By Rod Gilmore
Special to ESPN.com
I like Steve Spurrier in big games for two reasons: he's unpredictable and he knows how to manipulate the media. In a big game, it's hard to get a handle on Spurrier and his "ball plays". He adds a wrinkle, or runs a play from a different formation that throws off the defense. It also makes it hard for the defense to pick up on his tendencies.
Spurrier does the same thing with running plays, such as his sweep. That momentary hesitancy by the defense is all Spurrier needs to make the play successful. (We saw this in the title game a few years ago against FSU.) Also, you never know what he will do with his quarterback. He may play one or two, and do it at odd times. Remember how he changed quarterbacks on each play in a big game a couple of years ago? He is unpredictable.
As for dealing with the media before big games, he's a master. Spurrier knows how to get his team in the right frame of mind. He'll let his players talk when it works to his advantage. He doesn't muzzle his players. He'll let them talk a little trash to get their confidence going. This year, he knows his players are worked up about Tennessee, so he's let them talk a little trash before the game.
Spurrier knows how to send messages to officials. A few years ago, Florida State had pounded his quarterback in a big game. Prior to the rematch in the title game, Spurrier made protecting the quarterback a national issue so that officials were inclined to call late hits. It also made FSU's players a little less aggressive.
Last year, he had an injured quarterback, but he deflected attention from that by suggesting that he had a quarterback controversy. That helped him distract the opposition a little because they had to prepare for two quarterbacks, and he concealed the limitations in his offense.
When there is one game on the line, you would be hard pressed to find a coach who is better at seeing the big picture, or better adept at devising specific technical schemes to give his team an advantage.
|
|
By Bill Curry
Special to ESPN.com
Phillip Fulmer has the best winning percentage among active coaches (.844), and one of the best of all-time for anyone coaching as long as he has (seven years). He has the troops, the systems, the tradition, and the knack for making good decisions at the tough times in monster games.
It all works with remarkable consistency except when the Vols play Nebraska or Florida. Nebraska has trampled the Vols twice in the last three years, and the Gators have taken six of seven.
There is a razor thin line of concentration required to compete in the crucible of today's highly scrutinized games, and maturity is required to handle it. The fact that Tennessee loses so many juniors to the NFL (yes, even more than the Huskers and Gators) has something to do with it. Fulmer is a very bright man; the more his teams are in these situations, the more likely he will be to win.
Steve Spurrier is tough on visors, officials, trainers, equipment men, and reserve players on the sidelines. His sideline demeanor is that of a tortured soul, beset by all the horrors of officiating mistakes, juvenile decision-making, and luck gone bad. Do not be deceived. Not only does he know what he is doing, but he has known what he was doing since his Heisman days, Duke days, Tampa Bay Bandit days, and probably before that.
Whether by assiduous study, instinct, or some combination thereof, he can take the weapons at his disposal and do more with them than any coach I have ever seen. Of course his weapons at Florida are substantial, but his onorthodox inspirations at crucial times have given his teams the advantage over other gifted teams time and time again.
Both Fulmer and Spurrier will set many records, but Spurrier brings to mind one of Bear Bryant's favorite reminders: "Expect the unexpected."
|
