They said it: Local, national reaction to Will Muschamp hire

“Excited for the future of Gamecock football. Welcome, Coach Will Muschamp and thrilled to have coach Kurt Roper. One of the best I've been around!!”

– Former USC QB Connor Shaw, now with the Cleveland Browns

“If you are not excited after hearing him talk, you don’t bleed garnet. He’ll bring the fire and enthusiasm needed in this program. His energy level is above and beyond. I don’t think you can have too much energy.”

– Former USC RB Ryan Brewer

“I think he’s a great fit, I’m very excited about him. In fact, he was my favorite early on. I think his leadership style, the passion and the energy and the grittiness is what we need at this time. As he said at the podium, we really grew under coach Spurrier, we made a lot of progress, we had the best, probably, 10-year run in school history. I’m convinced Will Muschamp is the correct guy for this transition.”

– USC trustee and former player Chuck Allen

“If I were talking to Will Muschamp I would tell him, ‘I know you’re competitive – and I know all these coaches are competitive – but it’s one thing to be intense, it’s another thing to take it over the top.’ I think he has moments where he kind of loses it and I think as a head coach you have to be more of an executive and allow your coordinators to make decisions.”

– ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit

“I am very excited about the future of this football program under his leadership. I think he’s going to be here for a long, long time.”

– USC AD Ray Tanner

"I really appreciate Coach Muschamp's hard work and dedication for our program at Auburn this past year and wish him nothing but the best with his new job."

– Auburn coach Gus Malzahn