Steve Spurrier was a trailblazer. He was brash; he was bold; he was honest. Even if you hated his style, you have to respect the sincerety with which Spurrier conducted his day-to-day life. He expressed his mind, which is refreshing in an industry filled with “coach speak.”

After nearly 40 years of coaching, Spurrier has finally decided to call it quits. The Head Ball Coach is hanging up his whistle and saying goodbye to the gridiron in favor of white sand beaches and world class golf courses. 

With the man who invented “talking season” riding off into the sunset, it only seems right that we look back at some of the greatest soundbites from one of the greatest icons in college football history. Below are the 13 best Steve Spurrier quotes.

The Best Steve Spurrier Quotes

Coaching at Neyland Stadium

“Will be the 14th time I’ve coached in Neyland Stadium. I’ve coached there more than some of their head coaches.”

If Nick Saban Wants To Be The Greatest

“He’s got a nice little gig going, a little bit like Calipari. He tells guys, ‘Hey, three years from now, you’re going to be a first-round pick and go.’ If he wants to be the greatest coach or one of the greatest coaches in college football, to me, he has to go somewhere besides Alabama and win, because they’ve always won there at Alabama.”

Age and the Pope

“The Pope is 77 years old and he’s in charge of a billion people. All I have to do is put 11 on the field.”

Alabama recruiting

“In 12 years at Florida, I don’t think we ever signed a kid from the state of Alabama. Of course, we found out later that the scholarships they were giving out at Alabama were worth a whole lot more than ours.”

FSU hitting Danny Wuerffel illegally

“He’s like a New Testament person. He gets slapped up side the face, and turns the other cheek and says, ‘Lord, forgive them for they know not what they’re doing.’ I’m probably more of an Old Testament guy. You spear our guy in the earhole, we think we’re supposed to spear you in the earhole. That’s kind of where we’re a little different.”

Georgia recruiting

“Why is it that during recruiting season they sign all the great players, but when it comes time to play the game, we have all the great players? I don’t understand that. What happens to them?”

Free Shoes University

“You know what FSU stands for, don’t you? Free Shoes University.”

Can’t Spell Citrus without U-T

“You can’t spell Citrus without U-T.”

Peyton Manning, the Citrus Bowl star

“I know why Peyton came back for his senior year. He wanted to be a three-time star of the Citrus Bowl.”

Georgia suspensions

“I don’t know. I sort of always liked playing them that second game because you could always count on them having two or three key players suspended.”

Jadeveon Clowney ticket

“I didn’t know Jadeveon’s car could go that fast. He doesn’t have a pretty car like those FSU guys used to drive.”

Auburn library fire

“The real tragedy was that 15 hadn’t been colored yet.”

South Carolina hiring

“Some people ask, ‘How did you end up there?’ I said, ‘I was available and they were the only ones who offered me a job the end of 2004.'”

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