Personal Remembrances of The Head Ball Coach

By Jerre "The Music Man" Haskew

Yesterday, Steve Spurrier resigned as head football coach at the University of South Carolina, and it immediately became a major national story. Rival coaches from all over the nation tweeted and texted their positive thoughts about him and there were dozens of national and regional media stories circulating paying tribute to this cantankerous but beloved legend. Here are my own recollections of the old Head Ball Coach from an up close and personal point of view. 

In the late '90's I had the pleasure of playing a round of golf with Coach Steve Spurrier at our world class Honors Course in Ooltewah, TN where I was privileged to be a charter member. He was very engaging during the round with me and the other two members of our foursome but told us on the front end that he didn't want to talk football. Upon meeting us on the practice range before the round he asked our names and if it was ok with us to play from the back (blue) tees. As anyone who's played this most difficult test of golf from the blues will tell you, it can be hell on earth. Since it's inception in 1983 this wonderful Pete Dye designed course has hosted every major amateur event in world golf, including the U S Men's and Women's Amateur, the NCAA Men's and Women's Championships and the Walker and Curtis Cups.Tiger Woods won the NCAA tourney there by one stroke while shooting 80 the last round. To put that in perspective he has shot only three rounds of 80 or above in his storied career. But The Honors literally brought him to his knees that day. Other greats who have played in those amateur events include Phil Mickelson and David Duval. 

By the time we teed off Spurrier was calling us by our first names and asked us to call him Steve. He bought the refreshments for everyone at the turn. As the round began he was very easygoing and casual but obviously a very good golfer who came to the last two holes of this very tough championship course two over par and put up with our many bad shots. I remember him saying to me on the 17th tee, "Jerre, guess I'll just have to birdie these last two and shoot even par." And folks, he did just that barely missing an eagle on 17 and putting his second shot on 18 two feet from the pin. After the round concluded he stopped by the pro shop and thanked the host pro, saying to him, "Please tell Mr (Jack) Lupton (the founder) it was an honor and I really enjoyed the round and shooting even par on his great course. Tell him next time I'll try to do better." 

Then instead of leaving he asked us to join him in the clubhouse for lunch and insisted that it was his treat. He said, "I'm paid a lot of money and the least I can do is buy you boys lunch." We spent at least an hour with him and he never once brought up the subject of football other than to tell this story, in which I paraphrase the Head Ball Coach. As best I recall he said, "You know, boys, I was born in Athens, TN just up the road and my dad was a Methodist preacher. He loved Tennessee football and indoctrinated us kids to bleed orange. When we moved to Johnson City where I was raised, Johnny Majors was my hero and my dad dreamed of me playing football in Knoxville. After my junior year in high school, Coach Ray Mears, the young and brash new UT basketball coach, offered me a full scholarship, the first offer I ever got. He told me that I could play football also and that he'd tell Coach Bowden Wyatt about me. I immediately felt a bond with Coach Mears who told me he was a big football fan and knew I was a pretty good quarterback. There were rumors that UT was going to abandon the single wing and I passed the word through Coach Mears that I'd love to come to Tennessee if they did that. Doug Dickey didn't come to Knoxville until my freshman year in college and Coach Wyatt and Coach Jim McDonald didn't want to switch to the "T" so I didn't go there. Coach Ray Graves at Florida, originally from Knoxville and a great player at UT under General Neyland, recruited me and that's how I wound up at Florida. Since then every once in a while I've wondered what it would have been like if Coach Dickey had come a year earlier. It was pretty ironic that he was a Florida guy and quarterbacked the Gators under Coach Bob Woodruff who was also a Tennessee man and UT AD when I finished high school. After I left the NFL, Coach Dickey gave me my first coaching job, coaching quarterbacks at Florida. So boys that's how I came close to becoming a Volunteer instead of a Gator. But I guess it worked out all right (grinning broadly)." 

One of my regrets during the ten years I hosted talk radio on Sport Talk was never interviewing Spurrier live on air. He had meetings later that day and politely declined my invitation. I learned years later that like Joe Paterno at Penn State he didn't like radio interviews because, " If he did one he'd be obligated to do them all."

The only other time I saw the HBC in person was in 2011 when he was the featured speaker at a fundraiser for the Sports Committee in Chattanooga. My wife Barbara was a long time admirer of Spurrier and expressed a desire to attend and we were certainly glad that we did. Before a standing room only audience of several hundred he began his 30 minute talk in a self-deprocating manner by asking if there were anyone in the audience who had played for Chattanooga Central and it's legendary coach Red Etter against him when he quarterbacked Science Hill High School in Johnson City? One gentleman raised his hand and after asking him to introduce himself, Spurrier admitted that he was shutout by Central all three years he played them and in his senior year went 0-15 passing with two interceptions. He also noted that Central went 11-0 that year and won the state championship and was Etter's only undefeated team. He then proceeded to make an impassioned and eloquent case for paying a reasonable stipend to college football and basketball players, which in my opinion because of his leadership has now come to fruition. He was at the forefront of that issue long before it became fashionable, articulating that universities were making millions off the players' back. And he stated that since the vast majority of them would never play in the NFL, they needed some money to cover normal expenses because NCAA rules did not permit them to hold part time jobs like other students. Of course near the end of his remarks Spurrier, ever the needler, did inject a few jabs and one liners about his coaching record against Tennessee and Georgia. 

No one like Steven Orr Spurrier has ever coached and graced college football, and the sport has benefitted exponentially from his ingenuity, leadership and strong presence and is far better for it. Enjoy your retirement. You'll always be the Head Ball Coach to us college football fans all over the nation.

Heat Transfer & Hot Shots!

Jerre "The Music Man" Haskew

To begin his epoch masterpiece, A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens penned, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness; it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity; it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness…."

And so it was with embattled college football coaches Charlie Strong of Texas and Butch Jones of Tennessee last Saturday afternoon. The ebb and the flow, the ups and the downs, the depression and then the ultimate elation. From the agony of another heart-breaking defeat to relief and then the pure joy of victory, the pictures and video worth a million words. As the iconic Voice of the Vols, John Ward, might have again opined, "Nothing more need be said." Beleaguered underdogs Texas and Tennessee rose from the ashes like the Phoenix of old and defeated mighty Oklahoma and Georgia in hard fought border rivalry games. Strong and Jones went from the burning hot fire of near coaching hell to jubilant post-game celebration and back to the proverbial frying pan, while Georgia's Mark Richt and USC's Steve Sarkisian went from that warm frying pan into the hot coals of the edge of extinction- Richt- and being canned- Sark. Such is the life in big time college football. And why not? These guys are paid several million a year not only to produce big rivalry wins but win conference and national championships.

Bravo and hats off to Strong and Jones. They and their victory starved fan bases can at least take a collective deep breath this Monday morning, dreaming realistically of a modest victory streak over the lesser lights remaining on their schedules. Save their encounters with their remaining schedule monsters- the blazing Bears and the mighty Red Elephants- all other games suddenly seem winnable to the point each could conceivably finish 2015 with eight victories. Richt and Sark on the other hand are staring disaster in the face, their once high College Football Playoff and SEC and Pac 12 championship dreams suddenly dashed. With as much talent as anyone in the nation, CMR again underachieved, blowing a 24-3 late second quarter lead against Tennessee, the same old, same old gut-wrenching story for UGA IX and his title starved Bulldog fans. He still doesn't understand that close only counts in hand grenades and horseshoes.

Sark on the other hand was first placed on an "undetermined leave of absence," and a few hours later i summarily fired, having coached the once proud Trojan program to a disappointing 3-2 record, with only one win against a decent opponent, in a drunken stupor. USC AD Pat Haden looked the other way until his coach was a no show for Sunday's practice after an embarrassing home loss to the double digit underdog and toothless Washington Huskies. With Notre Dame and Utah coming next back-to-back on the schedule, Sark has coached his last game at Troy, while Richt has enough accumulated capital to survive another bitterly disappointing season- but barely. Lose again to upstart Florida and/or bitter in state rival Georgia Tech and he could be at Dawg death's door with UGA IX biting him in the butt on the way out.

On the other hand, there are clearly two new "hot shots" of 2015 college football's half season, Jim Harbaugh of Michigan and Jim McElwain of Florida. The Maize & Blue has surprisingly rolled out of the chute 5-1, the only loss being a nail-biter to undefeated and 4th ranked Utah on the road to open the season. Since then the guy who previously resurrected the former doormat Stanford Cardinal and took the moribund San Francisco 49ers to two NFC finals and a Super Bowl, has reeled off five straight winds, the last three being shutouts. And folks he did this with Brady Hoke's recruits! He gets the # 10 and undefeated Michigan State Spartans at the Big House next saturday and Urban Meyer's # 1 Ohio State Buckeyes also in Ann Arbor to finish the regular season. Win those and he likely goes to the CFP in his first year! Much like the hire of Nick Saban at Alabama in 2007, this guy is a huge ego who's won big at other places and is obviously a bargain and sound investment at $6 million a year! Also like "Nicky Satan," he's hated by rival coaches and fans and is big time cocky to boot, but why not? That combo worked pretty well for the G.O.A.T, Muhammed Ali. What do his Stanford and Michigan teams have in common with Saban's at Bama? They both run an out of fashion pro set/shotgun combo offense, pound their opponents into submission with a sledgehammer north/south running game and win with a disciplined slobber-knocking defense and outstanding special teams.

Jim McElwain, the rookie head coach at Florida, comes from the Saban coaching tree, having been the offensive coordinator on two of the Tide's national title teams. That's a championship pedigree folks and he's been there, done that. His first half season as the head Bull Gator has been amazing and almost miraculous. Taking a modestly talented and inexperienced group on offense and the nucleus of an outstanding defense, he's waved his OC's magic wand and transformed a previously less than awful offense into a scoring machine, performing better and better each week. After snatching victory from the jaws of defeat in the Swamp against bitter rival Tennessee, he's coached up a talented but inexperienced redshirt freshman quarterback and run off impressive blowout wins against then 3rd ranked and undefeated Ole Miss at home and a one loss and two time defending SEC champ Mizzou team on the road. At 6-0 he's an official "hot shot" like Harbaugh and now faces the gauntlet of 5th ranked and undefeated LSU at night in Death Valley and the hated Dawgs at the world's largest cocktail party in Jacksonville. Win just one of those and he'll all but claim the SEC East title. Win both and defeat bitter rival Florida State and it's a great shot at the CFP. That's the good news. But Holy Gator, stop the presses! In a shocking revelation today, the NCAA suspended the aforementioned star QB Wil Grier for a calendar year for using performance enhancing drugs. Of couse Florida is appealing. Come to think of it his performance has been "enhanced" big time the past three weeks! And to think, prosperity was just around the corner. Oh well, that's the life on the coaching carousel of big time college football. It's getting crazy around here, fellow fanatics. Stay tuned.

Do the Tennessee Football Program's Problems Start at the Top?

By Jerre "The Music Man" Haskew

Late last night former LSU and NFL star Booger McFarland was literally laughing at Tennessee during his post-game commentary on the SEC Network. I can understand that. Again "Botch" Jones took NO responsibility for this third terrible agonizing loss during his post game "softball" interview with Vol play-by-play broadcaster "Blob" Kesling after once again blowing a two touchdown lead and losing to a previously 1-3 Arkansas at jam-packed Neyland Stadium. Folks this Razorback bunch had lost to the Toledo freakin' Mud Hens and hapless and defenseless Texas Tech at home!! It's becoming painfully obvious to those of us in and outside the media who dare speak our minds that Jones and his entire coaching staff at this point look minor league in terms of scheme and adjustments during big time games and also in coaching their great talent up.

Let me tell you people, this team looks demoralized and has obviously lost it's collective confidence after three gut-wrenching losses that should have been wins. The responsibility lies simply on coaching, preparation and game management. Coach speak slogans such as "brick by brick" can only last so long and with Jones and his Vols laying bricks on the field, they won't carry weight with the fan base much longer. Frankly Tennessee now looks like a 4-8/5-7 team. With an angry, embarrassed Georgia and a rejuvenated and confident Alabama on the immediate horizon, how could any realistic observer think differently? Do you believe that this current group of coaches and players will be favored against much improved Kentucky and rejuvenated Missouri- both on the road? And believe me the Old Ball Coach and his 'Cocks and a seemingly better Vandy are not automatic wins. If the roof caves in and form holds true in close games, are the embattled Vols' only wins gonna be against three non-Power 5 cupcakes and maybe perennial doormat "Candy?"

The brutal fact is the Vols have now led by 13+ in each of their three gut wrenching losses. Under those circumstances the rest of Power 5 Conference college football is 188-5. That, my friends, speaks volumes!! Earth to UT AD Dave Hart, "You'd better have a down and dirty private meeting with your coach before this situation spirals completely out of control and at the very least tell him he must at least publicly shoulder the responsibility for these three losses." As the great John Ward often opined, "Nothing more need be said." But I will anyway. At times it looked like the keystone cops out there on both offense and defense wearing orange last night. The passing game is a sick joke. On the other hand special teams were again excellent except for the FG kicker Aaron Medley's accuracy problems. which may reflect extra pressure and lack of confidence.

For a few minutes relax and take a deep breath, my fellow Big Orange fanatics, it could have been worse. We could have had Hart's first choice, Charlie Strong of Texas, who won't last past this season at college football's wealthiest program with it's rightfully angry richest boosters. Jones will be around for at least another year for several reasons: 1) The UTAD coffers, with one of the smallest reserve funds in Power 5 college football because of past mismanagement, simply cannot afford it. 2) He's recruited extremely well with two consecutive top 7 consensus national classes with another good one on the horizon. 3) His teams have been very competitive. 4) He's done a spectacular job with the team's academic performance. 5) His players still believe in and look up to him. And 6) He can make changes in his staff to save himself. Offensive coordinator Mike "Neanderthal" DeBord's head will likely roll first. But the Pied-Piper act is wearing thin in Big Orange Country.

But back to stark reality. folks. The Vols stand 2-3, not 5-0 as they obviously should have been, and are staring directly into the faces of a hungry bunch of Bulldogs and a horde of Red Elephants.  Is anybody out there is the media or fantasyland gonna tell me that the Dawgs won't bite our butts at Neyland and the mighty Red Elephants won't crush us in Tuscaloosa? Is there a faint, faint glimmer of hope in that two of the three "come from ahead" losses are against teams currently 5-0? As a seven decade Tennessee fan since my eighth birthday, I certainly hope Jones and his kids prove the old Music Man wrong.

Today I reached out to an experienced, successful and well-respected source, with mega-credibility inside and outside the University of Tennessee system, and asked him point blank, "You've spent many years in that business and been ultra-successful in wading through these "mine fields." What would you do in this situation?"

He answer surprised me. "Jerre, I believe that UT System president Joe DiPietro needs to have a serious 'come to Jesus' meeting with UT AD Dave Hart and UTK chancellor Jimmy Cheek. We are in serious trouble as an institution in Knoxville and therefore elsewhere. Support for Butch Jones is crumbling, almost in free fall. The team seems to have lost confidence in themselves five games into the season. I don't believe we should fire Butch now simply because the crew that hired him and Donnie Tyndall are still calling the shots, and the likelihood would be great they they would make another questionable hire. Remember Charlie Strong now at Texas was their first choice when Jones was hired. All of this is to say that I think Butch should have a fourth year primarily because he has recruited well, shored up the team's overall academics and is an excellent  representative for and face of the University. However, if this losing pattern continues, he should be placed on notice that new assistants, especially the coordinators, with strong and successful big time championship pedigrees and coaching credentials and not former cronies and yes men from the minor leagues must be hired for next season and allow them to run their respective shows. Second I believe the president should serve notice to Hart and Cheek that their jobs are on the line. We need to be prepared that in the event Butch continues to falter and must go, a full house cleaning of the chancellor, AD and head coach should be the call. We need a new and respected AD and chancellor, both of whom should understand the magnitude of any next coaching change and be courageous and smart enough to secure the best coach at whatever cost. As you know so well, we've got the fan support, the funding capacity both internally and externally and the competitive facilities to be among the elite as we once were. What we lack is quality leadership, and the inadequacy is far deeper than just the football coach. In short, the president, chancellor and/or the Board of Trustees must step up to the plate and evaluate the performance or lack thereof of Hart and Cheek, dictate that Butch surround himself with more credentialed and qualified assistants and be prepared to clean house when necessary. Frankly, I don't think Butch or anyone else can be as successful as we all want them to be until Hart and Cheek are replaced by true leaders and visionaries."

Sound familiar? Bottom line is that mediocre leadership at the president, chancellor and AD levels in Knoxville has "led" this once proud football program to it's lowest level in it's 100+ year history. The Big Orange ox is now is deep in the ditch and there's no strong and highly respected Ed Boling, Joe Johnson or Doug Dickey around to straighten out the mess.  Jimmy and Dave, are you like ostriches with your heads buried deep in the proverbial sand or are you listening? For your own sakes it better be the latter unless you are bigger fools than you seem to be at the moment. Stay tuned.