Steve Spurrier Wins SEC Coach of the Year Award

by Gamecock Man on Dec 8, 2025 10:05 PM EST in Football

More photos » Rogelio V. Solis - AP

over 1 year ago: FILE -- This is an Oct. 4, 2008, file photo showing South Carolina football coach Steve Spurrier shouting at his players during an NCAA college football game against Mississippi, in Oxford, Miss. It had been a quiet offseason for Steve Spurrier and South Carolina, until this past weekend, when some of the same off-the-field troubles the Gamecocks have dealt with in past years sprang up again. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

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In news that was overshadowed by Urban Meyer's second resignation (Urban, you attention whore!), it was announced today that Steve Spurrier was voted SEC Coach of the Year by the league's coaches. The award marks a major vindication for Spurrier. Lots of folks, including yours truly, have increasingly questioned Coach Spurrier over the past three years. However, Spurrier made history this year with the program's third nine-win season and first-ever berth in the SEC Championship Game. With that, he restaked his claim as one of the game's premier coaches.

We'll have occasion to talk more about Spurrier's legacy in due time. For now, while I think we can all agree that Spurrier deserves major accolades for his accomplishments this season, the question is, did he deserve this award? Auburn fans, undoubtedly, will say the award should go to Gene Chizik. What do you think?

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Comments

I actually thought Dan Mullen would win

by Skulls and Spurs on Dec 8, 2025 11:52 PM EST reply actions

Chizik, Mullen and Spurrier

all had legit claims to the award.

Mullen improved Miss State dramatically. On the other hand, the Bulldogs only won 1 division game (the Egg Bowl) and finished 5th in the West. While the Western Division was insanely tough this year, Miss State’s big wins were against UGA during its down time, and then edging Florida (at the Swamp) and UK (at Starkville), plus beating up on three mid-level Conference USA squads and one SWAC team.

Chizik can be credited for holding Auburn together under the amazing scrutiny faced (and still faced) by his all-star Cam Newton. On the other hand, it was Gus Malzahn’s(a) work improving Newton has a complete QB, and (b) installing schemes to use Dyer, McCarron and Adams in a way that prevented opposing Ds from focusing solely on Newton, that made Auburn increasingly unstoppable. I do think Chizik gets bonus credit for the way the Auburn D steadily improved.

All that being said, I still think Spurrier deserved the award. He did what had never been done at USC.

They wore garnet helmets.

by tryptic67 on Dec 9, 2025 5:14 AM EST reply actions

I thought Les Miles would win this easily.

He took an offense that shouldn’t have been competitive, and somehow only lost two games in the toughest division in college football. The two games he lost were against the two best teams in that division, and he didn’t lose either by more than one score.

How does it go to Spurrier, who single handedly lost to an average to below average SEC team in Kentucky? His refusal to run Maddox tanked Carolina there, and his refusal to since admit he made a mistake is even worse. He got blown out by Arkansas, and then blown out in the championship game.

I think Spurrier has done well for the majority of the season, but I do not think he was the best conference coach this year. While Spurrier should take direct blame for the Kentucky loss, he takes indirect blame for the other losses, ‘cause they were caused by his horrible secondary which hasn’t been fixed the whole season. I understand he isn’t a defensive minded coach, but he doesn’t have the luxury to sidestep responsibility as the head coach of the team.

stuff 'bout stuff.

by silver82blade on Dec 9, 2025 6:42 AM EST reply actions

Disagree

His refusal to run Maddox tanked Carolina there, and his refusal to since admit he made a mistake is even worse.
Spurrier, who single handedly lost to an average to below average SEC team in Kentucky.

We lost the UK game because the Cocks turned the ball over three times in the second half, and couldn’t stop UK on two fourth quarter fourth-down attempts. Blaming that on Spurrier seems harsh. Our chance at redemption was blown when Steven threw a poor ball to Lamar Scruggs in the final seconds. I dont recall Maddox being particularly effective against the Cats in relief of Lattimore. Most of Lattimore’s yards that game were receiving anyway IIRC.

As far as trashing on UK, that was (a) a Wildcat home game; (b) their season was totally on the line; © they played Auburn closer than anyone else has managed to since week 2; (d) they’re going to a bowl; and (e) Randall Cobb is going to be a high NFL pick.

he takes indirect blame for the other losses, ‘cause they were caused by his horrible secondary which hasn’t been fixed the whole season. I understand he isn’t a defensive minded coach, but he doesn’t have the luxury to sidestep responsibility as the head coach of the team.

I recall reading press reports that Spurrier was working with the secondary in the final weeks. With the one exception of the Kyle Parker TD pass, the secondary played pretty well in the Florida, Troy and Clemson games. I remember saying that had become merely mediocre. The secondary was victimized by Auburn, but mostly that was the result of Stephon Gilmore being in 1-on-1 against Darvin Adams with no over-the-top safety help … due to the fact that some people (ahem) got their wish and Ellis Johnson assigned a spy against Newton (which adds stress to the secondary). Well, the “spy” sets turned out to be a disaster too. Gilmore biting on Cam’s pump-fakes didn’t help much either.

They wore garnet helmets.

by tryptic67 on Dec 9, 2025 7:50 AM EST up reply actions

Actually, they only turned the ball over once to Kentucky in the second half.

It was an interception late in the fourth quarter on the last drive after Kentucky had already come back and taken the lead. Kentucky got the lead due to punt after punt that was itself a result of a one dimensional offense that wasn’t running the ball. Maddox only ran the ball twice the entire second half, and one was a four yard gain for a first down. His only other run was in the first half, an eight yard gain. They blew a 28-10 halftime lead ‘cause Spurrier wouldn’t call running plays for Maddox. Kentucky has the 79th ranked rush defense.

I disagree that the secondary improved much, if at all, during those weeks. Let’s toss out Troy right now, for obvious talent level difference. Clemson had deep opportunities all day long. Their passes were just slightly off target, or dropped. Our secondary did little to stop their attack. Florida threw something like two or three deep balls the whole game. Almost all their stuff was underneath. They just had a poor game plan.

As for the spy, Johnson did pretty much what he said he’d do from what I recall. He rarely used a spy, but when he did it was in long yardage situations. The only play I specifically remember with a spy was on a 3rd and long, and it was the MLB who was spying. I never suggested they use the least athletic player behind the line to spy Newton. That was all Johnson. However, I realize it doesn’t matter much anyway ‘cause Newton destroyed Carolina with his arm more so than legs. I’ll agree to disagree any spying contributed to that though.

stuff 'bout stuff.

by silver82blade on Dec 9, 2025 8:23 AM EST up reply actions

Who would you have put on to Spy Newton?

It’s not like we have a wellspring of fresh talent to throw in there. We spy’d with the best option we had. It didn’t work. And calling our MLB “the least athletic player” behind the line is patently false, reductionist, inflammatory hyperbole - to say nothing of rude. I suppose if we stuck someone “more athletic” in as the spy (Gilmore, possibly, who you’ve been down on the entire season?) and they got run over by Newton you would lament our not having put in someone more physical. If you don’t put a MLB on as a spy, then it would have had to have been someone from our secondary. Pulling a starter out of an already weak secondary would not have been a recipe for success. So I’m really at a loss as to what, exactly, you would have done differently.

Dum spiro spero - "While I breathe, I hope"
State motto of South Carolina

by The Feathered Warrior on Dec 9, 2025 11:00 AM EST up reply actions

I would've used Straughter, or Allen, but I forgot Straughter went out early on.

It doesn’t matter anyway, the pass defense is what blew the game. I don’t think it’s rude to call the SAM backer the least athletic. That position is always the slowest member behind the line. That’s why they aren’t an OLB. Maybe “athletic” was the wrong word. I should’ve said “least quick”. I think Dickerson has done very well this year, except that one play where Newton schooled him. He has gotten a lot of playing time behind Paulk, and deservedly so. Him and Newton is a total mismatch, though. I’d take a potential missed tackle over not even being able to catch Newton any day.

stuff 'bout stuff.

by silver82blade on Dec 9, 2025 12:17 PM EST up reply actions

*Mike backer

stuff 'bout stuff.

by silver82blade on Dec 9, 2025 12:18 PM EST up reply actions

Antonio Allen plays spur.

Which is probably the most important position in EJ’s defense. So pulling him from the Spur position to have him focus solely on Newton would greatly weaken our defense on the whole. Having Allen wait around just in case Newton runs is a gross under-utilization of his skills. The defense is far more sounds with Allen at Spur, the position requiring the greatest combination or strength and speed since it is basically a hybrid linebacker/ defensive back position. Plus, Allen’s athleticism would basically have to match that of Newtons for him to be effective as a Spy. Which is doesn’t. Newton is on another whole plane this year when it comes to elusiveness. The Spy was never going to work in that game, no matter player you stuck in there.

Dum spiro spero - "While I breathe, I hope"
State motto of South Carolina

by The Feathered Warrior on Dec 9, 2025 12:52 PM EST up reply actions

I guess they should've just done nothing then.

Would that have made you feel better? Fine, have it your way. All I know is that 20 yard run on 3rd and a mile early in the first quarter with the game tied was a killer. That’s when the whole feel of the game changed.

stuff 'bout stuff.

by silver82blade on Dec 9, 2025 1:29 PM EST up reply actions

In addition ...

… I’d further submit that Lattimore had averaged 5.3 yards per attempt against Kentucky prior to leaving the game. Furthermore, we all know defenses wear out as games go on. Having a fresh Maddox line up against a tired defensive line, who were ranked low to begin with, should’ve been a good way to preserve a huge lead.

stuff 'bout stuff.

by silver82blade on Dec 9, 2025 8:36 AM EST up reply actions

I'm with silver here about Kentucky.

Defensive breakdowns were a major part of the problem, for sure, but not running Maddox really hurt us in that game. I’ve seen a lot of people take issue with that idea by saying that Maddox wasn’t breaking any big plays in that game. Well, we only ran him twice, if I recall. You have to run the ball more than that if you want to get the run going.

Folks, Kentucky scored with a minute and thirty seconds left. All we had to do was turn a few of those incompletions into runs and pick up one or two more first downs and Kentucky never gets a chance to take a clear shot at the end zone. When you’re sitting on a huge lead against an explosive offense, you play ball control. Run on first and second down and then try to get the ball to Alshon for the first down on third. Simple as that.

Garnet and Black Attack: A Blog By and For Gamecocks Fans.

by Gamecock Man on Dec 9, 2025 11:03 AM EST up reply actions

"Furthermore, we all know defenses wear out as games go on"

Do we know that? I mean, I see what you’re saying as far as conditioning is concerned, but I watched Auburn CONSISTENTLY make very effective halftime adjustments, as well as put together some great 4th quarters.

We probably should have continued to run the ball in the second half, but to assume all defenses wear out in the second half, is a bit silly.

by SetYourBodyAblaze on Dec 9, 2025 4:13 PM EST up reply actions

Les Miles?

You know that LSU was LOSING to UT with the clock at 00:00, right? If UT doesn’t send 37 guys on to the field, LSU loses to UT on the previous play.

So Les Miles takes a school with a National Championship this decade, large athletic booster program, and consistent top recruiting classes, and doesn’t even win his division. You give him the award? OK.

by SetYourBodyAblaze on Dec 9, 2025 4:10 PM EST up reply actions