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An historic press conference took place in Columbia this afternoon, and somehow Shawn Elliot found himself in the middle of it. Before we take a look at Coach Elliot's first remarks as South Carolina's interim head coach, let's take a quick look at what South Carolina dignitaries President Harris Pastides, Athletic Director Ray Tanner former HBC Steve Spurrier had to say as Spurrier took to the podium one final time in Columbia.
Pastides and Tanner on the impact Spurrier leaves on the South Carolina community:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tanner: "(Spurrier) asked 'Why not us?' He then proceeded to answer the question."</p>— David Cloninger (@DCTheState) <a href="https://twitter.com/DCTheState/status/653963497097850882">October 13, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pastides: "He gave us our swagger, our pride, and our Sandstorm enthusiasm."</p>— GamecockCentral.com (@GamecockCentral) <a href="https://twitter.com/GamecockCentral/status/653964676896825345">October 13, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tanner: "He's always been about more than winning games." When Dawn Staley got to the Final Four, Tanner's first call was from Spurrier.</p>— David Cloninger (@DCTheState) <a href="https://twitter.com/DCTheState/status/653963702450958337">October 13, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tanner concludes, "Thank you Coach Spurrier."</p>— GamecockCentral.com (@GamecockCentral) <a href="https://twitter.com/GamecockCentral/status/653963892461301760">October 13, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Harris Pastides: "It's hard to imagine and say it's not so, but the end of the Steve Spurrier Era at South Carolina is upon us."</p>— David Cloninger (@DCTheState) <a href="https://twitter.com/DCTheState/status/653963981015678976">October 13, 2015</a></blockquote>
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As for the head ball coach, Spurrier was nothing but smiles this afternoon, and couldn't wait to get this press conference over with and off his back.
More than anyone, Spurrier recognized the importance of leaving as soon as he deemed it necessary.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Steve Spurrier: "You can’t keep a head coach that has done it as long as I have when it starts going the wrong way."</p>— Josh Kendall (@JoshatTheState) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshatTheState/status/653965679301894144">October 13, 2015</a></blockquote>
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But don't close the door on his coaching career just yet. Somehow or another, the 70 year old thinks he'll find his way back into the game some way or another.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Steve Spurrier: "I am resigning. I'm not retiring. Get that part straight."</p>— David Cloninger (@DCTheState) <a href="https://twitter.com/DCTheState/status/653964952450007040">October 13, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Admits that recruiting has taken a hit because of the uncertainty surrounding his remaining tenure.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"Yesterday I was a recruiting liability." Says his age can no longer be used against him in recruiting.</p>— GamecockCentral.com (@GamecockCentral) <a href="https://twitter.com/GamecockCentral/status/653965677771026432">October 13, 2015</a></blockquote>
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On the program's decline:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Spurrier: "Somehow or another, we've slid, and it's my fault. It's time for me to get out of the way."</p>— David Cloninger (@DCTheState) <a href="https://twitter.com/DCTheState/status/653965243576676352">October 13, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Spurrier: "If it starts going south, starts going bad, I need to get out."</p>— David Cloninger (@DCTheState) <a href="https://twitter.com/DCTheState/status/653965128854020096">October 13, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Steve Spurrier: "I think I was the best coach for this job 11 years ago but I’m not today. That’s the cycle of coaching."</p>— Josh Kendall (@JoshatTheState) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshatTheState/status/653965793571553280">October 13, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Steve Spurrier: "It’s time for me to move and time for South Carolina to start rebuilding again."</p>— Josh Kendall (@JoshatTheState) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshatTheState/status/653966141023457280">October 13, 2015</a></blockquote>
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On how he planned on leaving the program:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Spurrier: "I didn't plan on going out this way. I planned on being on the shoulder pads of the team coming out the Georgia Dome."</p>— David Cloninger (@DCTheState) <a href="https://twitter.com/DCTheState/status/653967654865252353">October 13, 2015</a></blockquote>
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These certainly won't be the last words we hear from Coach Spurrier, and there's definitely more to say about the abrupt decision, but as much as today was the end of an era, it's also the start of one too.
Coach Elliot on the surprise opportunity:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Shawn Elliott: "I can tell you this time yesterday, I was not thinking I'd be standing here before you."</p>— David Cloninger (@DCTheState) <a href="https://twitter.com/DCTheState/status/653969518067351553">October 13, 2015</a></blockquote>
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On how he expects the team to react following the HBC's departure:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Shawn Elliott: "This staff, we have a lot of stuff to us and we’re going to come out swinging. I think this team will rally behind us."</p>— Josh Kendall (@JoshatTheState) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshatTheState/status/653970462830129156">October 13, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Shawn Elliott: "There are a lot of players on this team. I can’t tell you that they are all on board. They may be."</p>— Josh Kendall (@JoshatTheState) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshatTheState/status/653972125037010944">October 13, 2015</a></blockquote>
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On team goals for the remainder of the year:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Elliott thanks Spurrier for bringing him here 6 years ago. "Our goal is to win this week. Our team is not in shambles."</p>— GamecockCentral.com (@GamecockCentral) <a href="https://twitter.com/GamecockCentral/status/653969768161116160">October 13, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Elliott: "To the University of South Carolina ... we're moving forward. We've got one goal in mind -- to win. This week, today, tomorrow."</p>— David Cloninger (@DCTheState) <a href="https://twitter.com/DCTheState/status/653969694161010688">October 13, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Elliott: "I'm thrilled to death to lead the University of South Carolina for one game, six games. We're gonna come out swinging."</p>— David Cloninger (@DCTheState) <a href="https://twitter.com/DCTheState/status/653970360640086016">October 13, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Elliott concludes his statement saying, "Beat Vanderbilt." Questions now.</p>— GamecockCentral.com (@GamecockCentral) <a href="https://twitter.com/GamecockCentral/status/653970094113038336">October 13, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Thanks again Steve for ten and a half exciting years!