Joe Person on Football

A lot of folks seem more interested in (bothered by?) Steve Spurrier’s digs at Stephen Garcia last night than his comments dispelling the retirement rumors.

Spurrier drew laughs when he said coaching Garcia was “not a lot of fun” and joked that the redshirt freshman might push the 63-year-old Ball Coach into an early retirement.

Yes, it was funny, but there was some truth to the remarks, as well.

More telling was Spurrier’s response today on the SEC teleconference when asked whether the two spring practices Garcia missed while suspended slowed his development.

“I certainly think everything he misses the last two years has been harmful to his development,” Spurrier said. “He’s got a lot of training to do and learning to do if he’s going to be an accomplished player.”

Note the verb tense: Spurrier made a point to say everything Garcia “misses” has hurt him.

Is Spurrier hard on his quarterbacks? Sure, he is; and he expects a lot out of them.

What he does not expect is to have his starting quarterback missing classes, workouts and other team activities, as Garcia occasionally does.

All of this ties in to the retirement talk, as well. In Spurrier’s perfect world, his exit strategy would be to ride off into the sunset after taking the Gamecocks to the SEC championship game for the first some in school history, preferably in the next three to four years.

To do so, he knows he needs a talented quarterback committed to taking care of business off the field, even going above and beyond what’s expected in terms of film study, workouts, etc (think Shane Matthews, Danny Wuerffel).

There’s no question Garcia has the physical tools to be successful. But Spurrier believes he needs to get more serious about learning the position.

Until then, he can expect to hear more comments like yesterday’s.

Not long after I started on this beat in 2002, I had to check into rumors and Internet reports that Lou Holtz was stepping down. It was almost an annual rite of winter, or recruiting season, anyway: You knew Signing Day was just around the corner when the Holtz retirement rumors started flying.

Of course, when you’re a school with a coach in his 60s who isn’t winning – as was the case over Holtz’s final three years – there is going to be speculation about his future.

Is some of it fueled by recruiters at rival schools? No doubt.

But in some cases, the rumors have some validity. Remember how a lot of folks scoffed when the Spurrier-to-South Carolina talk first started?

Well four years later, the Spurrier-is-leaving-South Carolina talk has begun.

A story posted on collegefootballtalk.com today cites “increasing chatter” from “NFL sources” that Spurrier will retire after this season.

The story goes on to mention that Spurrier is miffed that USC officials aren’t willing to let his son, receivers coach Steve Spurrier Jr., succeed him.

First, let me offer the caveat that no one saw Spurrier’s departure at Florida coming. He’d had a successful, 12-year run at his alma mater that included six SEC titles and the 1996 national championship.

His two-year stint with the Washington Redskins did not go as well. Yet, Spurrier’s resignation with the Redskins also was abrupt.

So is there chance this could be it for the 63-year-old Spurrier in Columbia?

Possibly, but that’s not the vibe I’ve been getting from Spurrier or those around him. Nor have I ever sensed that Spurrier was pushing his son for the job when he leaves.

This story would be more plausible had the Gamecocks not bounced back from their 1-2 start that included a second straight loss to Vanderbilt.

No, Spurrier still has not solved the quarterback riddle and has yet to beat a ranked team this year. But USC is a Clemson win away from its first New Year’s Day bowl berth under Spurrier and has a solid nucleus returning, even assuming that a couple of the juniors leave for the NFL.

Spurrier is expected to address the retirement rumors after practice today. And I’m sure he’ll reiterate that he plans to be here another four to five years, which just happens to be the matriculation period for the recruits the Gamecocks are presently wooing.

Spurrier has said many times he does not want to coach into his 70s. Do I think he’ll be at USC in five years? Hard to say.

But I’d be surprised if he’s not back for the 2009 season.

I got a call the other day from a South Carolina fan who hopes the Gamecocks go to the Chick-fil-A Bowl rather than the Outback.

His argument is that Atlanta is closer and cheaper than Tampa, and playing in the Peach, er, Chick-fil-A, would be a new experience as opposed to returning to the Outback, where the Gamecocks beat Ohio State after the 2000 and ’01 regular seasons.

He also said playing in a dome against an ACC team (Battle of the Carolinas? a Bowden-Spurrier matchup?) would be more exciting than facing Northwestern or Iowa in Tampa.

It does appear that Tampa or Atlanta will be the destination for the Gamecocks, who likely can guarantee an Outback berth by beating Clemson and getting to eight wins.

The picture is less clear if USC loses at Clemson and is 7-5. With two games remaining, Vanderbilt and Ole Miss both could finish with better records than the Gamecocks, but I still think the Outback would take USC over those two schools.

Kentucky, if it beats Tennessee in Knoxville in two weeks, would be 7-5 and in the Outback mix. Chris Sullivan, one of Outback’s co-founders, is a Kentucky grad who might push hard for the Wildcats.

Anyway, quick straw poll here: Tampa or Atlanta?

Where do you want to go?

Grading the keys to the game against Florida.

FORCE FLORIDA TO PUT THE BALL ON THE GROUND

USC forced a pair of Gators’ fumbles in the first half, but had nothing to show for them. Middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley caused the first turnover on Florida’s first possession when he popped Jeff Demps and Darian Stewart recovered. But USC’s offense went three-and-out, as it did after Eric Norwood’s recovery and 40-yard return in the second quarter. Grade: B-minus.

NO BIG PLAYS BY THE GATORS’ SPECIAL TEAMS

USC gift-wrapped a turnover for Florida’s kickoff team on a botched, across-the-field lateral in the first quarter. Chris Hail failed to catch Dion LeCorn’s throwback, giving the Gators possession at the USC 1-yard line. The Gamecocks kept punt returner Brandon James bottled up until the second half, when James broke a 39-yard return. Patrick DiMarco’s tackle saved a touchdown. Grade: D

DON’T ABANDON THE RUNNING GAME

When USC gave up three touchdowns in a 2:15 span to fall behind 21-0 in the first quarter, Steve Spurrier had no choice but to abandon the run. Trailing big, the Gamecocks threw nearly every play other than when they mixed in a draw or the protection broke down and Stephen Garcia or Chris Smelley had to scramble. USC finished with 25 running plays and 37 passes. Grade: N/A.

Injury report

Right tackle Justin Sorensen left the game in the second half with a left hip injury. Cornerback Carlos Thomas injured his right knee covering a punt on the final play of the first half. Thomas played sparingly in the second half.

After six days of build-up, I’m Tebowed out and the USC-Florida game is still more than 24 hours away.

If I’m tired of hearing about Touchdown Tim, imagine how the Gamecocks’ defensive players are feeling. They’ve been reminded all week about how the reigning Heisman winner Tebowed them for a school-record five rushing touchdowns last year en route to the New York Downtown Athletic Club.

Make no mistake: Tebow is worthy of all the hype.

But while Tebow has reached St. Timothy status by participating in mission work and circumcising impoverished Filipino boys, he is human. And humans fumble on occasion.

Tebow lost a critical fumble in the second half of a 31-30 loss to Ole Miss, the lone blemish on the Gators’ schedule cards. I bring that up because the Gamecocks need turnovers to win Saturday.

Whether they force them, the Gators gift-wrap ‘em, whatever – USC needs a couple of takeaways to level the playing field at the Swamp, where the surface could get swampy (and slippery) if the rains come.

For those looking for other players to focus on besides No. 15 in the blue jersey, I’ll give you two on the Gamecocks’ sideline: Mike Davis and Stoney Woodson.

The last time USC visited the Swamp, Davis rushed 16 times for 94 yards and two touchdowns in the Gators’ 17-16 win. After a promising start to his senior season, Davis has been a non-factor for the past month or so.

Freshman Eric Baker might be the tailback of tomorrow, but the Gamecocks need Davis now if they are to move the chains, chew clock and have any chance Saturday.

Woodson has had a terrific senior season. He has eight starts and leads the Gamecocks with four interceptions, all of which came at the cornerback position.

But since Chris Culliver decided to take a swing at an Arkansas player, Woodson has to play free safety the first half. Though Woodson has played the position before, he’s had three days there this week while preparing for an offense with more speed than a Team USA relay team.

Prediction: The Gamecocks limit Tebow in the running game, but the left-hander hits a couple of deep passes down the middle of USC’s depleted secondary. Offensively, Steve Spurrier scraps the alternating quarterbacks system in the second half but can’t get much going against his former team.

Florida 31, USC 17