Sep 20, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Steve Spurrier during the first half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
As South Carolina Gamecocks Head Coach Steve Spurrier retires, here are the top 10 most memorable games he coached against the Tennessee Volunteers.
Even if he drove you insane with his comments, any Vols fan would be a fool not to appreciate what Steve Spurrier has meant to college football.
He was always honest, candid, hilarious, and a coaching genius. He was the mad-hatter before Les Miles. Or the Mad-Visor if you want to call him that.
More from Peyton Manning
- Tennessee football: Could Peyton Manning have had Randy Moss with Vols?
- Tennessee football: Signs, sights and sounds from College GameDay for Vols vs. Alabama
- Tennessee football: Peyton Manning is GameDay picker; Two skids might end
- Tennessee football: What took so long to name Peyton Manning an SEC legend?
- Peyton Manning a great coach but would struggle coaching; David Cutcliffe reveals why
But, as anybody in Knoxville will tell you, there is no denying how frustrating he was to go up against. Spurrier, who grew up just 90 miles outside of Knoxville but made his career at Florida as a player and a coach, never ceased to torture his home state’s college.
His overall record against Tennessee is 14-10, and that includes a major upset in Knoxville when he was head coach of the Duke Blue Devils in 1988.
He obviously kept Peyton Manning and Tennessee from two more SEC Championships and possibly multiple national championships from 1995 to 1997, and he kept the Vols overall from likely winning four more SEC Championships from 1995 to 2000.
Seriously, without Spurrier, Tennessee could have won six straight conference titles.
But in the 24 match-ups between the Ol’ Ball Coach and the Vols, Tennessee managed to get Spurrier’s teams as well. Just ask the 2013 South Carolina Gamecocks and the Florida Gators of 1998 and 2001 about how Tennessee managed to ruin a few seasons of his.
Simply put, both sides have caused heartbreak against each other. Let’s take a look at the Top 10 memorable games between the Tennessee Vols and South Carolina Gamecocks.
Next: Begin Slideshow