Home US SportsNCAAF Steve Spurrier weighs in on Florida coaching candidates

Steve Spurrier weighs in on Florida coaching candidates

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Florida’s third coaching search under athletic director Scott Stricklin is underway, and the program can’t afford to make another bad hire.

Neither Dan Mullen nor Billy Napier led Florida to the same heights that Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer once did. Mullen came close with the team he inherited from Jim McElwain, but the program slowly deteriorated under his watch. Napier prioritized culture and recruiting over the on-field results, leading to his own demise on Monday.

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So, who’s next?

The hot answers are Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin, Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz and former Penn State coach James Franklin. Everyone has opinions on whether or not these big names would work or simply be a panic hire, but some opinions are more valuable than others.

Enter the Head Ball Coach himself.

Spurrier talked about both SEC coaches with USA TODAY’s Blake Toppenmeyer.

“I firmly think he is a very good coach,” Spurrier said. “There’s no question about that. I like him. I like Eli Drinkwitz. I like a lot of guys out there that are proven winners… “I think we’re going to try to hire a proven coach who’s got a winning record in the SEC or another major conference. I think that’s the type of coach we’re looking for.”

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Spurrier also spoke about Napier’s firing on the Dooley Noted Podcast after the news broke.

“It was sad to hear, but it wasn’t a shock,” Spurrier said. “Coaches, they’re as good as their record, and unfortunately, Billy’s record wasn’t all that good — in four years, not just this year. Our management, our AD, our president, whoever, thought it was time to go in and make a change. We did beat Mississippi State, although we made some errors during the game that almost cost us.”

Lane Kiffin is the popular answer because he’s got that X-factor that makes SEC coaches into legends. It’s not the same stoic approach that Nick Saban used to reach G.O.A.T. status, but it is very much in line with Florida’s most famous coaches.

Spurrier was the original troll. He targeted Tennessee so much, the rivalry barely exists without him. Kiffin has the same kind of fun Spurrier used to, but the Head Ball Coach won (a lot) to back up his trash talk. Ole Miss is 50-19 under Kiffin, but the Rebels are 5-6 against top-10 ranked teams during that time as well. He’s 3-1 in his last four games, however.

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If the Head Ball Coach is giving him the stamp of approval, then Florida should go for it. The Florida job is more enticing than the Ole Miss job, and Kiffin likes the spotlight.

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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida Gators football Steve Spurrier coaching search, Lane Kiffin



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