Even Steve Spurrier wants
Peyton Manning to win Super Bowl MVP.
Even Steve Spurrier, the University of Florida coaching legend who used to take such pleasure in beating a young Peyton Manning and his Tennessee Volunteers, will be rooting for an old Peyton and his Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl.
Manning, of course, was 0-4 against Spurrier’s Gators when he quarterbacked at Tennessee, prompting Spurrier’s famous crack: “I know why Pey- ton came back for his senior season. He wanted to be a threetime Citrus Bowl MVP!”
Now Spurrier says of Manning: “It would be a wonderful story if Peyton could go out a winner. … I just wish I had
gone out a winner.”
Spurrier, who stepped down at South Carolina in the middle of last season, still seems to be a bit irked that he hung around too long when he always said he wouldn’t. “I stayed past my expiration date,” he said.
UCF didn’t win any games last year, but they did convince one of college football’s greatest legends to get out. Spurrier said when the Gamecocks trailed winless UCF 14-9 at halftime, he knew it was over.
“They had one of the worst offenses in the country and they drove the ball about 90 yards on us before halftime,” Spurrier said. “I went into the locker room and sorta said to myself, ‘I’ve lost it. What am I doing here?’” Two weeks later, he announced his resignation.
Short stuff: The Orlando Magic got some bad news on Groundhog Day earlier this week when Punxsutawney Phil popped up his head at Amway Center, saw his shadow and declared six more weeks of dribble penetration by opposing point guards. … Was UCF coach Scott Frost taking a shot at Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh earlier this week when he said, “As long as I’m running this program we’re not going to make a zoo out of National Signing Day.” Sure sounded like he might have been referring to Harbaugh’s ridiculously excessive “Signing With the Stars” dog and pony show that was described by ESPN.com as a “two-hour event that blended elements of awards shows, the NFL draft and late-night talk shows … an unprecedented headline-grabbing bonanza.” Although Frost never mentioned Michigan or Harbaugh by name, if it looks like a zoo and smells like a zoo …
Speaking of recruiting, have you ever noticed how every coach lauds his own recruiting class and talks about how great all the signees are. “Just once,” cracked former Texas basketball coach Abe Lem
ons, “I’d like to see a picture of one of these recruits with the caption ‘He’s a dog’ underneath it. ‘Ate up $8,000 worth of groceries in four years and still can’t play a lick!’” … Congratulations to former Uni-
versity of Florida quarterback Chris Leak for being named the new coach at Edgewater High School. But if he wins the state championship, will Tim
Tebow get all the credit? … His agent has fired him and his family says he’s suicidal. Sadly, Johnny
Football is now officially Johnny Freefall. … I keep reading these stories about how Tony Stewart won’t race in the Daytona 500 after breaking his back last weekend in a dune buggy accident in California. The narrative should be that Stewart will never race again – period. Climbing into race car again would be foolhardy when Stewart is just lucky he’s not paralyzed after shattering a vertebra in his back. Walk away, Tony, while you still can. …
A moment of silence, please, Maurice White, the founder and lead singer of Earth, Wind & Fire, has gone to That Big Boogie Wonderland in the Sky. Don’t ever forget that EW&F gave us one of the greatest pieces of musical advice in history: “When you feel down and out, sing a song, it’ll make your
day.” … By the time you’re done reading this sentence, FSU coach Jimbo Fisher will have inked three more 5-star recruits. Will somebody tell Jimbo signing day is over! … By the way, the most amazing feat I saw on signing day was four-star All-American offensive tackle Jauan Williams from Washington, D.C., announcing he was choosing FSU by standing there like a 300-pound gymnast and contorting his leg behind his head while doing the tomahawk chop. Said Jimbo: “I can’t even touch my toes.” … Did you see where Louisville banned itself from the NCAA Tournament this year for using hookers to recruit players? New name for Louisville’s gym: “The Best Little Hoophouse In Kentucky.” Literally and figuratively, Rick Pitino’s program has prostituted its ethics and morals.
Last word: “We are just three days away from the Super Bowl, and a 76-year-old man who has been to all 49 Super Bowls will be attending Super Bowl 50 this Sunday — but enough about Peyton Manning.” – Jimmy Fallon