:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/35627298/20130709_mje_sg8_963.0.jpg)
Steve Spurrier once again lived up to his billing as the best part of SEC Media Days on Tuesday morning. The conversation ranged from his confidence in Dylan Thompson to Stephen Garcia's hair style.
Here's a selection of the best excerpts from Spurrier's time with the media, starting with his opening session with the local media:
Spurrier on Pharoh Cooper: "He was a crucial part of our team last season...Pharoh's a good one, and we have a lot of other good receivers."
— Avery Wilks (@AveryGWilks) July 15, 2014
Spurrier has "excellent confidence" in Thompson. Says he is "by far" the best QB on team.
— Michael Haney (@Haney1075) July 15, 2014
Steve Spurrier raised possibility of TE Rory Anderson redshirting this year but again says he expects him to play.
— Josh Kendall (@JoshatTheState) July 15, 2014
Spurrier not willing to say '14 will be his best offense in Columbia or that he's had a great O yet: "I don't believe we've peaked."
— Michael Haney (@Haney1075) July 15, 2014
Spurrier said he doesn't have a better idea of who his No. 2 QB will be this season, even though Connor Mitch is listed at No. 2. #Gamecocks
— Avery Wilks (@AveryGWilks) July 15, 2014
Spurrier on Stephen Garcia in media: "When I see him I'm gonna tell him he looks like he joined the cast of Duck Dynasty." #SECMD14
— Michael Haney (@Haney1075) July 15, 2014
Spurrier on Dylan Thompson last year: "He was the only quarterback in the nation to beat UCF."
— Andy Staples (@Andy_Staples) July 15, 2014
Spurrier then moved on from the local media to the collected media from around the nation as well as local media from around the conference. And of course, the first question was about Florida:
Steve Spurrier currently listing off some of his accomplishments at Florida and South Carolina. He remembers every detail. Every. Detail.
— Ryan Wood (@rwood_SC) July 15, 2014
And then the conversation moved on to his current program, the one he's been coaching now for nine years:
Spurrier said he expects J.T. Surratt "will probably be one of our senior captains when we do the voting. ... He should have a big season."
— Ryan Wood (@rwood_SC) July 15, 2014
Spurrier has a lot of confidence in Dylan Thompson but said they have to keep him healthy. Thompson won't run around as much as Shaw did.
— SportsTalk (@sportstalksc) July 15, 2014
And of course, he got a shot in at the media:
Spurrier on @itISwhatITisSG5 joining the media. "He’s got a chance. Heck, you guys made it." #Gamecocks
— Willie Smith (@willie_t_smith) July 15, 2014
Gamecocks super donor Joe Rice recently took Spurrier to Bahamas "his jet airplane and his yacht so it was pretty good trip."
— Josh Kendall (@JoshatTheState) July 15, 2014
He also offered his thoughts on the Gamecocks new trophy with Texas A&M, as well as American history
Spurrier: "I don't know if you can have a trophy for every game. I know in the Big Ten they've got several of 'em."
— Paul Myerberg (@PaulMyerberg) July 15, 2014
On "historic" rivalry with A&M - I'm from Tennessee. I was always taught the hero of the Alamo was Davey Crockett. He and those 33 Tenn guys
— Derek (@DerekAggie06) July 15, 2014
More from Spurrier on the Alamo - They went in there and got killed.
— Derek (@DerekAggie06) July 15, 2014
Spurrier: "I always thought Davy Crockett was the hero of the Alamo. … Came in and got killed and so forth." #SECMD14
— Brandon Larrabee (@TeamSpeedKills) July 15, 2014
SPURRRRRRIERRRR http://t.co/dVvKHGmMjW
— Spencer Hall (@edsbs) July 15, 2014
Spurrier thought he'd coach in NFL for 5/6 years and then retire to beach. "That was a bad plan, it really was."
— Josh Kendall (@JoshatTheState) July 15, 2014
Spurrier will be the first to coach at two SEC schools for 10 years or more.
— Robbie Andreu (@RobbieAndreu) July 15, 2014
HBC: "Some people ask, 'How did you wind up at South Carolina?' I was available, and they were the only ones that offered me the job."
— Ryan Wood (@rwood_SC) July 15, 2014
Spurrier on Dooley’s prediction that he will coach longer at South Carolina than Florida: "He may be right" #SECMD14
— Brandon Larrabee (@TeamSpeedKills) July 15, 2014
Spurrier: "We need one of those East teams to lose a game. We've gone 6-2 in the conf and beaten the division winner three years in a row."
— Andy Staples (@Andy_Staples) July 15, 2014
Spurrier: "I think it's a shame that Texas and Texas A&M don't play each other."
— Paul Myerberg (@PaulMyerberg) July 15, 2014
HBC says "not smart" for coaches to talk players into staying: "When a player tells me 'I'm going pro,' I shake their hand, wish them luck."
— Ryan Wood (@rwood_SC) July 15, 2014
Because internet, here's Spurrier as Davy Crockett pic.twitter.com/YQ7uNUXDzG
— Jorge (@JorgeBrosada) July 15, 2014
HBC said Stephen Garcia was good around the team: "His only issue was when he got off the field, around campus, he had some issues there."
— Ryan Wood (@rwood_SC) July 15, 2014