Spurrier has no qualms about this quarterback (and more from Media Days)
HOOVER, Ala. -- Famously tough on his quarterbacks, South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier clearly is fond of the Gamecocks’ current starter at the position, former Flowery Branch High star Connor Shaw.
So much so that he brought Shaw, a junior, with him to Media Days.
“Our sports information guy, he said, ‘Coach, this is the first year since you’ve been at South Carolina that you brought a quarterback to this media day,’” Spurrier said.
“I said, ‘That’s right, isn’t it?’”
Each team brings three players, and Spurrier said he selects the Gamecocks’ delegates based on their ability to “represent our university and our football program in a first-class manner.”
Shaw seems untroubled by Spurrier’s reputation for being hard on quarterbacks. Shaw called his coach “pretty much a perfectionist.”
“I knew coming in that he critiques his quarterback hard, but that’s what you expect as a quarterback,” Shaw said. “In order to get better, you have to embrace that criticism and just listen to what he has to say.”
As for the Media Days spotlight, Shaw said, “I’m not big on media or preseason hype. I kind of just stay level-headed and focused on what I have to do on the field. But it is an incredible honor to be here.”
Shaw started nine games last season after the dismissal from the team of oft-suspended quarterback Stephen Garcia. Shaw ran for 525 yards and eight touchdowns and passed for 1,448 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. He completed 65.4 percent of his passes.
“We’ll … probably be more of a running team, play defense, pick your spots to throw the ball,” Spurrier said. “That’s not a bad formula. A little different than what I’ve coached in the past, [but] you can win a bunch of ballgames doing it that way.”
The Saban-Pinkel connection
So what type of football player was Nick Saban, the Alabama coach?
Missouri coach Gary Pinkel knows. He was Saban’s teammate for two seasons at Kent State, 1971 and ’72.
“As a player, great competitor,” Pinkel said. “Very tough, physical player. Very dedicated. Very committed. Very team oriented.
“I think that reflects the intensity level, very high intensity level. I think that’s the same guy you see coach and have the great success he’s had in college football.”
Under coach Don James at Kent State, Pinkel was a tight end and Saban a defensive back
“He had a remarkable influence on me,” Pinkel said of James, “as he did to Nick Saban.”
Pinkel succeeded Saban as the head coach at Toledo in 1991, when Saban left after one season to become defensive coordinator of the NFL’s Cleveland Browns. On the way out the door, Saban phoned Pinkel and asked if he’d be interested in pursuing the Toledo job.
“He put me in a position to get an underneath opportunity,” Pinkel said. “That’s very important, an opportunity. I’m appreciative to him.”
Pinkel spent 10 years as Toledo’s head coach before taking the Missouri job in 2001.
Two James Franklins in the SEC
Vanderbilt coach James Franklin was appreciative that Missouri quarterback James Franklin (no relation) is not attending SEC Media Days.
“I walked through the lobby last year, and nobody knew who I was,” said the Vanderbilt coach, who is much more recognized after a successful first season in the league. “I was very appreciative that coach Pinkel didn’t bring [his quarterback] this year because once again I would take the backseat to the other James Franklin.”
They said it
- Missouri wide receiver T.J. Moe: “People say [SEC teams] are more physical, and I can’t tell you that from experience yet. I’ll be able to tell you Sept. 9, I guess, after we get done with Georgia.” Georgia plays at Missouri on Sept. 8.
- Vanderbilt cornerback Trey Wilson: “We are going to … take every opportunity to get rid of that stigma that we have attached to us as the little brother in the SEC.”
- South Carolina free safety D.J. Swearinger: “I think our defense is one of the best in the nation, not just in the SEC. We’ve got to work to earn it, though, and we’re working hard in the offseason to try and get in the No. 1 spot this year.”
- Texas A&M linebacker Sean Porter: “There’s been a lot of weird questions asked of me. I’m just trying to get used to all of this excitement.”
Etc.
The SEC said about 1,100 credentials — an all-time high — were issued for Media Days, including about 750 to media members and the rest mainly to corporate partners and conference and school administrators. Thirty-three radio stations are broadcasting live shows from the event… . The festivities continue Wednesday with six more teams taking the stage: Florida, Mississippi State, Arkansas, Kentucky, Auburn and LSU. The event concludes Thursday with appearances by Alabama, Tennessee, Ole Miss and Georgia.
FULL AJC COVERAGE FROM DAY 1 OF SEC MEDIA DAYS:
- SEC commissioner Mike Slive talks playoffs and a lot more
- South Carolina’s Spurrier prefers UGA’s schedule
- Missouri, Texas A&M state their case
- Jeff Schultz’s digi-blog: Welcome to Media Daze.
- Aggies excited, not intimidated, by SEC debut.
- Schultz: SEC needs to be vigilant to avoid Penn State-like scandals
- Vanderbilt coach passes on question about Todd Grantham
- The media’s record at predicting SEC champ: 4-16 since 1992
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102 comments Add your comment
flo-ri-duh
July 18th, 2012
9:02 am
Coach Franklin is good for Vandy even if he is a prick.
Butter Bean Floyd
July 18th, 2012
9:02 am
First!
flo-ri-duh
July 18th, 2012
9:02 am
Am I supposed to say 1st!?
flo-ri-duh
July 18th, 2012
9:04 am
I was 1st before you Butter Bean……. that makes you 2nd – nothing to brag on. Now get ready for the short bus to pick you up.
DOGGIE IN NC
July 18th, 2012
9:04 am
1st!
DOGGIE IN NC
July 18th, 2012
9:04 am
Rats!
Ed Pilcher
July 18th, 2012
9:05 am
4th!
DOGGIE IN NC
July 18th, 2012
9:05 am
When will I ever learn – skip the article dummy!
Ed Pilcher
July 18th, 2012
9:07 am
Crap!
DOGGIE IN NC
July 18th, 2012
9:09 am
Defense is the key in the SEC and the EAST will have three of the top 10 defenses in the country this year (UGA, USC, & FLA) – could be the year the East comes back on top over the WEST – Bama should be down from last year – ARK lost important people and who knows how Mr. Feeley will play for LSU. GO DOGGIES!
I dropped my fried twinkie
July 18th, 2012
9:11 am
If you don’t read the article and just post “First” You are “First” a Moron & “Second” Stupid.
I am surprised Saban ever saw the field with his lack of height but it was Kent State.
.
kingdaddy
July 18th, 2012
9:17 am
Just don’t drop the soap…
I am an IDIOT
July 18th, 2012
9:17 am
You are a moron if you post your real name on the blogs. You can reach UOAD (aka Twinkie) at johnnymknight@aol.com
Butter Bean Floyd
July 18th, 2012
9:17 am
dawg gone it…… photo finish second
Butter Bean Floyd
July 18th, 2012
9:20 am
So if DJ swearinger says the Gamechickens have the best defense where does that leave UGA? Second?
kingdaddy
July 18th, 2012
9:20 am
In todays PC world, being 1st isn’t as important as learning to cheat and not get caught…
I am an IDIOT
July 18th, 2012
9:21 am
I have NINETEEN different Blog Handles. I CAPITALIZE nearly every LETTER of EVERy WORD that I TYPE for EMPHASIS. Why? Because I am OBNOXIOUSLY LOUD all the TIME. I Have never had a SINGLE CONSTRUCTIVE thought to add to ANY of the AJC Football Blogs EVEN though I spend nearly every WAKING hour of EVERY day playing TROLL on the UGA Blogs. Since NO ONE WOULD EVER PAY ATTENTION TO ANYTHING I SAY, I CAPITALIZE As MANY WORDS as I CAN in Hopes that Somebody pays ATTENTION to me. I am a TOTAL LOSER.
Butter Bean Floyd
July 18th, 2012
9:23 am
Vanderbilt cornerback Trey Wilson: “We are going to … take every opportunity to get rid of that stigma that we have attached to us as the little brother in the SEC. A loss to Vandy in Athens will be “Ricky Bobby” Richts waterloo game.
kingdaddy
July 18th, 2012
9:26 am
Twink,
Whose cherrios did you moisten??
JB
July 18th, 2012
9:29 am
Spurrier will leave a legacy in the SEC as a pretty dang good coach…….But a classless person.
I am an IDIOT
July 18th, 2012
9:30 am
The REASON I SPend SO much time on the UGA Blogs is because my FELLOW Tech posters think I am A J@CK@SS. I TRY to be Friends with them, even INVITING Them to JOIN me for a DRINK BEFORE we join the other 400 TECH fans in the STANDS AT BOBBY DODD but I CAN’t FInd anyone who Wants to be FRIENDS anymore. SO I am ALL ALONE, ALL DAY, Trying to Stir up as MUCH GARBAGE AS I can on the UGA bloGs. I KNOW it’s PATHETIC, but it’s my LIFE. I LIVE to be a PUNK on the Blogs.
DawginLex
July 18th, 2012
9:30 am
SC can say all they want to say but reality is this:
Their defensive secondary is depleted. They will get lit up by Arkansas and Georgia.
Look for them to lose to Florida in the Swamp too
I dropped my fried twinkie
July 18th, 2012
9:33 am
Kingdaddy I have no idea. It seems that poster would rather talk about my posts than about the article.
old dog
July 18th, 2012
9:34 am
Just think; if we block this year, we can be good………………
I dropped my fried twinkie
July 18th, 2012
9:36 am
What happened to THOMAS BROWN?
He hasn’t been commenting for a few days now.
kingdaddy
July 18th, 2012
9:37 am
Bean,
your Richt-bashing is as funny as your name. Your hero “Pole-bean” Franklin, is trying real hard not to say anything else stupid before the UGA game. The Dawgs will have a very uncomfortable reception waiting for him and his team after last year, lol. Now, he’s scared, kinda like you seem to be by worring about UGA every article. Did you ever say what team you support? Anyone but UGA,RIGHT???
bucket
July 18th, 2012
9:38 am
Gotta love Spurrier. I am sure he will be just as upset about the scheduling when things cycle back around in his favor!
kingdaddy
July 18th, 2012
9:40 am
Twink,
he has a very thick file on you, and he’s watching you McGoo…
bucket
July 18th, 2012
9:40 am
If last year’s UGA vs Auburn game is any indication, I think the Dawgs will be ready for Vandy when they arrive in Athens. However, it is always prudent not to count your chickens before they hatch!
I dropped my fried twinkie
July 18th, 2012
9:43 am
KingDaddy..he should find 1 name and stick to it but he is too scared. He spends more time commenting on my style than he does following his team.
bucket
July 18th, 2012
9:44 am
Another thing on the schedule, why would Spurrier want UGA’s schedule? I guess he wants Auburn instead of LSU, but he couldn’t beat Auburn at home with Lattimore, Jeffreys, and Garcia even though Auburn had graduated almost their entire team from 2010!
I am an IDIOT
July 18th, 2012
9:47 am
“he should find 1 name and stick to it but he is too scared”
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Say Again UOAD? I mean SMART? I mean Twink? I mean…..NEVERMIND!!
kingdaddy
July 18th, 2012
9:50 am
bucket
Lil stevie is only concerned about leaving the “coop”, lol. He hates being “Mr. Irrelevant” and would probably chew his leg off to escape the ball & çhain that is S.C. Columbia is the seventh level of Hades, Lmaoff…
Destin Dawg
July 18th, 2012
9:51 am
I’m very upbeat about the Dawgs chances this season , but Missouri will be tough in Columbia… hit the ground running and Bo Bo KEEP YOUR FOOT ON THE GAS !!!
I dropped my fried twinkie
July 18th, 2012
9:52 am
do I use those names on this blog? NO
I dropped my fried twinkie
July 18th, 2012
9:54 am
Since the Mizzou game is the 2nd game it is looking like the Dawgs are lucky not to be playing a good team for the first game. UGa doesn’t even have to think about Buffalo to win.
I am an IDIOT
July 18th, 2012
9:55 am
Now, that is a bald face lie, SMART, I mean Twinkie.
Butter Bean Floyd
July 18th, 2012
9:55 am
I support UGA not our lame incompetent coaching staff….. now get over it
kingdaddy
July 18th, 2012
9:56 am
Idiot,
Twink doesn’t choose to change his name, he has to change his name because he’s infamous in certain circles. How many names do you have???
I am an IDIOT
July 18th, 2012
9:56 am
You are a PUNK and a LIAR too!
I am an IDIOT
July 18th, 2012
9:58 am
kingdaddy — You seem like you’re pals. Tell me, is he schizo in person?
I dropped my fried twinkie
July 18th, 2012
10:00 am
IDIOT…..you don’t know what you are talking about as usual.
a PUNK? I do miss my Dead Kennedy’s & Suicidal Tendencies days, but I turned in Punk for Country & Classic Rock.
I am an IDIOT
July 18th, 2012
10:02 am
I am not talking about music. You’re a punk because you can’t think of anything better to do than TROLL the UGA blogs. Get a life, loser.
kingdaddy
July 18th, 2012
10:02 am
Bean,
you support UGA, then back all of the Dawgs for the sake of unity and recruiting. We improved last year and an improvment this year will put us at 12-2 and maybe a SEC CHAMPIONSHIP. Get on board or you will be in the way and UGA will roll right over you on its way to the top…
Lola
July 18th, 2012
10:03 am
I like butter bean!
I dropped my fried twinkie
July 18th, 2012
10:05 am
KingDaddy….maybe “Bean” is taking over for Thomas Brown. I would say he is Thomas Brown, 13-1, & buLLdog but he doesn’t Copy & Paste.
Slive: SEC needs to be vigilant to avoid Penn State situation | Jeff Schultz
July 18th, 2012
10:05 am
[...] • Steve Spurrier has no qualms about this QB [...]
kingdaddy
July 18th, 2012
10:07 am
Idiot
This doesn’t have to get ugly. Twink has a right to his opine, just like you and “bean”. Try to be an adult, and we can communicate instead of bloviate…
Sportsrealist
July 18th, 2012
10:08 am
I’d like to see Steve get hit full speed by a free safety.
ARdawg
July 18th, 2012
10:08 am
James Franklin is an overrated blowhard. Vandy is one of the few colleges where few wins equal much success. He’ll be gone inside of 3 years
Still@theKool-aidBAR
July 18th, 2012
10:09 am
Media Days and it has been said UGa v UF will not Leave JAX anytime soon.
kingdaddy
July 18th, 2012
10:10 am
Twink, I’m just having fun. Was talking about lil stevie.
Yes I have missed Tomas…
Still@theKool-aidBAR
July 18th, 2012
10:10 am
Wow….I am “FIRST” on the second page.
AltamahaDawg
July 18th, 2012
10:11 am
For the life of me, I cannot understand WHY it bother somebody to see a poster declare “first”. Is everybody so filled with angst in here that a purposely cheesy running joke upsets you so very much? My suggestion would be, just don’t do it if you have the opportunit, and stop worrying about what others joke. (althoughIi suspect you would do it and think nothing of it, except that you have now made a big deal about it.
And seriously, WHO is the bigger idiot. The guy claiming first, who actually has a point, irrespective of how simplistic it was meant to be, or the guy who spends the time to post with NO point or purpose other than to ridicule them? (or me for making this point,I guess)
I dropped my fried twinkie
July 18th, 2012
10:13 am
KingDaddy….maybe Thomas is on vacation or something. I doubt he has been banned. Maybe he is working on his wedding to WnE the day after Thanksgiving day.
I am an IDIOT
July 18th, 2012
10:14 am
Classic. LMAO.
kingdaddy
July 18th, 2012
10:16 am
You may have been first, but we all get a trophy…
Butter Bean Floyd
July 18th, 2012
10:17 am
Altamaha……. Pot meet Kettle
kingdaddy
July 18th, 2012
10:19 am
Twink,
We’re connected to the ajc 24/7…
I dropped my fried twinkie
July 18th, 2012
10:21 am
It is not like you can’t do your JOB and be on-line if you are in the office.
kingdaddy
July 18th, 2012
10:22 am
Bean, that wasn’t nice. You tell Altamaha you’re sorry…
AltamahaDawg
July 18th, 2012
10:24 am
As I admitted Butter bean. I am the bigger idiot for mentioning it.
Except:L
I DID have a point. Folks go to considerable trouble to tell us all what an Idiot the “first” poster is. I disagee, with the premise, with the facts, so my responce is proportional.
The ” I hate the first posters” guys have nothing to disgree with there. The guy was first. OK. Zero responce would be appropriate to that. Its clearly just a personal slam.
kingdaddy
July 18th, 2012
10:25 am
Just watched a woman try to ride onto an escalator in one of those handi-cap scooters. What an idiot, oops, sorry idiot, lol…
I dropped my fried twinkie
July 18th, 2012
10:25 am
AltamahaDawg…or the guy who spends the time to post with NO point or purpose other than to ridicule them?
Classic. Would your post be considered Hypocritical even when you admit it to be?
I dropped my fried twinkie
July 18th, 2012
10:28 am
KingDaddy… where are you? You at the MALL buying a new UGa t-shirt?
AltamahaDawg
July 18th, 2012
10:29 am
I just qualified my point. I can guess what your issue with it is.
AlathamaDawg
July 18th, 2012
10:31 am
Do not argue with me. It is a widely accepted fact that I am the most intelligent poster on the AJC blogs. My keen insight is must read material. I am a golden blog god.
kingdaddy
July 18th, 2012
10:31 am
Alt.,
Some people just look for something to complain about. If it wasn’t the 1st thing , it would be spelling or punctuation or too many caps or my favorite, JUST EXCATLY HOW MANY NAMES DO YOU POST UNDER, LOL…
Ya Yak
July 18th, 2012
10:31 am
flo-ri-duh
July 18th, 2012
9:02 am
Coach Franklin is good for Vandy even if he is a prick
The defensive coordinator had UGA is a much bigger ding dong idiot and his behavior has reflected it over and over again.
And at UGA They reward coaches for being morons….
kingdaddy
July 18th, 2012
10:33 am
I live in an exclusive trailer park, lmaoff…Fox news bobo…
AltamahaDawg
July 18th, 2012
10:36 am
On, the contrary Big Shot. I invite people to argue with me. I ask them to. That’s the point. Smart people though, that can. Is that something you would want to try your hand at? I seriosuly doubt it. You better stick to what you know.
kingdaddy
July 18th, 2012
10:37 am
Yakkty yak
Blah, blah, blah—blah—blah blah, blah, blah—blah, blah…
I dropped my fried twinkie
July 18th, 2012
10:38 am
A 2 story trailer park is something special to begin with but having an escalator is unbelievable. I guess your neighbors don’t have their 70’s Trans AMs on concrete blocks but instead stacks of Money too.
kingdaddy
July 18th, 2012
10:38 am
What team has a yak for a mascot???
kangdiddy
July 18th, 2012
10:38 am
If you look up the term “behind kissing idiot” on Wikipedia, you’ll see my photo and a short bio.
kingdaddy
July 18th, 2012
10:40 am
Kangdiddy,
Go wave at the moron in your mirror, lol…
AltamahaDawg
July 18th, 2012
10:41 am
He’s just proving to everybody how smart he is.
kingdaddy
July 18th, 2012
10:43 am
Alt,
añytime you get the best of them, they have to start calling names which only proves they never got past the 6th grade…
I dropped my fried twinkie
July 18th, 2012
10:44 am
The YAK is the mascot for the Fighting Dalai Lama’s of Tibet University.
kingdaddy
July 18th, 2012
10:45 am
His mom needs to hide his keyboard…
I dropped my fried twinkie
July 18th, 2012
10:45 am
KingDaddy…first they STEAL you Blog name then they call you names.
kingdaddy
July 18th, 2012
10:47 am
Twink,
That’s right, didn’t they play in the Rice Bowl last year???
kingdaddy
July 18th, 2012
10:51 am
Twinky, if I’m nothing else, I’m consistant. I’ve been married 3 times. What can they call me that one of my exs hasn’t already, lol…
AltamahaDawg
July 18th, 2012
10:52 am
6th graders are smarter than that.
kangdiddy
July 18th, 2012
10:54 am
Oh how I love the Georgia Bulldogs! They are great. I have the IQ of a chunk of limestone. Did I already say that I love the Georgia Bulldogs?
Delbert D.
July 18th, 2012
10:59 am
DawginLex – “SC can say all they want to say but reality is this:
Their defensive secondary is depleted. They will get lit up by Arkansas and Georgia.”
It could happen, but Georgia’ secondary is depleted for the Missouri game. That’s assuming that Richt suspends the other couple of starters whose penalties have not yet been announced.
kingdaddy
July 18th, 2012
11:01 am
Yakkty yak
what’s your point? Your clear lack of fundamental posting skills are getting in the way of you getting to the point. We don’t have all day sweet-pea…
kingdaddy
July 18th, 2012
11:04 am
Twink
that’s plumbers crack…
kingdaddy
July 18th, 2012
11:10 am
Is he really bashing “limestone” now? I like limestone and lemon with my Jose…
I am an IDIOT
July 18th, 2012
11:26 am
Twink — Why do you have to insert race into blog debates? Well, since you started it, pay attention around 0:33 seconds into the following link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUzFVMO0bd8
I dropped my fried twinkie
July 18th, 2012
11:31 am
I inserted Academics(an SEC short coming) & Black Head Coaches(an SEC short coming). Funny you ONLY saw RACE.
I dropped my fried twinkie
July 18th, 2012
11:33 am
There are more qualified Black head coaches to lead a SEC team than Obama is qualified to be the president.
I am an IDIOT
July 18th, 2012
11:39 am
Twink ol buddy, your last comment doesn’t make any sense. I thought you were one of those superior intelligence Tech guys?
I dropped my fried twinkie
July 18th, 2012
12:19 pm
I am an IDIOT…..cause I call this a UGa blog which it is but NOHING in this blog is about the UGa Coaches or Players.
LHarding Dawg
July 18th, 2012
12:38 pm
Coach Franklin is probably not staying at VU for long. He will have some success and leave for a bigger program. Maybe even UT. Steve Spurrier needs to not overlook VU for the opening game or that could become a big embarrassment and derail their season. As far as the Bulldogs, they need to focus on one game at a time. If they do that, they will have a great season.
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