Steve Spurrier
Steve Spurrier
Stephen Orr Spurrieris a former American football player and coach, having served as the head coach of three college and two professional teams. Spurrier was also noteworthy as a standout college football player, and he spent a decade playing professionally in the National Football League. Spurrier retired from coaching in 2015 and now serves as an ambassador and consultant for the University of Florida's athletic department...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionCoach
Date of Birth20 April 1945
CountryUnited States of America
We've just got to get the expectancy level up, ... Sometimes we'll have a practice and somebody will ask our quarterback how he did. He'll say, 'I think we did pretty good,' and we'll start watching the tape, and I'll ask, 'You said you did pretty good?' Playing well, they don't know exactly what that means.
We felt like Blake is much better prepared mentally, physically. He's had an excellent summer working out, and it's clear to all of us here that he's our best guy to go out there. So when it's obvious, we've named him the starter. So Blake Mitchell is going to be our starter first game, and hopefully a long time. We'll go from there. Back-ups we don't know yet, we're trying a lot of guys right there. But Blake's earned it and he's our starter.
He's a three-year starter going into his fourth year. That's amazing nowadays, a four-year starter. It just doesn't happen every day. Blake has no starts. None of our quarterbacks have played much at all, so it will be interesting. Hopefully, they'll play like they're capable.
Certainly Carlos has an excellent chance of being a starting corner for us and really play well once he stays over there.
It's going to be a new bunch. Of course, statistically we weren't all that super. But it's an opportunity for some new players to start playing ball.
Obviously, it didn't start off pretty at 2-3 and tied against Kentucky at halftime. The ball started bouncing our way, defense started getting some fumbles, making things happen and obviously the Tennessee, Arkansas and Florida games were fun for the entire team.
I thought we could make a field goal there.
It got sticky there in the fourth quarter,
I think today gave him a little more confidence. He threw the ball with authority most of the day.
I said, 'If it happens in the normal course of the game, then that's the way it's going to happen,' ... We had our backups in there.
I said, 'Dang, we've got big, strong, good-looking offensive linemen. How come they're not blocking as well as I hope? I'm trying to figure that out.
I salute and praise the people in Shreveport for having this bowl for 30 years. I know it's not always easy keeping these things alive, but I think the Independence Bowl is the 11th-oldest bowl in the country, so they have done a super job here.
You all think I'm the first guy to ever coach against his alma mater, ... This happens a lot around the country.
We don't think all this attention will get to him. That's something we talk to him about.