Spurrier returns ‘home’ to Florida
GAINESVILLE, FLA. >> Just call him the Head Ball Consultant.
Steve Spurrier, who already has a statue outside Florida’s football stadium and recently had the field named after him, will now serve as ambassador and consultant for the school’s athletic department.
Spurrier resigned from a similar position at South Carolina on Friday before the Gators announced his new role at his alma mater. He already has an office in “The Swamp” and is planning to move back to Gainesville with his wife, Jerri, and split their time between the college town and nearby Crescent Beach, where they have a home.
“I knew my coaching career someday was going to be over,” Spurrier said during a conference call with reporters. “I wanted to do something. I did not want to be a retired dude and do nothing. I wanted to be associated with my alma mater, the University of Florida.”
Spurrier stepped down as South Carolina’s football coach last season, but stopped short of saying he was retiring. He talked about possibly doing some consulting and maybe coaching at the high school level.
He started talking to Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley about returning to Gainesville several months ago, and discussions “got pretty serious” in the last few weeks.
His role is undefined, but Spurrier expects to work primarily as a fundraiser for the athletic department and help promote the Gators — something he’s done as well as anyone for the last 50 years. He might even give Florida coach Jim McElwain and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier a little advice.
“I’ll be in and out mostly,” Spurrier said. “Coach Mac has welcomed me to come to the football offices a little bit. But I can assure you I’ll stay out of coach’s way. I’m not going to be in coaches meetings or things like that, just talking a little ball with Coach Mac, Coach Nuss and might be something we’ll get into.”
Also: Trash talk beckons in NFC East
RICHMOND, VA. >> Now that they’re in the same division, Josh Norman and Odell Beckham Jr. can start talking trash again.
After Beckham told GQ Magazine that his catch made the new Washington cornerback “relevant,” Norman responded. On the second day of Redskins camp, Norman chuckled at the mention of Beckham and his comments and brushed them off.
“I guess if a guy talks about you that much, you must be doing something right,” Norman said.
“It means nothing to me, obviously,” Norman said about Beckham’s swipe. “He’s talking about me but I’m not talking about him . ... Why am I talking about you? For what? So I have nothing to say because now we are the hunted and not the hunter.” NASHVILLE, TENN. >> The Titans agreed to terms with seven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Andre Johnson. The 6-foot-3 Johnson has 1,053 catches for 14,100 yards and 68 TDs. DAVIE, FLA. >> Miami defensive end Dion Jordan’s suspension ended just as camp began. Jordan was reinstated by the NFL on a conditional basis after sitting out last season for his latest violation of the league’s substance abuse policy.