The university president has received suggestions to look at other candidates.
By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published October 28, 2004
So you think everyone in Gator Nation wants Steve Spurrier back in the Swamp? With apologies to a notable ESPN analyst, not so fast my friend.
University of Florida president Bernard J. Machen said about 25 percent of the e-mails he received since Ron Zook was fired have implored him to "consider anybody but Spurrier."
That is half the number advising him to "hire Steve Spurrier tomorrow." Still, that the only coach to lead the Gators to a national title, much less an SEC championship, is not No. 1 on everybody's list is intriguing.
As Clearwater FSU fan Keith Glidden pointed out Wednesday, the perception is Florida fans "look at him like he was a god."
Reasons for the simmering anti-Spurrier sentiment range from his leaving Florida just before the 2002 recruiting season to some on-field failures and a dissatisfaction with his people skills.
Then there was this e-mail to the Times from Sharon Stern, who described herself as a 1978 Florida graduate and season-ticket holder.
"People think I'm nuts, but I don't miss the days of Spurrier and the blowouts," Stern wrote. "Those games got boring."
But 25 percent?
"That doesn't surprise me," said Pinellas Park's Pam Horgen, president-elect and acting treasurer of the Pinellas County Gator Club.
"Coach Spurrier has a very strong personality and has always had his detractors. I know there are those who feel his departure could have been handled differently. But he is an incredible coach and I, like apparently the majority of Florida football supporters, believe he can be an asset to the athletic program."
But Clearwater's Eric Schneider said, "I don't want to see Steve back."
The Gator Club's vice president for athletics said he does not believe Spurrier was a good recruiter and "the cupboard was bare" when he left. He also complained Spurrier never beat FSU in Tallahassee, and he would have big shoes to fill ... his own.
"They say you can't even go home once," Schneider said. "Can you go home twice? I don't think he can compete with himself anymore."
There apparently is no competition between Spurrier and Zook when it comes to public relations.
Schneider said he remembers sharing a table with Spurrier at a Tampa gathering.
"If he said two words to me, he said a lot," Schneider said. "Just have conversation with people. It bothered me. I'm thinking, "If he's like that with me, what is he like with the recruits?' "
"He really didn't like doing those gatherings," Gator Club president Katie Zimmer said. "He'd get up there and talk and it always seemed like it was a bother to him. The complete opposite of Ron Zook. ... My heartfelt wish is that they somehow would be able to keep Zook on as a recruiter."
Zimmer said she would welcome Spurrier back "with open arms and support him."
And upon further review Schneider said he, too, would support Spurrier as long as other options are explored.
"The guy has done great things for the university," Schneider said. "He's an alumni. You can't be upset. But are there better candidates out there?"
Schneider said his first choice is Oklahoma's Bob Stoops, who has indicated he's not interested. He also likes what Urban Meyer has done at Utah and Bobby Petrino at Louisville.
"Everybody has to be weighed," Schneider said.
Gator club member Argie Radics of Palm Harbor isn't buying it.
"He's proven he can win at Florida and in the SEC, and that's not easy to do, so you have to give him a chance," she said of Spurrier. "It's a no-lose situation to have him come back. If he succeeds, everybody is happy. If he fails, the next guy that comes in doesn't have that legendary thing to live up to. It makes sense."
