Fifty years after he came to Florida as a young quarterback from Tennessee and 47 years after he won the first Heisman Trophy in Gators history, Steve Spurrier was again honored on Florida Field.
The former UF quarterback and head coach received the Great Floridian Award from Gov. Rick Scott at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
“Good things have happened to me ever since I came to the University of Florida way back in 1963,” Spurrier said. “So I appreciate Governor Scott giving me this award. … It is a nice honor.”
The governor presented Spurrier with the award flanked by Florida Athletic Director Jeremy Foley and current UF coach Will Muschamp.
“He’s an inspiration,” Scott said. “Here’s an individual who worked very hard his whole life. Wanted to be a great football player and he did it – he won the Heisman Trophy. Wanted to be a great coach – he brought the national championship to Florida.
You want to give it to people that have done the right thing with their lives, and they’re an inspiration to others, and that’s what’s great about giving it to Coach Spurrier.”
Scott said Spurrier helped the state by putting UF on the national map in football, and now the school is gaining recognition for its academics as well.
“The University of Florida has a plan to be a top-10 school,” Scott said. “We know it’s always going to be one of the top schools for football and basketball, but it’s also going to be one of the top-10 schools for academics.
“He put them on the map, and look at how great the football team has done since then.”
Spurrier is the 71st recipient of the Great Floridian Award. Other awardees include former governor Jeb Bush, former UF president Stephen C. O’Connell and former FSU coach Bobby Bowden.
Spurrier coached the Gators from 1990 until 2002 before leaving to coach the Washington Redskins. He won six Southeastern Conference titles with the Gators and led Florida to its first national title in 1996. He is currently the coach at South Carolina.
“Florida is a place I plan to continue living in,” Spurrier said. “Of course, South Carolina’s my home now, and I’m always going to be from east Tennessee, but I’ve lived in the state of Florida longer than any other place.”
Before giving Spurrier the award, Scott asked him if he would consider a career in politics.
“No,” Spurrier said, laughing.
Contact Adam Lichtenstein at alichtenstein@alligator.org.
Gov. Rick Scott presents former Florida football coach Steve Spurrier with the Great Floridian Award on Thursday afternoon at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Spurrier is the 71st recipient of the honor since 1981.
Florida football coach Will Muschamp joins Gov. Rick Scott and former UF coach Steve Spurrier on Thursday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium during Spurrier's acceptance of the Great Floridian Award.
Gov. Rick Scott speaks with Florida football coach Will Muschamp during former UF coach Steve Spurrier's acceptance of the Great Floridian Award on Thursday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Gov. Rick Scott talks to members of the media Thursday afternoon in the F Club Room.
