Steve Spurrier on a rampage: Rips a columnist, dumps Garcia
Here's Steve Spurrier, working hard on his public image. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
Having once received a handwritten letter from Steve Spurrier in which I, humble scribe, was described using a term most often reserved for the barnyard, I know full well that the man with the massive ego isn’t above taking umbrage over the slightest of slights. So it was with some amusement that I learned of the fit he threw in the direction of the State’s Ron Morris today.
Short version: The Evil Genius walked into his weekly press conference and ripped into Morris, who was sitting in the room. (Information is provided by WISTV.com, which also offers a helpful video of Spurrier’s bizarre spiel.) The E.G. informed the assembled media that he needed to “get something off my chest.” He then took Morris to task for a column he’d written this spring on Spurrier’s “borrowing” of Bruce Ellington from the South Carolina basketball program. Morris’ description of the E.G.’s “courting” of Ellington, was, quoth Spurrier, “a fabrication.”
So Spurrier offered the rest of the media this one-time-0nly deal: He’d go off elsewhere and do one-on-ones with the TV stations, and when he returned he’d brief the print/Internet folks. Only trouble was, Morris was there when the E.G. made his reappearance. So Spurrier left, his rationale being that he wasn’t going to help Morris write negative things about his program.
I’ve seen this Spurrier in action, and it’s at odds with the usual plainspoken and entertaining E.G. Before the SEC title game in 1994 here, he refused to answer — or even take — a question from Larry Guest, then the columnist for the Orlando Sentinel. Guest and Spurrier had had a running contretemps, and it was my use of a printed Guest nugget that prompted the handwritten note mentioned by Mark Bowden in his New Yorker profile of Spurrier. (The nugget: Guest wrote that Spurrier sought to have a Gainesville Sun beat writer reassigned after the writer gave Auburn’s Terry Bowden the edge over the E.G. in one of those matchup-box things.)
For the record, I enjoy watching Spurrier in interview mode. (Who doesn’t?) I don’t enjoy it when a big-time coach tries to bigfoot a local writer. Mr. Morris is a fully accredited member of the media. He has every right to be sitting where he was. It’s part of the job. For the E.G. to decide, apparently after months of stewing, that he’d make a big deal of an old column was the height of unprofessionalism, not to mention immaturity.
Let’s also note the timing: Spurrier didn’t make his strange little stand after his Gamecocks had gotten whipped by Auburn. He did it a week later, after South Carolina had beaten Kentucky 54-3. Funny how that worked.
And for those who are saying: “Bradley, you just hate Spurrier because he called you a bad name?” … for the record, I don’t hate him. But I get called bad names on this little blog on a daily basis and I have, via necessity, developed a thick skin. The E.G. would be well served to do the same.
Oh, and that wasn’t the only strange news emanating from Columbia today: In a statement, South Carolina announced that the oft-suspended and recently deposed quarterback Stephen Garcia is no longer a Gamecock. We can only assume Garcia’s final offense was in saying, “You know, Ron Morris is a really fine writer.”
By Mark Bradley
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316 comments Add your comment
Contractor
October 11th, 2011
3:05 pm
Bark Madley,
I think you are wrong there. Steve Spurrier would be the only coach in the country that Georgia would not accept in my eyes. Due to all of the A whoopings he put on us at Florida and the few at South Carolina, I don’t think anyone wants him in Athens. I do believe Nick Saban, Les Miles, Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer however would be welcomed with open arms no matter what the public thinks of them. Their ability to win outweighs any hate Georgia fans may have for them, and if a National Championship was brought to Athens, they would have a statue erected in no time like Alabama did for Satan.
BG
October 11th, 2011
3:05 pm
Would Spurrier have booted Garcia if Shaw hadn’t played so well??
Smitty
October 11th, 2011
3:05 pm
Really Bradley? I had a feeling the whiny sportswriters club would circle the wagons on this issue. Ron Morris has had this coming for years. After doing some research, Larry Guest was cut from the same cloth. I don’t know how coaches put up with hacks like Morris as much as they do.
uhoh
October 11th, 2011
3:06 pm
Pretty funny that the Dogs manage to lose to this train wreck….
Uncle Curly
October 11th, 2011
3:07 pm
Sorry Mark…..the Spurrier thing was not a rant. Not even close. i am not a Spurrier fan and wouldn’t pull for a Spurrier coached team, no time, no place. But that was not a rant. Now you sound bitter.
Dirk
October 11th, 2011
3:08 pm
Dang, if only Mark Richt had the brains to kick our INTERCEPTION MACHINE WHO CAN’T BEAT A WINNING TEAM LIKE EVER off the team and go with Hutson Mason or Lemay.
Carlton
October 11th, 2011
3:08 pm
Ahh, Spurrier being Spurrier. And the Gator Nation/others wonder why UGA fans hate this douche so much.
Spurrier’s logic: Let Garcia back on the team after 5 suspensions, hoping he gives us the best chance to win this season. Midway and 9 picks through, bench Garcia, and then kick him off the team like I should have done 6 months ago. Give the kid another chance, and if he plays poorly, it’s probably due to his reoccurring alcohol problem..which we should have got him treatment for. But, I’m not the bad guy if I leave him on the team or kick him off the team later.
Spurrier, the low life scum we’ve all come to expect.
Steve
October 11th, 2011
3:08 pm
So… you all get to write what you want but the “E.G.” only get’s to say what you think is OK? Hmmm…
Mark Bradley
October 11th, 2011
3:09 pm
Don’t believe I used the word “rant.”
Joey
October 11th, 2011
3:10 pm
Ping Eye 2 sand wedge. Didn’t know I had something in common with the Evil Genius . . .
not a fan
October 11th, 2011
3:12 pm
Did he also dismiss his assistant coach who was arrested this summer for public intoxication and public urination? NO……………
Nate the Great
October 11th, 2011
3:13 pm
My question is who is the QB coach’s drinking buddy now? Maybe Garcia will hang around so they can still go get a beers after practice!!
HAHAHAHAHAHA Spurrier you are such a joke!!! Took a good game by the backup before you had any cojones. Why couldn’t you do it after he showed up to the meeting drunk? This is ALMOST as pathetic as the Urban Meyer Weiner and Chris “Time to die b*tch” Rainey!!!
GwinnettDad
October 11th, 2011
3:14 pm
Someday when Garcia’s picture is on the side of a milk carton, or in a photograph from some State penal institution, he’ll be an example of how ego ruins one’s future, and be a prime example of how alcohol and drugs lead to bad choices that screws up a life.
Bogey
October 11th, 2011
3:14 pm
KJ, your response to GT Letterman was a riot.
Factchecker
October 11th, 2011
3:15 pm
Mark, do you happen to know the history between Morris, the SC beat writer for “The State” newspaper in Columbia, and Spurrier? Have you read his columns? Morris or MoRon as he is often called by SC fans, seldom, if ever writes anything positive about SC. The word positive is just not part of his vocabulary regarding SC. Bad news is bad news but come on. This guy lives for spitting out every negative thing he can say about SC. How long do you think you would last here if you directed such vitriol again UGA or even Tech? So, if you are going to write about the subject, how about actually putting forth background facts for the “readers” to evaluate instead of jumping to conclusions. I know you absolutely hate SC ( given your writings) and are a UGA apologist (expected given the audience), but this feud pre-dates the Ellington issue. Morris apparently has the editorial license to write whatever negative piece he desires when it comes to SC. Spurrier’s beef (as well as that of many SC fans) with Morris is that his columns are overwhelmingly negative about SC. I have read most of Morris’ columns about SC since Spurrier’s arrival and Morris seizes upon every opportunity to go virulently negative. Meanwhile, the upstate competition gets by unscathed with violent incident after incident. You have to observe the contrast in reporting. When asked about it and why no one at “The State” comments about what takes place at Clemson, the line of “The State” is that they don’t have a beat writer assigned to Clemson – even though they maintain a Clemson section in the print and online versions of their paper. You have to go to a pay per view site on “The State” to read most articles about the Gamecocks but not Clemson. Somehow, Morris’ columns seem to be available for free at times. A Clemson player throws his girlfriend down a flight of stairs, a track athlete beats his girl friend with a metal towel rod, that’s not newsworthy for “The State” or the “Greenville News.” An effective boycott was organized against that paper for negative reporting on Clemson so you won’t see much of anything negative about Clemson in that paper, much less anything that even touches to Morris’ journalism. Garcia has done some stupid stuff and probably should have been permanently banned from SC’s team, but none of it involved serious physical violence against, of all things, a woman. Those Clemson athletes were allows to stay, and to my knowledge, nothing was said of it by any major SC paper. You do not expect the level of negative journalism emanating from Morris against the home team from the local paper but that’s what takes place every week in Columbia. You expect having negative articles penned by out of town and national media with a slant, and/or, an agenda, but literally in your own back yard (The State’s offices/printing plant are located within walking distance of Williams-Brice Stadium)?
KOOL
October 11th, 2011
3:16 pm
Who cares if Spurrier dressed down the journalist about an old column? Is the journalist no longer repsonsible for the said column? Is there a statute of limitations? Journalists & reporters love to create stories for sensationalistic value often distorting reality. I am unsympathetic. I’ve been misquoted more than once by the press, and the only victim I see is Spurrier.
NorthwestDawg
October 11th, 2011
3:16 pm
Here’s the rather milk toast column that got Spurrier all fired up …
http://www.thestate.com/2011/03/25/1750504/morris-spurrier-tops-horn-in-tug.html
Chuck
October 11th, 2011
3:17 pm
How can Spurrier dismiss a player who’s never been suspended for any games before?
Did he do something suddenly, other than commit turnovers, that warrants such an immediate dismissal out of the blue like this?
PMC
October 11th, 2011
3:17 pm
Excellent use of countretemps! We’ve seen many of those with our local sports teams.
Nate the Great
October 11th, 2011
3:17 pm
Am I the only one that noticed those sweet pant? Great thing about them for a geezer like Spurrier is he could crap himself and no one would notice because they already look like sh*t!!!
Delbert D.
October 11th, 2011
3:19 pm
Nothing can top a Jim Mora (the elder) presser.
blazer
October 11th, 2011
3:20 pm
as long as he beat uga!
brick
October 11th, 2011
3:20 pm
I got no love loss for SOS, but he was the news in this case, reporters were there to see him and ask him questions. As much as it is the reporters right to interview, does the one being interview not have the right to refuse? But for the Garcia dismisal, SOS hung on to him this long, why not let him finish his career on the sideline? But Garcia should have been gone the day he keyed a professor’s car, absolutely cowardly act on his part.
LMAO
October 11th, 2011
3:20 pm
St. Simon’s Daddy
THE SEC IS 2 TEAMS LSU AND BAMA THE REST SUCK
SORRY DUDE THE SEC EAST IS PITYFUL
Skeezix
October 11th, 2011
3:21 pm
Some of these coaches are living in a fantasy world with nothing but yes men around them–so out of touch with reality. Folks like that can react weirdly when hit with negative feedback. However, Spurrier is a brilliant coach-can you think of anyone else who could win at Duke in football like he did?-so that is about all USC really cares about.
evil empire
October 11th, 2011
3:22 pm
hey nate…regarding spurrier and meyer using players you think they should not have…it’s all about the “w”, nothing else matters…winners win titles, uga loses to ucf in a minor bowl game…thats the way it is…
tiger7_88
October 11th, 2011
3:23 pm
Oh my… Bradley is on his soap-box about EGOS?
The irony is so thick you could cut it with a knife.
JB
October 11th, 2011
3:23 pm
LMAO……….don’t think so. Dawgs, Fla,SC, Ark AU could beat most ACC teams IMO
Tony
October 11th, 2011
3:25 pm
Poor Mark, did a wittle head coach hurt your wittle constipation/urinal feelings
murfdawg
October 11th, 2011
3:26 pm
As much as I dislike Spurrier, I thought he handled the announcement before the press conference really well. It kind of reminded me of Saturday Night Live when Dana Carvery used to do GHWBush. “Ain’t gonna talk to him. Wouldn’t be prudent. He’s too negative. Ain’t gonna talk to him. He hurt my feelings.”
Question for Mark Bradley. What kind of position does this put the AD and the school president?
LMAO
October 11th, 2011
3:27 pm
JB:
You live in “Wally World” who said anything about the ACC as
a typical Puppy fan you think anyone who cuts down the SEC is
a ACC Fan dude I am sorry but UGA is NOT GOOD – Auburn lost
to Clemson – FLA is horrible – SC will lose at least 2 down the stretch
one of those to Clemson- Take off your glasses the SEC is 2 Teams
BAMA and LSU
PERIOD
Joey
October 11th, 2011
3:27 pm
Yep. Give us Tech’s schedule, and we’re AP #5 right now . . .
sogadog
October 11th, 2011
3:28 pm
It is interesting that Spurrier didnt kick Garcia off the team until his back up quarterback started playing well. Garcia could get away with murder if there wasnt a good back up QB.
Bobby B
October 11th, 2011
3:28 pm
S Garcia was “suspended” 5 times, and missed nary of a minute of game time due to those transgressions. I think we’ve figured out how SCU has a good baseball program…it takes 6 strikes to strike out there!
Pauls little Johson
October 11th, 2011
3:30 pm
LMAO what teams in the ACC don’t suck? They all do.
St. Simon's Daddy
October 11th, 2011
3:31 pm
LMAO, I guess the ACC is a great football conference? One good team and that is Clemson.
Oklahoma Sooners Rule
October 11th, 2011
3:32 pm
From what I have seen this year, the three best teams in the SEC are LSU, Alabama and Arkansas. I do not think any teams in the SEC East are really relevant. For example, Georgia lost to the only decent teams that they played – Boise State and South Carolina. Their wins were against Coastal Carolina, Mississippi, Mississippi State and Tennessee. I will be surprised if any of these four teams finish with a winning record this year (other than possibly Coastal Carolina which is a FCS school). So, I do not think Georgia should be barking too loudly. In general, there is a large separation from the top three teams in the SEC and the rest. Go Sooners!
RAYMOND
October 11th, 2011
3:33 pm
Think Spurrier would have cut Garcia if he had been playing well?
JB
October 11th, 2011
3:36 pm
Upset special this week. Va over Tech.
LMAO
October 11th, 2011
3:37 pm
Oklahoma Sooners Rule
Finally Someone Who knows Football
GA Fans = Wally World
LMAO
October 11th, 2011
3:40 pm
Amen Oklahoma Sooners Rule
Nerds! Nerds! Nerds!
October 11th, 2011
3:41 pm
Pretty sad that Spurrier waited until Garcia’s final year of eligibility to get “tough.”
This guy should have been kicked off the team his Sophomore year. Garcia knew the “indefinite suspensions” were a joke. He had a drinking problem back then, and could have used help. Instead, he is two more years down in the bottle, and has nothing to look forward to. I would never send my kid to Spurrier. Winning at all costs is not worth winning. Spurrier has failed this young man.
Stay classy Spurrier. Not running the clock out on Saturday was Bush League. Bush League.
LMAO
October 11th, 2011
3:41 pm
Pauls little Johson – St. Simon’s Daddy
Ones again why do you morons always go after the ACC
has nothing to do with the ACC
Your links following the Weirdest USC Presser in History! « Gamecock Digest
October 11th, 2011
3:45 pm
[...] the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, blog takes on Morris and Garcia: http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2011/10/11/whoa-the-evil-genius-rips-a-columnist-and-not-your…–and–; [...]
homerlee
October 11th, 2011
3:46 pm
Has Garcia gotten his bus ticket to Mississippi?
Gbal
October 11th, 2011
3:47 pm
Kudos to the EG CSS for refusing a press confrence due negative reporting of a particular writer whos reporting, he felt, hurt his football program. I have written on thes blogs before that CMR should do the same thing. The AJC has been one of the biggest detrements to the UGA team at times with rectuiting and negative press in the interest of blog hits. CMR …. Feel free to follow suit!!! Im behind you 100% …
Honolulu Dawg
October 11th, 2011
3:47 pm
The Oklahoma Sooners are the biggest choke artist since the Buffalo Bills of the 90’s
Matt from MN
October 11th, 2011
3:52 pm
Steve “Formerly Superior” Spurrier is a class A, no doubt about it, JERK.
Kevin
October 11th, 2011
3:54 pm
LMAO- what a loser! I’m sure I speak for everyone not just UGA fans. Any man that types LMAO is a complete tool. Why didn’t you throw in a LOL just for kicks. Cartoons are coming on and mommy has your grilled cheese sandwich ready with the edges cut off just like you like it.
Gbal
October 11th, 2011
3:54 pm
and the great thing to in the poll says (78%) that spurrior was right in regusing the press confrence as long as that reporter was present.