ESPN.com: NCF - Spurrier's wit stirred the Gators-Vols rivalry

So what happens when you remove Steve Spurrier from the equation? One hundred and four thousand people at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville Saturday with nobody to yell at.

Steve Spurrier
Tennesee tormentor Steve Spurrier was 8-4 against the Vols.
We know that life goes on. But does the Tennessee-Florida Hatefest even exist without Stevie Wonder on the sideline?

"Athletic competition is spurred by great individuals," long-time sports psychologist Dr. Don Beck said. "It is the individuals who throw down the gauntlet, deepen the emotionality, turbo-charge the event. I wonder if the stakes will be as high without Steve Spurrier."

For the first time since 1989, Steve Spurrier will be absent from this rocky- ticked-off relationship. It was Spurrier who once uttered the sound bite heard 'round college football: "You-can't-spell-Citrus-without-UT." When Peyton Manning came back for his senior season, it was Spurrier who said, "I guess he wanted to win four straight Citrus Bowls.

Spurrier viewed the Citrus Bowl as second-class citizenship, a consolation prize for not making a "major bowl."

Spurrier had a way making the Vols feel like No. 2. The Gators defeated Tennessee five straight times from 1993 to '97 by an average of 16.4 points. Spurrier's Fun 'N Gun offense blew Tennessee off the map with 62 points in 1995. Seven of Phil Fulmer's 20 losses are to you-know-who. Spurrier ended his tenure with the Gators 8-4 against the Vols.

All week leading to the game against Florida, Fulmer has tried to dodge missiles disguised as questions about life after Spurrier, now coaching the Washington Redskins. This is about all the Big Pumpkin had to say: "It's probably not nearly as annoying."

Last year, Florida safety Julian Battle called Spurrier a "jerk." Orange-blooded fans have called him much worse.

College football, of course, is filled super-hyped rivalries that have survived in spite of the departure of a know-it-all, quick-witted, bulletin-board-thriving antagonist: Ohio State-Michigan went on without Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes; Alabama-Auburn without Bear Bryant; USC-UCLA without John McKay; Oklahoma-Texas without Barry Switzer.

Switzer could roil the water with the best. In fact, there was nothing Switzer loved better than to drive Darrell Royal crazy.

If Texas-OU now seems like a blood rivalry, consider the scene in 1976 when Royal accused Switzer of spying on his practices -- and Switzer confessed!

The day before Texas-Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl in '76, Royal scheduled a closed-door practice at Texas Stadium, about fifteen miles away. Lonnie Williams, a close friend of OU assistant Larry Lacewell, obtained a key to one of the Texas Stadium luxury suites. He spied on the entire practice, making notes on the Longhorns' offensive and defensive formations. His information was turned over to the OU coaches. But Switzer admitted his little spy provided virtually no help, the game ending in a 6-6 tie.

Accusing Switzer of unethical behavior was a Royal pastime. He demanded that Switzer take a polygraph test on recruiting violations in 1973, and Switzer claimed he passed. In 1975, Royal demanded another polygraph, and this time Switzer said his entire coaching staff passed.

Royal told Sports Illustrated, "I resent even playing them when they develop a monster team with illegal tactics."

"Darrell Royal more than anyone else saw to it that I was branded a cheater," Switzer said. "When they throw dirt on Darrell's box, he'll still believe it."

I covered the 1976 Texas-OU game on a hot and humid afternoon when a motorcade carrying President Gerald Ford rolled up to the stadium minutes before kickoff.

For years, the Texas-OU pregame tradition was simple: One team would thunder down the long end zone tunnel while the band played, fans cheered and the cannon fired; the other team followed about three minutes later. But Ford's people had a different plan this day. The President wanted to walk down the tunnel flanked by Royal and Switzer.

I could see from a distance that Switzer and Royal were ignoring each other. But they were polite enough to make small talk with Ford. From about fifty rows up, an OU fan stood up and bellowed loud enough for all to hear, "Who are the two asses with Switzer?"

That would be Royal's final walk down the tunnel. Some said that Switzer drove him out of coaching at age 56, although Royal still denies it. Clearly, though, the rivalry took its toll.

Texas-OU is now bigger than ever. The teams are almost certain to be ranked in the top three when they play in three weeks. Switzer and Royal are both long departed. The rivalry still percolates without them. The same can be said about Tennessee-Florida, at least in the opinion of Vols defensive coordinator John Chavis.

"The University of Florida is going to be there without Steve Spurrier," he said. "Same way for Tennessee if John Chavis or Phillip Fulmer left."

But there is something about an acid tongue stirring the pot.

"Admit it," Lou Holtz said. "Without Steve, a whole lot of color goes out of that rivalry."

Neither Fulmer nor Ron Zook possesses the fiery personality to fan the flames. The same can be said about Mack Brown at Texas and Bob Stoops at Oklahoma. How about Pete Carroll at USC and Bob Toledo at UCLA, Lloyd Carr at Michigan and Jim Tressel at Ohio State, Dennis Franchione at Alabama and Tommy Tuberville at Auburn?

Dullsville.

On rivalries, Beck said, "A colorful individual can spark it, texturize it, flavor it. Take him out of the equation, and it's like taking air out of the football."

Florida-Tennessee has lost its air pump.

Jim Dent is the author of "Junction Boys" and "The Undefeated" and is a regular contributor to ESPN.com. "Junction Boys" will be ESPN Original Entertainment's second original, made-for-television movie. The premiere is scheduled for Saturday, December 14 at 9:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.