If nothing else, you have to admit Steve Spurrier is a realist. Although they would like to think they have control over their players at all times, college coaches can’t play parent throughout the entire calendar year. After South Carolina’s last session of spring drills on Thursday, Spurrier was asked what his players will need to do throughout the offseason to prepare for fall practices.
“When they come out in August they’re about where they were when we left them in spring ball,” he explained. “It’s an individual thing. Coaches can only give them a plan, then they’ve got to do it. We can’t coach them during the summer.
“We’ve tried to teach our players here’s what you need to do all summer,” he continued. “Some guys do it. Some go drink beer all summer.”
Naturally, the coach is talking about his players who are 21 and over. College kids who are under the legal drinking age don’t drink — especially the athletes. We all know that. Spurrier is also the coach once told us Stephen Garcia showed up to summer 7-on-7 drills wearing Crocs or sandals, so he knows players tend to become a little lax over the offseason.
On the other hand, it’s also possible Spurrier was throwing his team one last public kick in the ass before they break for the summer. Maybe his message was “don’t drink beers all summer or show up to practice wearing sandals and we’ll stand a better shot at contending.” We’ll never know.
