Cole Brothen arrived about an hour early to the University Auditorium on Monday night so Steve Spurrier could sign his mini plastic Gators helmet.
Spurrier, a former UF quarterback and coach, addressed about 300 people in the auditorium Monday night for Accent Speakers Bureau’s first event of the semester. Ted Spiker, the chair of the UF Department of Journalism, interviewed Spurrier, who wasn’t paid to speak, told the audience lessons he has learned from football. Fans like Brothen also asked the former coach questions.
“I’m a huge fan,” said Brothen, a UF business administration freshman. “Growing up, Spurrier was just a household name. All of my friends and family loved him.”
Spurrier, who worked as University of South Carolina’s football head coach from 2005 to 2013, became ambassador and consultant for the Florida Gators Athletic Department in Summer 2016, even having the field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium named after him.
At the event, he brought about eight pieces of paper with motivational lessons on them, copies of what he used to give his players at the start of each season.
Players said they still have the pages 25 years later, he said.
Spurrier said he learned there are two ways to be successful: Doing your job like your opponent and outworking them, or simply working differently. As a coach, he always chose the latter.
He wore visors in the 1990s because nobody else did, he said.
“Any time I got the chance to be a little different, I thought ‘why not?’” Spurrier said.
When Spurrier was hired as UF’s coach, the university hadn’t won a championship in 57 years. Spurrier said he focused on finding new ways to do things.
At the time, Gator football players shaved freshmen’s heads at the beginning of each season. Spurrier said when he told the students to stop, a senior player said it was a Florida tradition.
“I said, ‘You know what, there’s another tradition too: Going over to Jacksonville and letting Georgia kick our butts.’” Spurrier said. “‘So we’re going to start some new traditions here at the University of Florida.’”
Brothen, 19, said he enjoyed Spurrier’s wit and was surprised Spurrier remembered game scores and team standings clearly.
“The details he was able to provide into each of the games were very impressive,” Brothen said.
During the Q&A section, a student asked Spurrier what his relationship with UF football coach Jim McElwain was.
“We have an excellent relationship,” Spurrier said. “I try to help him a little. Obviously, I couldn’t help him much this year, but hopefully we’ll improve next.”
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Steve Spurrier speaks to a crowd of about 300 at the University Auditorium on Monday.
