Steve Spurrier's successful and wildly entertaining coaching career ended abruptly, and without explanation this season, but the Head Ball Coach finally gave up his reasoning.
Spurrier penned an open letter in The State to explain his reasoning for resigning just six games into the season, rather than waiting for the season to be through in order to announce his retirement. The HBC indicated his primary motivation was because he "was doing a lousy job."
South Carolina wound up going 1-5 under interim head coach Shawn Elliott, who Spurrier believed at the time would re-energize the team. Regardless, the longtime coach felt like he had nothing left.
"I certainly believe, as the media has said, that our team played better after I resigned. Shawn Elliott did an excellent job getting this team prepared to play with enthusiasm and effort the rest of our season. Unfortunately, the close games turned into close losses," Spurrier wrote. "When I mentioned I may coach again, I meant possibly as a volunteer coach at a high school. After thirty years as a head coach, I positively know that my head coaching career is finished."
Spurrier went 228-89-2 as a head coach in collegiate football and won 1996 National Championship at Florida, as well as six SEC Championships there. Despite winning the Heisman Trophy as a quarterback at Florida, Spurrier became an endearing and highly quotable figure after accepting the South Carolina job.
Among his best sound bites were his several jabs at Clemson, but Spurrier could back up his Palmetto Bowl trash talk. From 2009 to 2013, Spurrier led South Carolina to five straight wins over Clemson.
In addition to Spurrier's departure, South Carolina removed the HBC's banner from William-Brice Stadium. The State noted Spurrier never wanted the banner and that the coach went 9-10 since it went up, but was 77-39 before.
