Where Steve Spurrier ranks among college football’s top coaches of 90s
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Florida football rose to national prominence during the 1990s following a decade marred by misbehavior. Sure, the 1980s saw some success — including an SEC title in 1984 and a No. 1 ranking in 1985 — but the accolades achieved were erased by sanctions, not once but twice.
Then came Steve Spurrier riding into Gainesville on his white horse. The Gators' only Heisman Trophy winner at that point had fizzled out as a professional player but later found his niche as a head coach. After Galen Hall was replaced with interim skipper Gary Darnell in 1989, Florida sought the services of its all-time great to turn things around in the next decade.
And turn things around, he did.
Spurrier overhauled the program both on the field and off, leading the team to new levels of success while establishing a culture that remains firmly intact to this day. His efforts made him widely viewed as one of the best head coaches to ever roam the college football sidelines.
So, where does the Head Ball Coach stand among his peers during the 1990s? The Athletic's Joe Rexrode recently ranked the top 25 coaches of the decade, with Spurrier checking in at No. 3.
"When Spurrier took over his alma mater in 1990, after a stint at Duke that saw him bring that downtrodden program an ACC title, the Gators were mired in mediocrity and just emerging from NCAA sanctions — which resulted from a brief 1980s uprising. Florida had three top-10 finishes in its history," Axelrode notes.
"Spurrier, who won the Heisman Trophy in 1966 as Florida’s quarterback, had three top-10 finishes in his first four years and did it eight years in a row. Danny Wuerffel won the Heisman in 1996 and led the Gators to the title — avenging a previous loss to rival Florida State in the Sugar Bowl. Beyond the success, Spurrier’s acerbic wit and “Fun ‘n’ Gun” offense defined the decade."
Ahead of Spurrier on the list is Seminoles skipper Bobby Bowden, who helped usher in the golden era of the UF-FSU rivalry alongside his archnemesis, in the top spot. Sandwiched between them is Kansas State Wildcats coach Bill Snyder, who did more with less than any other during the 1990s.
Steve Spurrier's career highlights
- One national championship
- Eight top-10 finishes and five top-five finishes
- Second nationally with 102 wins, including 32 wins against ranked teams and 17 against top-10 teams
- Five SEC championships, including four straight from 1993-96
Ranking college football’s top coaches of the 1990s
- Bobby Bowden (Florida State)
- Bill Snyder (Kansas State)
- Steve Spurrier (Florida)
- Tom Osborne (Nebraska)
- Barry Alvarez (Wisconsin)
- Joe Paterno (Penn State)
- Phillip Fulmer (Tennessee)
- Dennis Erickson (Miami, Oregon State)
- Gene Stallings (Alabama)
- Bill McCartney (Colorado)
- Lloyd Carr (Michigan)
- R.C. Slocum (Texas A&M)
- Lou Holtz (Notre Dame, South Carolina)
- John Cooper (Ohio State)
- Frank Beamer (Virginia Tech)
- Mack Brown (North Carolina, Texas)
- Paul Pasqualoni (Syracuse)
- LaVell Edwards (BYU)
- Joe Tiller (Wyoming, Purdue)
- Fisher DeBerry (Air Force)
- George Welsh (Virginia)
- Dick Tomey (Arizona)
- Bruce Snyder (Cal, Arizona State)
- Terry Bowden (Samford, Auburn)
- Don James (Washington)
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida football's Steve Spurrier ranks among top coaches of 1990s
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