Not that Spurrier seemingly wanted to say it. More like he felt compelled to say it, whether he believes it or not.

Spurrier has spent much of his time the past two seasons turning his quarterbacks into Thing One and Thing Two.

Doug Johnson and Jesse Palmer probably can't get out of bed each morning without wondering what odd way Spurrier will dream up next to have them share the QB position. He's tried starting both, rotating them by possession and shuttling them in and out every other play.

Obviously, neither has thrived doing it Spurrier's way. As the coach has let them know.

This was Spurrier before the South Carolina game in November: "We've got to see if Jesse can go play a little bit better than what Doug's done," he said. "Doug has not been all that bad. But still, I just think we're at a point where we've got to give Jesse a chance."

After that game -- another ugly Florida victory -- Spurrier publicly apologized for a sideline screaming episode aimed at Johnson that was caught on camera during the game.

But Spurrier being Spurrier, he is never able to keep his true feelings far below the surface.

Candor is normally an admirable -- and elusive -- trait in a football coach, but this season Spurrier's negative tone has been more prevalent than might be best for his players' psyches.

After all, how many schools out there would be miserable over a 9-3 record?

But Spurrier has set the bar incredibly high in his decade in Gainesville. Now, pending that Citrus Bowl date with Michigan State, Florida could be looking at its first single-digit season victory total since 1992. It also could be the Gators' first whiff on a season-ending place in theTop 10 since 1990.

And observers in Gainesville think a loss to the Spartans is quite likely. Michigan State is excited about this bowl bid, with its staff and players unified around newly named head coach Bobby Williams. Florida is tangibly unenthused, and far from unified.

A recent players-only meeting nearly turned into a fracas, as offensive and defensive players were at each other's throats. The defense, which did not exactly dominate Alabama, has aired its frustrations with the offense, the former bell cow of the Spurrier regime.

And, inevitably, vox populi has given a forum to the discontented. Talk radio is full of fulminations on the Gators, with some yokels even wondering if The Game Has Passed Spurrier By. (Please. If that's so, why is Florida still hauling in Top Five recruiting classes, like the one they're putting together right now?)

What could be more valid criticism is whether Spurrier has the forebearance and flexibility to win big without a quarterback who comes straight from the Spurrier factory.

In other words, without a Shane Matthews or a Danny Wuerffel, who plugged in 100 percent to Spurrier's philosophy, mechanics, strategy and pre-snap reads, can Florida be a national title contender?

Then again, one school's desperation is another school's ticker-tape parade. I repeat, how many other schools would kill for 9-3 and a lousy Citrus Bowl bid?