I'm not a big college football fan but a lot of experts don't think that Spurrier will meet with tremendous success in the NFL. There are only a handful of college head coaches turned NFL head coaches that have succeeded. Most of the coaches in the NFL who are successes are former assistants.
<B>I'm not a big college football fan but a lot of experts don't think that Spurrier will meet with tremendous success in the NFL. There are only a handful of college head coaches turned NFL head coaches that have succeeded. Most of the coaches in the NFL who are successes are former assistants.</B> He may not be successful, but I'd like to see him try. If nothing else, that Fun n' Gun offense is so much more entertaining than the watered-down 3-yd pass offenses that the NFL is loaded with these days. I'd take him over Capers any day.
Well, to no one's surprise, this has been announced: Spurrier's exit prompts players to reconsider -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ESPN.com news services Steve Spurrier apparently isn't the only one leaving the Gator football program. At least two players have indicated they'll take an early exit for the NFL draft. Florida sophomore wide receiver Jabar Gaffney told The Orlando Sentinel he plans to leave school early to enter the NFL draft. "I was going to stay," Gaffney told the newspaper. "But I'm going to have to part. I was going to come back and play for him (Steve Spurrier) for one more year. I loved playing for the man, and I hope I play for him on the next level." Gaffney's teammate at UF, junior cornerback Lito Sheppard, reportedly also plans to leave school early. The Gainesville Sun reported today that Sheppard, projected to be a first-round pick, has told school officials Friday that he will put his name into the upcoming NFL draft, according to sources. Orange Bowl MVP Taylor Jacobs also is considering leaving early. "I was not thinking about leaving until after the Orange Bowl," Jacobs, a junior wide receiver, told the newspaper. "I'll have to see if they bring in another coach, who it is, and I'll have to think about what's best for me. ... I'm really, really going to explore it."
Agreed. UF hasn't produced a terribly large number of good players - especially on the offensive end and even more so at QB, where players like Danny Wuerffel are out of the league producing gospel CDs. They have a few decent players, but all were products of that system, one that does not translate well to the NFL game. All the more credit to Spurrier if he can succeed in the NFL, but I just don't see it happening. After all, he was a product of that same system himself, winning a Heisman at UF in the 70s - and proceeded to lead the Bucs to a remarkable 0-12 record...the only winless team in NFL history. He'll have to have a great defensive coordinator, as well. If he succeeds, it'll take him a while. (as a Seminoles fan, I'd love nothing better than to see him crash and burn, but hey - I've gotta be realistic!)
