The 'Head Ball Coach' shares his wisdom in Lakewood Ranch

Steve Spurrier is retired from coaching, but he has not lost an ounce of his signature sense of humor. 

Spurrier, an NCAA National Championship-winning coach and a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback at the University of Florida, gave a talk at Grove restaurant in Lakewood Ranch Aug. 17 as part of a "Night of Champions" event that served as a fundraiser for Sarasota's Riverview High football program. The event was organized by Riverview alum Todd Johnson, who was coached by Spurrier at Florida. 

Spurrier, 79, shared stories from his time on the Gators sidelines and gave advice to the players of today — but first, as only he can, he boasted about his own accomplishments and gave some lighthearted jabs to other coaches.

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"My first seven years, we won the SEC (Southeastern Conference) six times," Spurrier said. "They tell me (University of Georgia Head Coach) Kirby Smart is the greatest coach in the world now, and he only won it two times in his first seven years. So I guess that's pretty good." 

He also talked about his NFL career with reverence, OK with the fact that he spent much of it as a backup. While everyone else was icing their bruises after games, Spurrier said, he was planning where to go for dinner. One of his favorite accomplishments came in 1976, when he quarterbacked the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to an 0-14 season — yet was named the team's most valuable offensive player anyway.

"Being an MVP at quarterback while losing every game, that's hard to do," Spurrier said. "I still have that trophy."

There were a handful of former Gators in the room to listen to Spurrier speak, including Rex Grossman, a quarterback who won AP National Player of the Year honors in 2001 and who spent 12 seasons in the NFL.

Grossman did not speak at the event, but Johnson told a story about Grossman's recruitment to Florida. According to Johnson, Spurrier arrived at Grossman's house for a dinner. The conversation between Spurrier and Grossman's family lasted long into the night, and at a certain point, Grossman himself went to sleep while Spurrier continued to talk to his parents.

When Grossman awoke the next morning, he found Spurrier at his table, wearing a robe and eating pancakes. Spurrier was so determined to get his top quarterback option that he had stayed overnight to continue the conversation. 

Now, that is dedication.

It fits with the advice Spurrier shared throughout his talk. In Spurrier's mind, successful people all share certain qualities, the first of which is knowing to seize an opportunity when one presents itself. Spurrier said he only got into coaching because his playing days were over and he thought coaching "wouldn't seem like work" because he still loved the game. He laughs at that thought now, but he expressed gratitude to former Florida Head Coach Doug Dickey for giving him his first break as a quarterbacks and receivers coach in 1978. 

From there, he tried to learn as much as he could at each successive stop, culminating in him returning as Florida's Head Coach in 1990. That's where his next piece of advice arrives — surround yourself with people who can help you.

For a football coach, those people were his staff and his players. It makes sense that Spurrier would stay overnight at a recruit's house if he thought the recruit was a difference-maker. In Grossman, Spurrier was right. He also gave a shout-out to his wife, Jerri Spurrier, for supporting him on the road and always being there when he needed her.

Spurrier's final piece of the success puzzle is gratitude. For Spurrier, a Christian, that means saying, "Thank you, Lord," when good things happen, because he wanted the universe on his side. He gave an example that in 1996, when Florida won the National Championship, it entered conference championship weekend on the outside of the national title race after losing to Florida State early in the season. The Gators needed Michigan to beat Ohio State in the Big 10 title game, for Texas to beat Nebraska in the Big 12 title game, and then for Ohio State to beat Arizona State in the Rose Bowl to have a shot at a No. 1 ranking. All of those things happened. 

"We had a quick meeting (after watching the Rose Bowl)," Spurrier said. "I said, 'Fellas, the Lord has put us in position. We don't have to ask for anything. We have been blessed, and we have a chance.'" 

Florida went on to a rematch and beat Florida State 52-20 in the Sugar Bowl the next night.

Another tidbit that Spurrier said has helped him in his coaching life comes from the Bible, specifically Corinthians 9:24:  "Run your race in life in such a way as to get the prize. Always try to win. You'll be surprised what you can accomplish if you try to accomplish it," Spurrier said. 

It is advice perfectly in line with how the Head Ball Coach performed his job. He was aggressive and admittedly a little cocky, yet unapologetic. It led to a lot of success for him, and it could just do the same for you.