Spurrier up to his old bag of tricks...
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/sports/11399120.htm
USC FOOTBALL
Spurrier provokes Vols’ coach
[size=-1]By JOSEPH PERSON[/size]
[size=-1]Staff Writer[/size]
<!-- begin body-content -->It’s official: Steve Spurrier has returned to the SEC.
USC’s first-year coach took a jab Wednesday at SEC East rival Tennessee, Spurrier’s favorite target during his 12 years at Florida, while discussing an altercation involving Gamecocks receiver Syvelle Newton, who was accused of punching a student in the face this past weekend before the charge was dropped.
“This was not a full-blown fight. If you want to read about some full-blown fights, read about the Tennessee players, not our guys,” said Spurrier, referring to the five Tennessee players who have been charged with assault since January.
Fulmer was ready with a retort Thursday when reporters in Knoxville asked about Spurrier’s remark.
“He needs to take care of his own house and leave mine to me,” Fulmer said. “He’s got plenty of issues over there I’m sure to deal with. (...) I don’t give a ... one way or the other what anybody says except the people that count.”
Fulmer was asked whether Spurrier’s comment made it seem like old times in the SEC.
“That doesn’t bother me one bit,” Fulmer said. “He’s got plenty to do, I’m sure. Maybe it rained that day and he didn’t get to play golf. I don’t know.”
An amused Spurrier laughed Thursday when told of Fulmer’s swipe at Spurrier’s golfing hobby.
“I like ol’ Phil. Phil’s alright,” Spurrier said. “He’s a good guy. We get along fine.”
While Spurrier was winning six SEC titles and the 1996 national championship at Florida, he seldom missed a chance to poke fun at the Volunteers. His most famous line was when he reminded fans that “you can’t spell Citrus without UT” — a dig at the Orlando-based bowl where the Vols played four times during Spurrier’s first SEC stint.
While Spurrier said that he and Fulmer maintain a good relationship, Spurrier clearly enjoys stirring the pot, this week’s events included.
“Sometimes a little publicity’s good, I believe, and I’m glad (Fulmer) said something,” Spurrier said. “I’m glad he’s listening to us. In the past, I don’t think he’d worry about what a South Carolina coach said, do you?”
Spurrier said the negative publicity surrounding his program’s spate of off-the-field problems — nine current or former players arrested and another dismissed for a second failed drug test since January — prompted him to bring up Tennessee. The Vols have had 11 players either arrested or cited in the past 13 months, including four assault arrests this week.
“If you want to see about fighting, (Fulmer) has had 11 of them,” said Spurrier, overestimating the number of fights the Vols have been involved in.
“I just wanted people to know we’re not the worst bunch of guys in the country,” Spurrier added, “although we’re portrayed as right now a little bit.”
USC travels to Knoxville to face the Vols on Oct. 29.
Reach Person at (803) 771-8496 or
[email protected].
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