Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — During the summer of 1997, Florida football coach Steve Spurrier stood in a packed ballroom in downtown Atlanta for his annual speaking engagement before the largest Gator Club outside the Sunshine State. The crowd was basking not only in UF's first national-championship offseason, but seven straight victories over rival Georgia, an unparalleled run for the Gators in the historic series.

That's when, during the Q&A portion of the event, a fan asked Spurrier if he'd — please — stick around Florida long enough for the Gators to win enough games to even a series that stood 44-29-2 in favor of the hated Bulldogs.
 
 

"How many we need to catch up?" Spurrier asked back. 

Fifteen, he was told. 

The UF coach cocked his head. 

"I don't know," Spurrier said. "Fifteen years is a long time." 

A classic Stephen Orr Spurrier exchange. One in a lengthy list, of course. 

Happy 75th birthday, Coach. The date was April 20, 1945. It was one week after the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, two weeks before the allies claimed victory in Europe and four months before the atom bombs dropped in the Pacific and ended World War II. Alfred Hitchcock had movie-goers "Spellbound" in theaters, as did a teenage Elizabeth Taylor in "National Velvet." George Orwell had just published "Animal Farm." The Andrew Sisters and Les Brown topped the Billboard charts. An estimated 5,000 people in the United States owned televisions. 

Spurrier was born that day in Miami Beach. His father was a Presbyterian minister and moved the family to Charlotte, N.C., then, when young Steve was 12, to east Tennessee. Spurrier was 17 when he came to UF as a hotshot quarterback from Johnson City. He was 21 when voted the Gators' first Heisman Trophy winner. And he was 45 when — by way of three seasons at Duke University — he returned to his alma mater in 1990 to become head coach of a football program notorious for underachievement. 

In an instant, everything changed. Not just in winning, but in attitude, as the below string of quotes will attest. And remind. 

 

Were it not for the Covid-19 pandemic, Spurrier and his family — wife Jerri, their four children and 14 grandchildren — would have been in town to toast his 75th with a bash worthy of the "Head Ball Coach's" remarkable life, one he now spends as a living Gators icon and UF athletics ambassador. The party has been postponed, but it'll happen eventually. Sort of like there will one day be football back on the football field that now bears Spurrier's name. 

"My dad loves to celebrate things," said daughter Amy Moody, of Panama City, Fla. "When the time comes, we'll do it up right." 

Like 25 is silver and 50 is gold, 75 is associated with diamonds. That's appropriate, given the rocks in all those UF championship rings the players and coaches collected on his watch. Spurrier went 122-27–1 (plus 82-12 in the Southeastern Conference and a stunning 68-5 at home) in 12 seasons on the Gators' sidelines, with six league titles and the 1996 national crown. In addition to treating his fans to victories and some of the most explosive teams in league history, Spurrier entertained off the field with some out-and-out zingers rooted in a refreshing blend of confidence and just plain honesty. 

So to commemorate the HBC-turned-ABC's 75th, here's a look back at 75 memorable and meaningful quotes (presented chronologically) from his time in charge on the UF sidelines from 1990-2001. Yes, plenty more were either left on the so-called cutting room floor or just plain missed. 

After all, 12 years (like 15) is a long time,

1
Dec. 31, 1989 
At the news conference announcing his hiring at UF. 

''It's a job I've wanted for a long time. This is the place I want to be, the place I should be.''


2
April 7, 1990
After his first Orange & Blue Game, and presumed starting QB Kyle Morris having thrown four interceptions. 

"You can't just drop back and throw the ball to the other team. … The bad plays Kyle made may have opened up the quarterback situation this summer. Again, I never said Kyle was it. I said he was ahead. But some of those bad plays may have put him in there with the rest of 'em."


3
Spring of 1990 
On his first booster tour (and at the first Gator club stop). 

"I don't know who the quarterback will be, but he will lead the SEC in passing."


4
July 12, 1990
At SEC Media Days in Birmingham, asked why he thought his pass-happy brand of football would work in the SEC. 

"Because of what we did at Duke. … And I'll tell you something else. I know we got some defensive guys on those All-SEC teams, but I guarantee you this: When the season's over, we're gonna have some guys on offense, too." 


​

5
Aug. 20, 1990
During his first UF training camp after naming former fifth-stringer Shane Matthews his starting quarterback. 

"I told them I was tired of seeing a different one every day. We needed an order where if a guy plays better than the next guy then he'll move up. But everybody's in a position now, so we'll go from there. We need to see how a guy reacts to being No. 1." 


6
Sept. 8, 1990 
After beating Oklahoma State 50-7 (and gaining 541 yards of offense) in his first game.

"The story was just that we were better than Oklahoma State and our guys played with tremendous effort. … This was a little unusual for me. I've never had a team that was bigger and stronger and faster than an opponent like we were today." 


7
Sept. 21, 1990
After the NCAA announced a one-year bowl ban on the football program just three days after rallying in the fourth quarter to win at Alabama for the first time in 27 years. 

"If we're an average team or a mediocre team with no chance for a bowl, then this penalty means nothing, but we're being punished because we're a good team. I just don't believe the NCAA understands the enormity of what they've done. They've driven a stake through the hearts of our football players." 


8
Oct. 13, 1990 
After going to Tennessee unbeaten, ranked fifth in the country and getting smashed 45-3, he was asked why he pulled Matthews in the third quarter. 

" 'Cause we were getting clobbered, our chances of winning were zero and I wanted him to be ready to play next week."  


9
Nov. 10, 1990 
After beating Georgia 38-7 in his first game in the series as coach, winning by the largest margin ever by a UF team. 
 
"They can't say they own us right now. Hopefully, they won't continue to beat us 14 out of every 18 years. I don't think that's gonna happen anymore."


10 
Nov. 17, 1990 
After beating Kentucky 45-15 to clinch the best record in the SEC, despite being on probation.

"Oh I know, a lot of people will have a tough time saying Florida's any good. But I gotta believe this is the best team in the SEC. We're No. 1 in offense and No. 1 in defense — and we're not just squeaking by in these games now."
 

11
Sept. 14, 1991 
After beating Alabama 35-0, handing the Crimson Tide its worst loss since 1957, and responding to a story that appeared in a Birmingham paper the day before that he forecast a blowout win in the game months before.  

"No, I did not predict a big margin of victory. I did tell a group of Golden Gators, a group of guys who have been around since the '20s and '30s, that if we did finally beat Alabama at home I'd dedicate the game to those guys. This one's for them."


12
Nov. 9, 1991 
After beating Georgia 45-13 for consecutive wins in the series for the first time since winning four straight from 1960-63. 

"How is it that when they sign people they get the best players, but when we play we have the best players? Something just happens to them when they get to Georgia, I guess … It always comes out looking like we're the greatest team in the world and they're just a bunch of little players who'll have to fight, scratch and claw just to beat the Gators. Hey, they got good players, too. I'm not telling anybody what they should do, but that hype stuff just infuriates me. It just pushed a button with our coaches this year."


13 
Nov. 16, 1991 
To the sellout crowd at Florida Field after defeating Kentucky and clinching the program's first outright SEC title. 

"We got everything going for us, and I'm the luckiest coach to be a part of this. I want to say a special tribute to that 1990 team, and those seniors, that did not have a chance at the trophies and recognition that this group has. So, let's have a hand for the 1990 team!" 

14
Sometime in the 1992 offseason (and many times after). 
On the subject of Georgia coach Ray Goff, who eventually went 0-6 vs. Spurrier's teams.  

"Ray Goof."


15
June 9, 1992 
From a Gainesville Sun column when he first dubbed Florida Field "The Swamp."

"The 'Swamp' is where Gators live. We feel comfortable there and we hope our opponents are tentative. A swamp is hot and sticky and can be dangerous. We feel that is an appropriate nickname for our stadium."


16
July 16, 1992 
Reminiscing on a moment he considered a turning point in the program; the road rally to defeat Alabama 17-13 in 1990. 

"They talked for years that if Florida ever got good it could be one of the dominant teams in the country, and I always believed that also. By winning that game in the manner we did, I think we knocked down all the barriers that had surrounded football at the University of Florida for many years. It proved to those guys they were good enough to win — if they believed. Like Vince Lombardi said, 'Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, losing is a habit, too.' That Alabama game, I really believe, broke some bad habits." 


17
Late August 1992 
On the eve of the start of defending of the school's first SEC title.   

"Oh, we realize we're setting ourselves up. They're all going to be coming back at us. They're all out to knock off the Gators now. Good! I'd rather be the guy they're going after, wouldn't you?"


18
Dec. 5, 1992 
After losing 28-21 to unbeaten Alabama on a late interception return in the inaugural (and historic) SEC Championship game at Legion Field in Birmingham. 

"It's one thing to get beat. It's another to give the game away." 
 
19 
Oct. 21, 1993 
On his occasional (and sometimes public) feuds with reporters. 

"The way I see it, we all screw up. Sportswriters correct and criticize. Fine. But if something happens the other way around, you have to say, 'Hey, that's not right!' We're all correctable. I get mad, but I don't stay mad."


20
Oct. 9, 1993
After beating LSU 58-3 on the road, handing the Tigers their most lopsided defeat in SEC history and worst home loss since 1914.
 
"The first thing I told Coach [Curley] Hallman was that I was sorry things got out of hand. But we've got some backup players who want to run and throw and catch and they got their chance tonight."


21
Oct. 16, 1993 
After an upset 38-35 loss at Auburn, the team's first defeat of the season, keyed by a controversial late-hit penalty against safety Lawrence Wright that kept the unbeaten Tigers' game-winning field-goal drive alive. 

"Ask yourself if an Alabama defensive back had hit a kid on the sideline like that, 'Would that call have been made?' … It seems as if most officials think it's OK to give Florida a few extra penalties." 


22
Oct. 20, 1993 
Discussing a defense that was ranked last in the SEC against the pass. 

"You know what our best defense is? A dropped pass or a bad throw."


23
November, 1993 
A couple days after beating Georgia for the fourth straight year.

"When you say something's a problem, it is. When you say something's not, a lot of times it isn't. The Gators were always real good about finding excuses for not being successful."


24
Late in the '93 season, as UF prepared to play Alabama in the second SEC title game.  
Looking back on a column written the year before by Birmingham columnist Charles Hollis, who disparaged the 1990 UF team — the one Spurrier held so dear — as "cheaters." 

"He insulted our school. He said Florida was cheaters and will always be cheaters. Well, the person who made us cheaters was a guy from his home state who went to his school. I've never felt Florida people were cheaters, but that some outsiders from Alabama turned Florida into cheaters. Anyway, his article helped inspire our football team."


25
Jan. 1, 1994 
After beating third-ranked and unbeaten West Virginia 41-7 in the Sugar Bowl. 
 
"I just hope this press conference doesn't last very long. I think we're all ready to take a nice walk on Bourbon Street." 


26
June 8, 1994 
At a Lakeland booster club meeting in the aftermath of a Sports Illustrated article that detailed a clandestine $6,000 shopping spree for Florida State players at a Tallahassee sporting goods store. 

"FSU stands for 'Free Shoes University.' "


27
June 9, 1994 
Given a chance to walk back his "Free Shoes" remark after it went public the very next day. 

"They've beaten us four out of five years in recruiting. Heck, maybe they're the greatest recruiters in the world. But maybe there are other reasons those guys go there. Those guys always say they feel 'more comfortable' going to FSU. Well, maybe we're starting to realize what that 'more comfortable' means. … [A recruit's mother] told me, 'The cars in your parking lot don't look as good as FSU's.' I told her she was right and that ours were never going to look that good. I don't know how they get new cars, but have a way of getting them. … But I'm not accusing them of anything. I'm just telling you what a recruit's mom told me. There is a perception out there about them and it's a perception around the country, not just me. Good things seem to happen to their players with regards to material things once they get there."


28
July 21, 1994
At a booster club in Lake City. 

"I used to be the most hated Gator in Tallahassee. Now, it's the investi-gator."


29
July 29, 1994 
At SEC Media Days in Birmingham. 

"I said what I said when I said it and certainly haven't tried to take anything back. Sometimes, as a coach and competitor, I feel a responsibility to express my opinion. If I'm proven wrong, I'll certainly apologize to all Seminoles. If proven right, certainly the truth can't be wrong."


30
Fall 1994
At a Jacksonville QB Club, reliving his team's 31-0 win at Tennessee the month before, and speaking about Volunteers coach Phillip Fulmer. 

"Phil wanted to tell everyone that the Gators have had the best personnel over the last three or four years, which is a good little cop-out for coaches who are not winning. Last year, our recruiting class was rated between 10th and 15th in most all the ratings. Then, all of a sudden, you look out there and Fred Taylor is running over and around people, and there's Reidel Anthony running behind everybody. I guess what I'm saying is don't pay so much attention to all that recruiting stuff." 


31
Oct. 29, 1994 
After the first UF-Georgia game in Gainesville since 1931 — and a 52-14 victory. 

"When they put us under, they can say we beat Georgia at Florida Field." 


32
Dec. 30, 1994
After kicking two players, Darren Hambrick and Anthony Riggins, off the team after the two got into an ugly, bloody fight at the Superdome in New Orleans two nights before a Sugar Bowl date against FSU. 

"We have a rule that players who cause embarrassment to our school and university are dismissed. I had to dismiss them permanently, so other plays will get the message they can't act like this."


33
Sept. 6, 1995 
Three days after Houston, coming off a 1-10 season when it averaged 280.0 yards per game, passed for 275 yards and totaled 421 yards of offense in UF's 45-21 season-opening home win.

"We called a coverage the wrong way, we were dropping an end, and there's [true freshman] Tim Beauchamp as the only guy covering three wide receivers. I said, 'Timmy, you didn't know you were gonna have to cover three wideouts on the same play, did you?' Apparently, that's what we ask of those defensive ends."


34
Sept. 16, 1995 
After massacring No. 8 Tennessee 62-37 behind 48 unanswered points. 
 
"I said during the game that I thought we could score almost every time we got the ball. Turned out, we almost did."

35
Oct. 10, 1995 
In the run-up to a much-anticipated road game at Auburn, which under Terry Bowden had knocked UF from the ranks of the unbeaten each of the previous two seasons, including from its perch as No. 1 in 1994. He came prepared for the questions about his struggles to beat a Bowden (1-6-1 to that point). 

"Well, at least we're not losing to a bunch of stiffs, are we? Not too many other coaches are beating those guys, either. … But if you think I'm going to feel bad about going 39-6 in the SEC — about losing six conference games in six years — no, you can't make me do that. … There's a lot of other coaches I have a losing record against: Danny Ford, Clemson; George Welsh, Virginia); Joe Krivak, Maryland; Bill Dooley at Wake, got a losing record against him. And Rollie Dorsch, from the Birmingham Stallions in the USFL. Beat me two out of three. … [Follow-up question: What about Lee Corso in the USFL?] …  No, no. Went 1-1 against Corso. Yeah, he beat me once. That really is embarrassing. Yeah, that's a low point right there."


36
Oct. 28, 1995 
After smashing Georgia 52-17 in the first series meeting in Athens, Ga., since 1932, and moments after reserve QB Eric Kresser threw a touchdown pass to backup Travis McGriff with 1:10 to play to give the Gators the most points scored by a visiting UGA opponent in that program's 103-year history.   

"Pretty nice ball yard! ... Someone told us no one had ever scored 50 points here, so we wanted to do that. We had our backups in there and they want to play and score like the other guys. So that touchdown was scored in the natural course of the game." 


37 
Dec. 2, 1995 
After beating Arkansas 34-3 in the SEC title game at Atlanta — for a third straight league championship — and posing with his players under the Georgia Dome scoreboard. 

"Our annual team picture." 


38
December 1995 
In an appearance on ESPN's show "Up Close with Roy Firestone" and a question about his willingness to spout remarks that are cocky, brash or even arrogant … like "Free Shoes University." 

"Oh, what's wrong with that?" 

39
Jan. 2, 1996
Post-game news conference after No. 1 Nebraska's dominating 62-24 beatdown of the second-ranked and unbeaten Gators in the Fiesta Bowl national championship game. 

"I would like to apologize that we couldn't make a game out of it. Nebraska is just too good for us. They clobbered us up and down the field and beat us every way they possibly could have."


40
Jan. 3, 1996 
After seeing two reporters waiting for him in the lobby at the team's Phoenix hotel the morning after the Fiesta Bowl. 

"The ol' aftermath story, huh? … After playing Nebraska, I feel if we played them 10 times they'd probably beat us 10 times. It was a difficult night and they were just better than us, a lot better than us. … Today, I don't think, is the time to look back. I don't want to make light of getting clobbered. We should be in the dumps. We'll look back later on it, but we need to go through a period of knowing we just got our tails beat badly and knowing we have to try to improve where we can play with Nebraska — and right now, we can't. Not even close." 


41
Jan 3, 1996 
Upon seeing close to 2,000 UF fans waiting for the team at the Alachua County Fairgrounds for the team's return to Gainesville from the Fiesta Bowl the day after the game. 

"Somebody must've given y'all the wrong score." 


42
Jan. 8, 1996 
At a news conference announcing he was staying at UF, rather than heading to the NFL to be head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

"I had a fascination of some day coaching the Bucs, the only NFL team I had an interest in coaching. It came and it was time to listen, but not to leave. Make it clear, I am not rejecting, not turning down the Bucs. I am staying at Florida. Big difference. I find our roots are just too deep. … Maybe this will end the speculation for years to come. I've talked and I've listened and I think I'm just a college ball coach. That's what's best for me. I did my little fling." 


43
Sometime in the offseason of 1997. 
At Gator clubs everywhere (and after Tennessee's third Citrus Bowl appearance in four years).

"Orlando is the winter home of the Tennessee Volunteers. You can't spell 'Citrus' without a 'U' and a 'T.' 


44
Feb. 20, 1996
Commenting on the units of Bob Stoops, his new defensive coordinator by way of Kansas State, that had led the nation the previous two seasons in forcing three-and-outs. 

"You know that means, don't you? More ball plays for Stevie Boy." 


45
July 18, 1996 
At SEC Media Days in Birmingham, asked how losing his field-goal kicker to graduation and needing to rely on an unproven newcomer for the upcoming season would impact his team. 

"You're from Alabama, right? At Florida, we don't like to kick field goals. We like kicking extra points."


46
Sept. 21, 1996
After taking his No. 4-ranked Gators to Tennessee — and playing before 108,000 in newly expanded Neyland Stadium — and leaving with a 35-29 win over Peyton Manning and the second-ranked Vols, who fell behind 35-0 in the second quarter. [Highlights below] 

"They said it was going to be pretty loud up there. It was … in pregame warmups." 





47
Oct. 5, 1996 
After beating Arkansas 42-7 on the road behind a school-record 466 yards from quarterback Danny Wuerffel, then being jeered — "You're a run-it-up thug, Spurrier! You got no class!' — by an irate Razorbacks fan on the way off the field. 

"Thank you! Thank you! We love it when you accuse us of that!" 


48
Oct. 12, 1996 
After destroying 13th-ranked LSU 56-13 and racking up 635 yards of offense against the Tigers, whose defensive coordinator, Carl Reese, responsible for holding UF to just 321 yards and intercepting three passes the year before, had tutored other coaches from around the country with how to stop Spurrier-like offenses. 

"Hopefully, LSU's defensive coordinator won't be giving clinics on how to stop the Gators all next year. Yeah, we get Louisiana papers around here. we know what's going on and what's been said." 


49
Nov. 1, 1996
After beating Georgia 47-7 in the first game back in Jacksonville following a two-year hiatus due to renovations to the old Gator Bowl that expanded the stadium to 84,000. 

"I don't know how they got 84,000 fans in here. I do know there weren't 84,000 in here for long."


50
Nov. 5, 1996 
A few days before heading to Vanderbilt, Spurrier was reminded how the Commodores fans two years earlier in Nashville booed when the Gators, with backups in the game, passed for a late touchdown after the outcome had been well determined. 

"If they boo, they're going to be booing a bunch more because we're going to keep chucking it. If they want to help their team, they need to act like normal fans." 


51
Nov. 9, 1996 
After squeaking by Vandy 28-21 (thanks to a fourth-and-1 QB sneak in minus-territory with less than two minutes to play) and asked if he regretted the remarks earlier in the week directed at the Commodores fans. 

"You mean like I regret saying, 'Free Shoes U?' Tuesday and Wednesday conversations don't mean anything."


52
Nov. 16, 1996 
After defeating South Carolina at home 52-25, the Florida fans booed when the Gamecocks kicked a field goal with three seconds left.  

"I can't believe our fans booed. They actually acted like some of those fans at other places we play. They don't need to be booing when we got a 30-point lead."
 
53
Dec. 8, 1996 
Two days after winning the SEC title game over Alabama (thanks to a the fortuitous Texas upset of top-ranked Nebraska), a rematch with new No. 1 and unbeaten Florida State became his laser focus. More specifically, the bevy of late hits on Wuerffel (and post-game boasts of trying to knock him out of the game) by the Seminoles during their upset of the then-No. 1 Gators in their regular-season finale about 10 days earlier at Tallahassee. 

"I guess what's irritating is that their players admitted they tried to hit Danny as often as possible and that they were trying to knock him out of the game. And obviously, that's a reflection of what their coaches have told them to do. I just don't think that's the spirit of sports. … When Danny throws the ball and his hands are down, he shouldn't get hit in the ear hole or take a helmet in the back — and that's what he got up there two weeks ago. We're not going to try and hurt their quarterback, but maybe with some of their defensive players who take shots we just may have to find some way to retaliate. We have to. We're not going to take the same crap we took up there in Tallahassee."


54
Dec. 9, 1996 
More of the same. 

"I know I'm opening myself up to be criticized by Gator-haters. That's OK. They can call me a whiner and a crybaby, I don't care. I'm just trying to protect my quarterback. When you watch how Alabama plays then watch how FSU plays, there's a world of difference in how they're taught to play the game. Hopefully, this will be a clean one."
 

55
Dec. 10, 1996 
After Wuerffel took the high road when asked about Spurrier's remarks about FSU's so-called dirty tactics. 

"Danny doesn't have a nasty temper at all. He's kind of a New Testament person. He gets slapped upside the face and turns the other cheek. He says Lord forgive them. They know not what they are doing. I'm probably more of an Old Testament guy. You spear our guy in the ear hole, we think we're supposed to spear their guy in the ear hole. That's how we're a little different."


56
Dec. 28, 1996 
At a news conference in New Orleans in advance of the national-championship game against FSU in the Sugar Bowl. 

"Danny Wuerffel should not be treated like a tackling dummy because he plays quarterback against FSU." 


57
Jan. 2, 1997 
After obliterating FSU 52-20 for the program's first national championship (highlights below). 

"God is smiling on the Gators. We seem to be a team of destiny. After we lost a month ago in Tallahassee, almost all of you said the Gators were through. They're finished. It's over. They blew it. But as we look back now that game up there was just a who-won, who-lost game. Didn't mean all that much. Maybe we'll send [Texas coach] John Mackovic and [Ohio State coach] John Cooper [who upset unbeaten, No. 2 Arizona State in the Rose Bowl] some kind of ring. I think we have plenty of money. What was it, $8.7 million [for playing in the Sugar Bowl]? Get them something. They deserve something."





58
June 18, 1997 
To a reporter who attended Spurrier's appearance in front of several thousand fans at the Orlando Gator Club. 

"You're not going to write any of those Tennessee jokes, are you? Not that I'd take any of it back."


59
Aug. 3, 1997
At UF media day, when asked about sophomore quarterback Doug Johnson, Wuerffel's heir apparent, and his readiness after missing the entire football offseason while playing baseball in the Tampa Bay Devil Rays organization.

"He hit under .200, struck out about half the time and led the team in errors. Hopefully, his mind was on playing quarterback for the Gators."


60
Sept. 2, 1997
Three days after struggling to beat Southern Miss 21-6 in the season opener and asked about UF ranking 12th out of dozen league teams in total offense through the first week.  
 
"That's a fact. The mighty Gators are dead-ass last in the SEC. That's where we are and where we deserve to be."


61
After beating woeful Vanderbilt 20-7 at home (behind just 334 yards of offense) and being presented with the game ball for winning his 100th game as a college coach. [Note: UF had been eliminated from the SEC race with a loss to Georgia the week before] 

"I doubt I'll be dancing in the streets, with my football in my hands, down University Avenue tonight."

62
Nov. 29, 1997
On a roll while basking in the afterglow of a stunning 32-29 upset of top-ranked Florida State (and its top-ranked defense) two days earlier, a game that featured the famed rotating QBs (Johnson and walk-on Noah Brindise) and, of course, Jacquez Green behind Samari Rolle. 

"I would say FSU plays differently than any of the SEC teams we play. I guess that's a better D- word than the other one a lot of people use. … I tell you what would be really interesting is when Little Bowden plays Pop one day. I want to see how he feels when they grab his quarterback by the face mask and throw him down after the ball is thrown. That's what I'm waiting to see. We'll see if they hug each other after the game when some of that stuff that generally happens happens. … I don't blame their players because they're allowed to play that way. It seems as though they're coached to play that way and the [Atlantic Coast Conference] referees allow them to play that way. … Maybe we did score that last [TD] too early, but they only had 10 [defensive players] on the field. We'd have looked pretty foolish taking a knee against 10, then not getting in."


63
Dec. 26, 1997 
To a local reporter after checking into the team's Orlando hotel for its date with Penn State in the Citrus Bowl five days later. The headline in the Orlando Sentinel that morning said, "Hey Gators, welcome to your nightmare." The remark was a kind of ode to the '97 Alabama team.

"This is not a nightmare. A nightmare is going 4-7 and waking up on Christmas morning with your players in the Blue-Gray Game." 


64
Jan. 1, 1998 
After beating Penn State 21-6 in the Citrus Bowl. 

"The Tennessee Volunteers got nothing on us now. Now we got ourselves a Citrus Bowl championship, too." 


65
Oct. 3, 1998 
After winning 16-10 at Alabama in a game the Gators had five first-and-goal situations that netted just three points, thanks to turnovers, penalties and failed fourth-down conversions. 

"We don't play like champions anymore. The Gators play like a bunch of lizards." 
[Note: Spurrier DID NOT say "lizards." He said "losers," but was misquoted in an Alabama newspaper as such, with the misquote taking on a life of its own in a season of offensive struggles]


66
Oct. 4, 1998 
Easing off the "loser" talk a couple days later.

"Oh, we're not too down. We were really upset and frustrated after the game. I probably was too critical of the team, and, really, I look back where I could've made some better calls inside the 10-yard line, also. So I've got to take my share of the blame with everybody else. … So we're not that mad at the players. A lot of them played their hearts out and played very well. We just made some crucial, bad plays that made us look like a very average, mediocre bunch."  


67
Oct. 17, 1998 
Believe it or not, after a 24-3 defeat of Auburn (albeit it a sloppy victory against a bad team with a coach about to be fired) as boos rained down from the Florida Field faithful.

"It's OK to boo me, just don't boo our players. I know our fans don't like this kind of ball, but sometimes winning the game is the objective, rather than seeing how many points you can score. Statistics are for losers and assistant coaches." 

68
Jan. 3, 1999 
After beating Syracuse 31-10 in the Orange Bowl and asked his thoughts on the pending national-championship Fiesta Bowl matchup between No. 1 Tennessee and No. 2 Florida State. 

"I guess the bad news is that one of those two teams is going to be the national champion and the good news for the Gators is that one of them is going to lose. That's about the only way to look at it, I guess."


69
Oct. 2, 1999
After losing to Alabama 40-39 at home on a missed extra point on overtime.

"They're out there laughing, we're in here crying. That's how sports goes."


70
Oct. 10, 1999 
After winning 31-10 at LSU in a game marred by foolish unsportsmanlike conduct penalties that embarrassed the head coach. 
 
"This could be one of the most undisciplined teams we've had in our 10 years we've been at Florida. Hopefully, we can find the stupid-penalty guys and get rid of them or check the tapes or something to give us a chance. … We might go home, get off the bus and start running up and down the stadium steps. We have to do something to get their attention. We're just not going to flounder around and blow games."

71
December 1999
A couple weeks after losing 34-7 to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game, making for two straight losses — and some rumblings among Gator Nation dissatisifed with just nine wins — as the team prepared for a date against Michigan State in the Citrus Bowl. 

"I haven't seen a coach yet who people love when he's losing. But if you let it affect you, then you shouldn't be in coaching. When you lose, the head coach gets the blame. And the way our offense and passing game have been sputtering around, I probably deserve it." 


72
Sept. 30, 2000 
After taking his third ranked team to Mississippi State and getting trampled 47-35 by allowing the Bulldogs 517 yards of total offense, including 351 on the ground (the most points and rushing yards since the Nebraska debacle). 

"Mississippi State [fans] ought to be embarrassed tearing down the goal posts after beating this team."


73 
Sept. 29, 2001 
After shutting out Mississippi State 52-0 — a year after the above blowout at Starkville — and doing it by gaining 640 yards and throwing for 507 and six TDs against a pass defense that started the day statistically ranked first in the nation. 

"Their pass defense was No. 1 coming in, but won't be going out." 


74
Nov. 18, 2001 
The day after Florida's crushed FSU 37-13, replays appeared to show Seminoles defensive lineman Darnell Docket twisting the leg of Gators running back Earnest Graham during a dead-ball situation after a running play. Graham was forced from the game with a knee injury and later ruled out for the upcoming Tennessee game that would decide the SEC East title.

"Sometimes you wonder if their coaches instruct this kind of action. I've had enough of it. Somebody's got to speak out. I'm speaking out for Earnest Graham and everybody in college football. This kind of crap should not happen, but it seems like it happens over and over when we play these guys. … I'd be a lousy coward of a coach if I didn't support my player. FSU condones that type of play. They try to hurt people. That's the way they do business over there."


75 
Jan. 3, 2002 
At the news conference announcing he was stepping down after 12 seasons. 

"I'm not burned out, stressed out or mentally fatigued from coaching. I just feel my career as a college head coach after 15 years is complete, and if the opportunity and challenge of coaching an NFL team happens, it is something I would like to pursue. … I want to be able to walk out of here. I don't want to have to run out. Have you looked at the coaching history at the University of Florida? This job has chewed up and spit out about every coach it's had over the last 75 years. I don't want to be chewed up and spit out." 

And he wasn't.