Spurrier timeline: What he’s been up to this past year

One year ago Steve Spurrier walked away from his job as head coach at South Carolina, where he was the winningest coach in Gamecocks history, going 86-49 record from 2005-15. Here’s a timeline of what has happened in the past year:

2015

Oct. 12: Spurrier, 70, informs his South Carolina team that he is resigning immediately after going 2-4 (0-4 SEC) to start 2015. Running game coordinator/offensive line coach Shawn Elliott is named named interim head coach.

Oct. 16: USC will pay Spurrier through the end of 2015. That means Spurrier receives his full $4 million pay. He collects more than $900,000 after his resignation.

Nov. 17: Spurrier considers taking an ambassador’s role with USC after the end of his official employment at the end of the year. He could be a special assistant to president Harris Pastides and AD Ray Tanner at an annual salary of $100,000, provided he maintains his residence in Columbia.

December 2: In an open letter to USC fans, Spurrier writes: “. . . I felt that I was doing a lousy job as head coach and a change would help our team become more competitive. . . . Thanks to all Gamecocks for allowing me to be your coach for over ten years.”

December 2: Spurrier’s visage will no longer greet visitors to Williams-Brice Stadium. The 35-by-80-foot banner of Spurrier hanging outside the West stands is removed. "I think it’s a good idea to remove it," Spurrier said.

December 8: Spurrier says he is pleased with USC’s choice of Will Muschamp for his successor. "I think Will and his staff will do very well," Spurrier said. "He’s a well-respected defensive coach. For whatever reason, down at Florida, the offense never quite got going, but I’m sure he learned a lot and he’s ready to go."

December 16: Jerri Spurrier, who celebrated her 49th wedding anniversary with Steve earlier this year, graduates from USC with a degree in psychology. She did not participate in the graduation ceremonies because she and Steve were in New York for the Heisman Trophy presentation.

2016

Feb. 9: Spurrier confirms that he started a new job as an ambassador for USC in January at a $100,000 annual salary. "I go into the McGuire room halftime of (some basketball) game, see some booster people, shake a few hands, hang out with them a little bit," he said.

March 3: Former USC assistant Steve Spurrier Jr. joins coach Bob Stoops’ Oklahoma football staff in an off-the-field capacity. He served as the co-offensive coordinator / wide receivers / recruiting coordinator for his father.

April 6: Muschamp buys Spurrier’s condominium across from Williams-Brice Stadium. Muschamp buys the 796-square-foot, one-bedroom condo at Carolina Walk for $130,000. Spurrier paid $221,212 for the unit.

April 20: Spurrier spends the afternoon of his 71st birthday chatting with Paul Finebaum. "My give a dang was gone, my zest for the game," he said. "It wasn’t working. I wish I could have lasted the (2015) season, but I wish I had retired, resigned, quit after the Miami game (to end the 2014 season), but I didn’t do that. I came close to it, but thought we were OK."

May 20: With some calling for the creation of a college football commissioner with autonomy along the lines of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Spurrier was asked if he would entertain the thought of the job. "I doubt it," Spurrier said. "That sounds like a lot of work, traveling around the country trying to keep up with Ole Miss and whoever else has been under investigation right now."

June 9: Florida announced that its field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium will be named after Spurrier -- "Steve Spurrier-Florida Field." He won the Heisman Trophy as a Gators quarterback and was Florida’s winningest coach. "I am humbled, honored, thankful and very appreciative that my alma mater believes that I am worthy and deserving,” he said.

July 29: Spurrier agrees to take a role with the Florida athletics department as an ambassador and consultant, a similar role to one he had at USC. "I’m looking forward to getting back," he says.

August 29: In a chapter of his new book ("HEAD BALL COACH: My Life in Football"), Spurrier says he was proud of USC’s “Hat Trick” of 11-win seasons in 2012 and 2013. But after the team struggled -- especially on defense -- in 2014 and 2015, he says his expiration date had arrived.

Sept. 8: Spurrier returns to Columbia to sell books. He signs copies of his new biography at the Books-A-Million at Village at Sandhill. "It’s pretty easy reading," he says of the book.

Sept. 25: He appears on ESPN’s "GameDay" in Knoxville, Tenn., as the celebrity picker along with former Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer. Not surprisingly, Fulmer picked Tennessee to beat Florida while Spurrier picks the Gators. Fulmer is right. They each pick Georgia over Ole Miss. Both are wrong.

Staff Reports

This story was originally published October 11, 2016 at 6:25 PM with the headline "Spurrier timeline: What he’s been up to this past year."