Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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SEC legends renew old rivalry in Knoxville Jonathan Hillyard SPORTS EDITOR In 1993, in Gainesville, Fla., then-FIori^la coach Steve Spurrier stood across the field from first-year Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer. It was the first of nine meetings between the two coaches, who, 12 years later, are among the professions living legends. Since that day, Fulmer and Spurrier have been two of the most stable figures in the SEC and college football. Even including Spurriers two-year stint in the NFL, the coaches have by far the most experience among active coaches in the SEC. The duo has a combined 271 victories, including eight SEC championships and two national titles. Since that day in September 1993, Kentucky, Vanderbilt and even USC have had four head coaches each. Both in their 13th season of coaching in the SEC, the two will once again square off before a packed house of more than 100,000 in Neyland Stadium on Saturday. “It’s one of the top stadiums in the country,” Spurrier said this week. “The fans get into it, like so many SEC stadiums. I think it’s the largest in the South, so it can get very loud. It’s a big-time SEC place to play football.” “It’s a chance to show everybody what we can do,” receiver Sidney Rice said. “We want to come out and give it our best shot.” To many, this might seem like more than just a big game. To this pair of coaches, that’s probably the case as well. Not only have Spurrier and Fulmer had some epic battles on the gridiron, but the two have been known to exchange a verbal jab from time to time. Most notably, in the late ‘90s, supposedly at a Gator Club meeting, Spurrier coined the phrase “You can’t spell Citrus without UT,” referring to the Citrus Bowl, the home of the second-place team in the SEC during the postseason. The jawing continued again this summer when both coaches had numerous criminal problems with their football teams. Spurrier, at one point, when responding to a question about his team’s involvement in illegal activity said, “If you want to read about some full blown fights, read about the Tennessee players.” This week he explained his statement. “I was just trying to protect our guys,” Spurrier said Tuesday. “We’d had enough issues with a bunch of 'em.” At his introduction news conference at USC, Spurrier said being in the NFL had taught him some humility, and it would appear he is following that statement, saying trash-talk isn’t in his cards anymore. “That’s all summer talk,” Spurrier said. “I had to do a lot of Gator Clubs, about 20 to 22 a year. Bobby Bowden had to do about 20 to 25 Seminole Clubs. He’d tell his little corny jokes, we’d tell ours. Fans laugh. No big deal. But you tell one about Tennessee, they think it’s insulting or something.” Despite all the press, both coaches deny they have a feud with each other, and both say they have a great respect for the other. One thing certainly not in question is the quality of football played between Spurrier- and Fulmer-coached teams. While Spurrier has the edge with a 7-2 record against Courtesy of Tennessee Sports Information Volunteer coach Phillip Fulmer will renew his rivalry with Steve Spurrier. Their last matchup was in 2001 when Tennessee won 34-22. Fulmer, both losses came at crucial points. In 1998, Spurrier’s Gators marched into Knoxville, Tenn., as the favorite, only to lose to the Vols for the first time in six years on a missed field goal in overtime'. Florida kicker Collins Cooper pushed a kick wide right and, coincidentally, never kicked another ball for the Gators. The Spurrier-Fulmer rivalry was put on hold for two years after the 2001 matchup, in which both teams were ranked in the top five in the country. Again, Spurriers Gators were favorites at home and had a national championship in sight. Enter Fulmer’s Vols, who rallied in the fourth quarter to beat Florida 34-32._ Still, Spurrier’s victories have outnumbered his defeats in the rivalry by more than three to one. The Peyton Manning-led Vols never defeated the Gators. Spurrier and his boys notched four consecutive SEC titles before losses to Georgia and LSU allowed Tennessee to sneak through in 1997. The of ball coach’s new team has not been so successful against Fulmer and company. In fact, the Gamecocks have never defeated Phillip Fulmer. The Gamecocks last beat the Yols in 1992, when freshman quarterback Steve Taneyhill led a late comeback to capitalize with a 24-23 victory. There is no doubt that Saturday is another chance for Carolina to win a “big game” of the likes Spurrier has talked about since arriving in November. And so the rivalry of the two winningest active coaches in the NCAA (by percentage) continues Saturday night in front of 104,000 plus fans on national television, just with a^ few different colors on the ^ sideline. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocksports@gwm. sc. edu r T T, , flt.01 OF THE PORM UF[? ) I) iCh Then you weed to check out p College Park Place! -t 1 r> Brand new student housing! \ J LlCll CT located at 700 Pickens Street CC "*■ • Just Steps from Campus • One block from Russell House “** • Fully Furnished 4 &R Apartments •’Limited" Assigned Parking Available • Coed Community / Roommate selection Available Check out what is included in your rent! High Speed Internet, Local/Long distance Phone. Electric, Water $- Sewer, Cable with HPO LIMITEP AVAILABILITY - CALL T0PAY! www.dutchsquare.com I 803-779-5888_I .... g Katie Kirklandm\\. CAMKCOCK ^ USC coach Steve Spurrier talks to freshman receiver Kenny McKinley Saturday in the Gamecocks' win against Vanderbilt. I ON THE COVER | Teaser photos | courtesy of j 8 Tennessee, USC i Sports Information, j Cover photos courtesy • of Tennessee Sports \ * Information, Katie : ™ Kirkland, The : Associated Press, ; l Cover designed by | m Laura-Joyce Gough/ : The Gamecock : : i • i •.WWK..