A lot of us around here have more than a passing, pun intended, interest in what happens in Gainesville during football season. Two recent occurrences were especially noteworthy.
First, Steve Spurrier, the ol’ ball coach who stands second to none in putting UF on the national map, is no longer coaching. He recently “resigned” as head coach at South Carolina.
But leaving a spiraling (2-4) program and its players at mid-season is not “resigning.” It’s quitting. He’s better than that. He had the opportunity last season to bow out a winner (7-6) after that Independence Bowl win over Miami. But he couldn’t leave center stage, even as the program was sliding. Timing is everything–even if you’re a 70-year-old icon.
Second, is the PED episode with starting quarterback Will Grier. Unfortunate. Not smart. He let a lot of folks down. But there’s also this: He didn’t pull a gun on anybody. He didn’t fire a Glock into a residence hall. He didn’t beat up a pregnant girlfriend. He didn’t steal anything. He was never charged with a crime. By all accounts, he’s not a punk or a thug–but an actual “student-athlete.” Unfortunate.