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
Mike G
October 11th, 2011
5:30 pm
The real problem is that sports writers are arrogant prick wannabes. This includes the writer of this column.
Antique Roadshow
October 11th, 2011
5:32 pm
When did Garcia get cut? Bradley: your article is stupid.
destingator
October 11th, 2011
5:33 pm
dawg4u, USCe and UGA the only decent teams in the east? Listen at this boy who’s team does not have to play UA or LSU. You will find out we are decent enough to still kick some puppy butt you smug little *%$#!!!!!!!!!!!! Go GATORS!
Dawg n' go
October 11th, 2011
5:34 pm
P_The_Rick,
hilarious!
Steve
October 11th, 2011
5:37 pm
Mark, there have been times when your blog fails to inform, and today is one of those times. Ron Morris has a long history of negativity toward the Gamecock program which began long before Spurrier arrived. Rampage and rips do not accurately describe what happened, but they are the words you chose, which is the Ron Morris style.
Congratulations.
1eyedJack
October 11th, 2011
5:37 pm
SPURRIER:See, this is why I don’t read the newspapers! They’re garbage! We’re respectful to the media! We’re respectful to the public! And they go and write stories about guys who do everything right!!!
You should have come at me!!!
I’m a man!!!!
I’m 70!!!
Augusta Dawg
October 11th, 2011
5:42 pm
Spurrier is just waiting for retirement and his membership to the Augusta National offered by Hooty Johnson.former chairman & Carolina alumn. for taking the gamecock’s job………
St. Simon's Daddy
October 11th, 2011
5:47 pm
LMAO, Obviously you can read or have not read the entire column. I was making a comment from a GT fan calling the SEC East irrrelevant. You need to read before you post Jacka**..
The East is down this year but still superior to the Almost Competitive Conference.
GT
October 11th, 2011
5:48 pm
I never understood why a man that runs a very clean program and wins has to put up with insults from members of the press and more so why that is your “job” as a member of the press, the sport’s press . This is entertainment not hard journalism, though the money for it has gotten ridiculous. I have absolutely no dog in this hunt but I have for years been amazed at the description of South Carolina football and reality under Spurrier. I do believe the hate clouds the judgment on the writers and this “it doesn’t bother me” is bull. I think you and Barnhart take Spurrier very serious, it bothers both of you and in our market it is not bad business being a Spurrier hater, so why not. One problem when Richt loses to this guy that gets very little positive publicity locally and people think Richt has been “upset” by a inferior team it does not serve Richt well. A huge part of Richt problem is the hype of his team by the press and the understating of good teams like South Carolina or even Auburn.
St. Simon's Daddy
October 11th, 2011
5:49 pm
Nate the Great, that was not my post. I copied and pasted from GT Alum.
Rodster
October 11th, 2011
5:50 pm
Hey,
regarding giving Garcia the heave-ho… Dude. Spurrier is tough. 5 stikes and you’re out!
LoyalDawg
October 11th, 2011
5:51 pm
As an undergrad from a region where snow reigns, I had enough sense to move to where the weather was more to my liking and with an offer to attend Grad School at UGA in the early 80’s, I learned that football was an important aspect of my life and that we RULED Florida. I mean we owned them. Well, since, Coach Spurrier was at Fla. the tables turned and they owned us. I really like Coach Spurrier for his humor and integrity. I really do not know too much about the writer in question, however, if Coach did what he did, then that writer must be a real jackass. Maybe the focus ought to be on the jackass. This is the first time that I will say, Go Coach, give the guy Hell. You are a straight shooter. Loyalty counts. I will always love my Dawgs, in bad and good times.
what a joke
October 11th, 2011
5:53 pm
i hate to stick up for the evil genius, but this story is a perfect example of the double standard set by media types…..
they can flock around the carcass of a downtrodden program, coach or athlete like buzzards to roadkill, but when one of the people in the fishbowl start throwing rocks back….OMG it’s the end of the world…
GT
October 11th, 2011
5:54 pm
Egos are on both sides of this situation. I think you and about half the AJC Sports Department are bothered by Spurrier because you have egos. Clouds the thinking when it comes to South Carolina. You’re like a bunch of teenage boys bullied by an upper classman but putting on like it doesn’t bother you.
Boca Baby
October 11th, 2011
5:58 pm
But, who will Spurrier turn to when Shaw blows up? (And he inevitably will). The much maligned (and rightfully so) prodigal QB will not be there to play Lancelot and save the day as he oft has in the past when he has been on the outs with the EG. Let’s just say that the dismissal will eventually cost Carolina the East championship which has now been vicariously handed to Georgia (if they themselves don’t screw up the patsy schedule that remains).
Kelly
October 11th, 2011
6:00 pm
Is it incumbent upon a writer to portray the local team favorably? Let’s take into account that S.C.’s program hasn’t exactly been the pearl of the SEC. In any case, how entertaining. I actually expected worse, however. No visor?
Boca Baby
October 11th, 2011
6:00 pm
Oh, and by the way Mark, credentials or not Morris is a jerk.
trupert
October 11th, 2011
6:02 pm
Spurrier Finally cut’s Garcia after four years of trouble and only after Garcia implodes.
Spurrier than pulls a childish stunt so he can avoid answering the Garcia questions and some on here want to go after a writer for an article he wrote in the spring that you have not read?
Spurrier deserves to have to set before the media and answer each and every ”Garcia” question they want to ask.
Get a clue!
GT
October 11th, 2011
6:08 pm
Shaw looked pretty good last week. Spurrier finally could get rid of Garcia which no one blames him for doing. Garcia was a large part of the lost to Auburn, kid is trouble. Georgia better hope for some rain in Columbia, they need to lose a game or two to help out. Don’t think it will happen, thought they will lose to Clemson.
trupert
October 11th, 2011
6:11 pm
GT, SC will lose atleast one more. It’s SC and they always do.
FLA DAWG
October 11th, 2011
6:17 pm
Auburn did not whip SC my friend. I watched the game and both teams performed well – at their level. Auburn did enough at the end to win it and that is to their credit. Even more, Auburn will surpass LSU and their beloved state competition Bama within one or two years based on the talent they have (and deep).
But more to the main point, I am only guessing that Spurrier had really wanted to retire at the end of what he genuinely believed to be an SEC Championship (or at least SEC East Championship) season this year. My guess is that he believes Garcia blew it for him (not to mention his team mates, classmates and fans). For what it’s worth I’m glad he finally unloaded Garcia. I think there are kids who deserved a shot years ago that could have done a much better job this season than Garcia.
Hey, Spurrier is just being Spurrier!
But all of the above is just my opinion.
Butross
October 11th, 2011
6:18 pm
Steve Spurrier has more talent and integrity in his little finger than Mark Wretched can ever dream of.
Kramer
October 11th, 2011
6:22 pm
Bark Madley
October 11th, 2011
2:59 pm
You mutts would take Surrier in a minute. If he can put together a team in Columbia, imagine what he could do in Athens.
This is your brain on crack. Or your brain if you are a SC fan.
LakeDawg
October 11th, 2011
6:26 pm
Tru Dat trupert!
dawg4u
October 11th, 2011
6:26 pm
I really believe Clemson has a huge shot at running the table having already beaten Auburn, Florida State and Virginia Tech. The only roadblocks will be at GT and at SC. Their defense is better than both of those teams but Clemson does historically have problems at GT. That will be their biggest test. Get by the Jackets and it will set up pretty good for an undefeated season with the finale at SC. UGA could lose to Florida, Auburn and Tech but again, Bama and LSU are the CLASS of the SEC. Spurrier could be the coach to totally ruin Clemson’s season but I sincerely doubt it.
Chris
October 11th, 2011
6:28 pm
Mark, say what you want but you still have hurt feelings after your run in with Spurrier. Steve Spurrier is going down in history as one of the greatest college coaches of all time. You are a petty scribe who will be forgotten in a few years. You should be moved to the gossip section.
Dave
October 11th, 2011
6:29 pm
Mark Bradley I can tell you one thing Gamecock fans have been hating on Ron Morris for years now. If anything the hatred was probably even worse when Lou Holtz was our coach. Recently a store that sells Gamecock gear Jewelry warehouse became so disgusted by Ron Morris that the owner wrote a letter to The State newspaper where they were no longer advertising in that newspaper. This just happened in the last couple of months. Heck Ron Morris articles got banned from even being posted at several gamecock websites if that tells you the disgust fans have for him. The Sate newspaper even reassigned it’s beat writer about six months ago and sent him to Charlotte as well for being so negative. I would challenge you to go to some gamecock sites and see how hated this columnist is for yourself. I would compare Ron Morris to somebody you used to work with at the AJC who was also a columnist as well who wrote columns that were designed to push all the fans buttons. He is gone now I suspect you all knew many of those columns were nothing more than to try to get readers by poking the bear in the cage.
LakeDawg
October 11th, 2011
6:31 pm
Mark is one of the better writers I’ve read.
sportzfan
October 11th, 2011
6:41 pm
Bradley why don’t you take on Spurrier one on one since you seem to know so much. I don’t think he would have said what he did today without being able to back up his remarks…..this can be verified by basketball coach Horn….why don’t you give him a call.
I heard Ron Morris speaking here in Atlanta on 79 am about USC AD leaving Carolina for UNC because he was a UNC grad, and actually he was in Chapel Hill while he was being interviewed on radio here in Atlanta. All his comments then, and as always were negative toward South Carolina and he said that AD Hyman would leave USC and take the NC job….well, it didn’t happen. Ron Morris has an agenda against USC and hasn’t let up since Spurrier has been there.
So, instead of taking up for another lying a$$ reporter why don’t you check out the facts. Spurrier has every right to speak out when someone doesn’t print facts…..not lies. Again, why don’t you prove to us who’s telling the truth here.
jack
October 11th, 2011
6:43 pm
easy to suspend a players after you demolish a team with another QB..no class scoring another TD on Ky with 18 seconds left in the game, a knee would have been suffice, coach is an A Hole
goodsport
October 11th, 2011
6:48 pm
You leghumpers have two, maybe three more losses ahead . Auburn,G T and possibly open date!
Keith
October 11th, 2011
6:56 pm
Mark, now that Garcia’s dad has publicly stated that Stephen violated the terms of his reinstatement agreement with the USC Athletic Dept., resulting in his dismissal by the ATHELTIC DIRECTOR and that Stephen was given numerous chances to succeed at USC, do you plan on publishing an article that’s more fair and balanced? Heck, most reasonable people would settle for an accurate recitation of the facts!!!
goodsport
October 11th, 2011
6:58 pm
Clemson is in the ACC what make anyone think they can run the table.There is Wake,G T and of course The Gamecocks, winners the last two years. They are loaded at most positions. They beat the leghumpers while having a bad day!
SANDLOT
October 11th, 2011
6:59 pm
I could PING ZING that retard right out of SC all the way to Hiwaii.
Memories
October 11th, 2011
7:09 pm
By the way, USC demolished UGA last month, just in case some of you have short memories.
Spurrier is ten times the coach that Richt is (or will ever be).
Delbert D.
October 11th, 2011
7:10 pm
Clemson, wait and see on them. Their closest games have been 35-30 against 2-3 FSU, and 35-27 against Wofford. Boyd is injured, but his backup , a freshman looked OK against BC.
LakeDawg
October 11th, 2011
7:10 pm
How many reinstatement agreements did Garcia violate in the past? Just wondering.
Beachboy
October 11th, 2011
7:12 pm
Mark you are as pathetic and petty as Ron Morris! The two of you really belong together. Spurrier’s great mistake was not doing this 4-5 years ago. No fanbase in the country would have tolerated Morris for this long. His attacks on Spurrier and USC have been vicious and calculated. He has made it his obsession to damage USC athletics and Spurrier.
Thank God that Steve Spurrier has the balls to finally call him on it.
BULLDAWG BILL
October 11th, 2011
7:13 pm
SPURRIER IS AN S.O.B. AND NOTHING HAS CHANGED.
bamaguy
October 11th, 2011
7:14 pm
I think there is more to the Garcia story than we know. I feel sorry for the kid, he is a classic alcoholic. Maybe without the pressure of football and out of the spotlight, he can get his life back together.
wally
October 11th, 2011
7:17 pm
Quit worrying about everyone else DOGS and take care of wiining ourselves and everything will be alright. WINS make me happy losses make me sad. I learned a long time ago I feel better being happy than I do sad.
LakeDawg
October 11th, 2011
7:19 pm
I think there is more to the Garcia story than we know. I feel sorry for the kid, he is a classic alcoholic. Maybe without the pressure of football and out of the spotlight, he can get his life back together.
————————————————————————————————————————————–
Spurrier was his enabler.
goodsport
October 11th, 2011
7:19 pm
The ole ball coach knows his stuff. Appears moron is using him to help sell newspapers in Cola SC. This would be writer for the State has been bashing USC since i was a child. Previous coaches were reluctant to dignify the sports writers and i guess Spurrier just had enough and dropped the hammer today.
Chicken Poopy
October 11th, 2011
7:21 pm
What’s funny is SC will still win the sec east. Now we know why marky always picks the pups
bamaguy
October 11th, 2011
7:29 pm
I agree, LakeDawg. He covered for him too many times. Sad.
Delbert D.
October 11th, 2011
7:31 pm
Shaw’s backups are Andrew Clifford and Dylan Thompson. Both played against UK.
Notso Fast
October 11th, 2011
7:33 pm
If Steve S was at Ga. we would love him cause I guarantee he would have a better record than Coach R. He will test your patience from time to time but then he can billed a winning program and all is forgotten.
Bear
October 11th, 2011
7:45 pm
We have two spoiled brats here. One writes and one coaches. Neither of them is good for the Gamecocks.
dawg4u
October 11th, 2011
7:53 pm
Garcia may well have said something positive about Ron Morris but unless there is any proof then it is all just speculation. Something about this reporter and Garcia’s dismissal from the team seem a little suspicious though. I realize that Mark’s last comment about Garcia and Morris were probably tonugue in cheek but something seems not to be right about the timing.
Pitbull
October 11th, 2011
7:59 pm
Spurrier is right. All sports writers are hoes at heart.