Spurrier Responds To Critics

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — Steve Spurrier held a 15-minute impromptu press conference Wednesday afternoon taking issue with recent critics who are taking issue with his age. This season, Spurrier will be the Southeastern Conference’s first 70-year-old head football coach, but many writers suggest the Head Ball Coach’s age is playing a factor in USC’s results on the football field. “Our enemies are trying to convince everyone that Spurrier’s getting old and can’t do it anymore,” Spurrier said to a group of media members Wednesday. “Last year at this time, I was 69, we were 11-2 and there was no question about my age. But now that we’re 7-6, we got some enemies out there.” Spurrier spent much of his time with the media Wednesday taking aim at “the enemies”, which he confirmed was the media, specifically an Atlanta paper, though he did not mention the paper by name. He also criticized an article that appeared in The State, Columbia’s local newspaper. “I’m sick of it, and this is the last time I’m going to talk about this,” Spurrier said Wednesday. “I just want the Gamecocks out there to know it: don’t listen to our enemies.” Spurrier, though jovial at times Wednesday, was clear in his intentions at Wednesday’s press conference, which was called an hour and a half prior to the engagement. After 28 seasons as a head football coach, Spurrier has been asked repeatedly about retirement, most recently at Tuesday’s ESPN/SEC media “carwash”, where league coaches appear as guests on ESPN’s programs throughout the day. On ESPN’s “First Take”, Spurrier once again addressed the retirement question. When Skip Bayless, a host on the program, asked Spurrier if he was close to retiring after last season, Spurrier acknowledged he was, but the end of the season (winning at Florida and defeating Miami in the Independence Bowl) gave the coach new life. But after spending the last two weeks on television (at SEC Media Days last week and the SEC/ESPN carwash Tuesday), Spurrier still felt the need to clarify that he does not plan on retiring this year. “I plan on coaching a long time,” said Spurrier. “We’re coming back and we got a dang good team this year. They (the media) will criticize me for calling this thing (press conference) today. They’ll say, ‘This guy Spurrier has lost it’, but he hasn’t lost it.” Spurrier enters his 11th season at USC with a record of 84-45. TIDBITS What the doctors are saying: Spurrier said Wednesday USC’s team doctor says the “‘Old’ Ball Coach” is in good shape. “Physically and mentally, I’m like a 55-year-old guy.” On Clemson: It wouldn’t be a Spurrier press conference without a jab at USC’s rival, Clemson. Spurrier mentioned Clemson Quarterback Deshaun Watson. “Their quarterback has already challenged our guys saying we won’t beat him ever. But we’re looking forward to that challenge.” On re-naming the field: Spurrier said Wednesday USC’s trustees want to name the field after him. “I told them to wait 5 or 6 years and do it then.” Click to watch Spurrier’s comments from Wednesday.