ESPN's Chris Low wrote a great feature on Coach Spurrier's work at South Carolina so far and his excitement for the future. "Steve Spurrier has always been good with numbers. ...
He can remember scores, records and statistics from games he played in, be it high school, college or the NFL. ...
So when I caught up with the Head Ball Coach recently, I wasn't surprised that he threw two numbers out there as he reflected on the 2011 season, the greatest season in South Carolina football history.
"You got your pencil there?" Spurrier said excitedly. "Write these two numbers down."
The numbers: 11 and 66.
"Last year was 2011, and South Carolina won 11 games. I wore No. 11 from my junior year in high school to 10 years in the NFL, including four years at Florida," explained Spurrier, adding in vintage fashion that they retired his number in both high school and college.
"Anyway, 11 has always been my favorite number. So I went into last season and told my wife that wouldn't it be neat if we won 11 in 2011 and I'm No. 11."
Now on to 66.
Spurrier turned 66 last April leading into the season. And in 1966, he won the Heisman Trophy. Not only that, but South Carolina defeated Nebraska 30-13 in what was the 66th Capital One Bowl (formerly the Orlando Citrus Bowl).
"And you know what the temperature was at kickoff?" Spurrier asked. "Yep ... 66.
"There ain't no way we could have lost that game."
As I hung up the phone with the Head Ball Coach, I was just starting to process all the coincidences that he cited, not to mention how much life he has pumped into the South Carolina program, when my phone rang again.
Spurrier had one more, and this one (surprise, surprise) was tied to his golf game.
"Chris, I forgot one," he chortled into the phone. "The lowest round of golf of my life was a 66 at Whispering Pines, N.C., in 1987."
It was almost as if Spurrier had just walked off the course.
....
He's as committed as ever to winning an SEC championship at South Carolina.
So while others may wonder how much longer he will keep coaching, Spurrier's attitude is that his work is far from finished.
He's having a blast and doesn't mind saying that he feels rejuvenated in a lot of ways.
"I like being the coach where they've done something for the first time ever," Spurrier said. "It's just a special thrill to do something that's never been done before, and here at South Carolina, we have so many opportunities to do that, so many.
Click here to read more of Chris Low's article on Spurrier and South Carolina.
As great as the 2011 season was, as Coach Spurrier said there are still many "firsts" out there for the taking. We're all excited about what the future holds for Gamecock Football and the South Carolina Athletics program as a whole. -BL
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