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Florida Gators football: Steve Spurrier returns as ambassador, consultant

By The Sports Xchange
Former Florida Gators star QB and head football coach Steve Spurrier is returning to the school in a new role. File Photo Michael Bush/UPI
Former Florida Gators star QB and head football coach Steve Spurrier is returning to the school in a new role. File Photo Michael Bush/UPI | License Photo

Florida Gators football legend Steve Spurrier is returning to the school as ambassador and consultant for the entire athletic department, the school announced Friday.

Spurrier won the Gators' first Heisman Trophy (1966) as a standout quarterback and also led the university to its first national title (1996). A statue of him in the Heisman pose stands outside the football stadium.

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"It's a great day for the Gator Nation to be able to welcome Coach Spurrier back home," athletic director Jeremy Foley said in a statement. "He has served as a tremendous ambassador to the university and the athletic department for 50-plus years, and it's only fitting that at this point in his career he is back in Gainesville.

"Being a Gator has always meant so much to Coach Spurrier, but it means just as much to us have him come home."

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Spurrier's exact duties have yet to be released. The 71-year-old stepped down as South Carolina's football coach during the middle of last season and said he was not retiring.

"My wife, Jerri, and I are extremely thrilled to be returning home to our alma mater, and to Gainesville where we met on campus over 50 years ago," Spurrier said in a statement. "I'm very appreciative to athletic director Jeremy Foley, head coach Jim McElwain and Phil Pharr of Gator Boosters for their role in making this happen.

"I also want to say thanks to the University of South Carolina for allowing me to be their coach from 2005 to 2015. Also a special thanks to all of the Gamecock players, coaches and fans that allowed our teams to set so many school records. I will now pull for South Carolina to win every game but one, just as I did when I pulled for Florida to win every game but one as the Gamecock coach.

"I will try my best to promote and assist in any way I can to help the Gators to continue to be one of the very best athletic programs in America. I admire what Coach McElwain and his staff accomplished last year. I'm anxious to watch the Gator football team as they strive to be the best in the SEC and the nation in the years ahead."

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After winning the Heisman, Spurrier had a 10-year NFL playing career before turning to coaching.

Spurrier became Florida's head coach in 1990 and led the school to six Southeastern Conference titles. He guided the Gators to their first national title with a convincing 52-20 victory over Florida State in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 2, 1997.

Spurrier had a 122-27-1 record in 12 seasons as Florida coach.

Spurrier stepped away following the 2001 season and took the Washington Redskins' head coaching job.

Spurrier returned to the college game in 2005 when he accepted the South Carolina head coaching job. He had three straight 11-win seasons with the Gamecocks from 2011-13. He walked away during the middle of the 2015 season when South Carolina started 2-4. His overall college mark was 228-89-2.

McElwain was among the many Gators pleased to see Spurrier coming onboard.

"I look forward to visiting with him on a lot of occasions and picking his brain on a number of issues," McElwain said in a press release. "It's a credit to Jeremy to get him back home where he belongs. More than anything, I look forward to actually talking to him and being around him rather than just saying hello to his statue on my way to work every day."

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