorant notion to bed Monday in Columbia. “Everything’s on go, and I’m full speed ahead,” Spurrier told the media.

South Carolina won 11 games for three consecutive seasons, but it lost a series of tight games this year and finished just 6-6 after losing at Clemson in the regular-season finale. The Gamecocks hadn’t lost to the Tigers since 2008.

Defense was the issue, but Spurrier implied that he didn’t plan on making changes to his coaching staff. He did acknowledge that things could change on that point.

Ellis Johnson, who was fired by Auburn on Sunday, had a nice run as Spurrier’s defensive coordinator earlier in his tenure. I could see Johnson taking over for current DC Lorenzo Ward, so we’ll see how that situation unfolds.Will Muschamp is also available, but most think  that Texas A&M is a more likely destination. The Aggies, who canned DC Mark Snyder on Friday, would probably be more willing to pay Muschamp top dollars.

Whatever the case, Spurrier will be back on the sidelines. “What else is there to do?” he remarked Monday. “This is more fun than doing nothing, and I’m not very good at doing nothing.”

College football is a lot more fun for everyone when the HBC is around.

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