Urban Meyer on Spurrier, USC defense
Now in Year Five, the Steve Spurrier vs. Florida storyline has lost some of its juice.
Spurrier had his run in Gainesville. Now it’s Urban Meyer’s turn. Both coached a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback with the Gators, and each won a national championship (Meyer is gunning for his third in four seasons).
Spurrier, who won his own Heisman playing for the Gators, still keeps up with his former team and has a bunch of friends in Gainesville. But he said Wednesday he has given no thought to what it would mean to spoil Florida’s national championship hopes.
Likewise, Meyer said the notion that he and Spurrier have a not-so-friendly rivalry – an idea some suggested the first couple of times the two squared off – is unfounded.
“Since day one, we walked in the press conference and he was one of the first guys I called. He knows how I feel about him. He knows how I feel about his resume,” Meyer said. “One of the things about coach Spurrier, I’ve never heard him – and I wouldn’t imagine it because of the kind of guy he is – him and his wife speak awful fondly of the Gators, which they should. And the Gators are fond of them.”
Meyer also had nice things to say about USC LB Eric Norwood, whom he called a candidate for SEC defensive player of the year, and the rest of the Gamecocks’ defense.
“The personnel on that defensive team since we’ve coached against them have been top five in our league. And this is no exception,” Meyer said. “I put them up even higher. I think they’re three or four, maybe even as high as two – as far as just personnel, speed and athleticism. They’ve got that good, young corner (Stephon Gilmore) out there that I think is tremendous.”
4 Comments to “Urban Meyer on Spurrier, USC defense”
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USC football beat writer Joe Person has covered the Gamecocks since the start of the 2002 season. He's been on the college football beat since 1993. 
This game could be a bad one for Carolina BUT MY GUT SAID NO WAY. Everything against the gamecocks in this game. But except a surprise with the coach from florida leaving to answer questions of how his team preformed.
Just strap’em up boys. Tired of all the talking.
Spurrier is on the road again…on the road to another 6 and 6 season! I wonder how many recruits will opt for Florida because of the SC fans booing and boorish behavior?
CAROLINA10
” Looking for Solutions, not Questions”
Let’s use their tradition to build OUR FUTURE
Gamecock Nation,
The Carolina10 is a grassroots project to Remind, Support and Win. As our beloved Gamecocks compete on the field, We need to compete in giving. We feel that Eric Hyman and Staff have put us in position to compete. The YES program and Garnet Way was the right choice at the right time. The one area we are falling short, is winning the Palmetto State. That means BEATING Clemson and keeping CAROLINA kids home. With the Carolina10 project we can go the extra mile to win the Palmetto State.
On Nov 16th, We ask you to flood the Athletic Departments Office with orange envelopes filled with a $10 dollar bill. We would like this money to be added to the recruiting budgets, support systems and camps. Last year Clemson spent 150k more in recruiting and raised more for their support systems. Its time we quit sitting on the sidelines and get in the game. Please note this has no affiliation with the University of South Carolina or is intended to compete with the Gamecock Club. We are encouraging all fans to join the Gamecock Club even at the lowest level if need be. http://www.gamecocksonline.cstv.com
Remind – It will remind the Administration that BEATING Clemson is very important. Money Talks.
Support – We have support systems like the FCA and tutoring programs, that are in need of money. These systems are great resources for our student — athletes to use and they help enhance their time at Carolina. These systems are also great tools in recruiting student-athletes.
Win- When news hits of OUR new commitment to Carolina, there will be more of a sense of PRIDE to stay home. With the added money to recruiting/support systems, it will allow Carolina more freedom to pursue the top student-athlete in Carolina and the Nation.
When mailing your support, We ask you to write on the $10 bill in black sharpie:GO Gamecocks! small on the Top and Remind, Support, Win on the bottom. Imagine when the bills are back in circulation, in the pockets of potential student-athletes or Clemson fans.
Mail To:
Rex Enright Athletic Center
1300 Rosewood Drive
Columbia, SC 29208
Return Address:
CAROLINA10 Project
2001 BEAT CLEMSON
GARNET&BLACK, SOUTH CAROLINA 01801
We know winning the SEC is our goal. Keeping AJ Green, C. Dunlap, R.Quinn, C.Brown, S.Ellis, Young, Walker, R.Geathers, C.Hope, P.Boulware, L.Hart, S.Davis in STATE, would make that a lot easier.
Blackouts, Walks and etc. Why Not This?
We are looking for solutions not questions.
Clemson is in South Carolina, but WE ARE SOUTH CAROLINA.
They quit talking and started doing, now it our turn.
IPTAY is widely regarded as the father of athletic fundraising. The IPTAY Scholarship Fund traces its roots to the 1930s. Dr. Rupert Fike is credited with being the originator of IPTAY, but the seed that Dr. Fike needed for his now much-envied group was planted there by then Head Football Coach Jess Neely.
On October 16, 1931, Clemson suffered a surprising 6-0 loss against The Citadel in a game played in Florence, SC. After the game, Captain Frank J. Jervey, Head Coach Jess Neely, assistant coach Joe Davis and Captain Pete Heffner of the university military staff met in a car outside the stadium to discuss ways Clemson could help its football program get back on track. The meeting started the ball rolling towards the establishment of the IPTAY Foundation. Clemson would score just three touchdowns and win just one game during the 1931 season.
Soon Fike came into the picture through correspondence with Jervey. Jervey wanted to form the “50 [$50) Club” but Fike wanted a smaller amount, which he thought, would mean more members and more money. Neely believed that if he could get $10,000 a year, he could give the Clemson fans a winning football team.
Then in 1934, Dr. Fike wrote his now famous letter to Neely, stating “Last night we had a little meeting at our house and organized the IPTAY club.” So began Clemson’s athletic support group, which in those days, stood for “I Pay Ten A Year.” At this time the purpose of IPTAY was “to provide annual financial support to the athletic department at Clemson, and to assist in every way possible to regain for Clemson the high athletic standing which rightfully belongs to her.”
The organization was first established as a secret organization and initial membership dues were set at $10.00 a year (I Pay Ten A Year). A little more than $1,600.00 came into the coffers the first year of IPTAY, even in the heart of the Great Depression. Some payments were made in the form of barter. Milk, sweet potatoes, turnip greens and the like were accepted in the initial efforts to build membership.
The excitement about the organization carried over into the 1934 season and the Tigers ran to their first winning season since 1930. Clemson had gone 0-5-1 against Furman and South Carolina in those years, then defeated both teams in 1934. The fruits of the labor really began to pay off in 1938, said former Clemson publicist Joe Sherman. In 1938, Clemson went 8-1-1 and the following season, Neely coached Clemson to its first bowl game, the 1940 Cotton Bowl, where the Tigers capped a 9-1-0 season by beating Boston College and Hall of Fame Coach Frank Leahy 6-3. Clemson ended the season ranked 12th in the final Associated Press poll, its first top 20 season in history. Boston College was ranked 11th going into the game and it was Clemson’s first win over a top 20 team in its history.
With over 22,000 combined members in the 2006 fiscal year, the organization plays a major role in ensuring that all 19 of the varsity sports at Clemson are given the maximum amount of scholarships offered by the NCAA. IPTAY donors have contributed over $200 million since the inception of IPTAY, including over $14 million in 2006 fiscal year.
In accordance with the IPTAY Constitution, the four priorities are as follows:
The payment of the annual cost of athletic scholarships.
The payment or reimbursement of the operating expenses of IPTAY.
The establishment and maintenance of an adequate reserve fund deemed appropriate by the IPTAY Board of Directors.
Any expenditures other than those established under the previous three priorities, shall be limited to either direct or indirect aids to the athletic program of Clemson University and must be approved by the IPTAY Board of Directors.
While the basic principles of IPTAY outlined in 1934 remain the same, the scope of IPTAY has grown tremendously. Not only does this unique organization provide for athletic scholarships, but IPTAY is a key toward building and maintaining the outstanding facilities that are essential for Clemson to remain as one of the top intercollegiate athletic programs in the United States.
In recent years, IPTAY has broadened its scope by building and renovating facilities that can be used by the entire Clemson University family — students, faculty, and administrators. In 1991 IPTAY funded the construction of a 27,000 square foot facility to accommodate the extended schedules and needs of student-athletes. When this facility, Vickery Hall, opened in 1991 it was the first support facility in the country built solely for the all-around education of student athletes. Even today, Vickery Hall and its programs are completely supported by funds from IPTAY. Unfortunately, with the escalating cost of tuition, IPTAY will be limited in its future funding of programs outside of the cost of athletic scholarships. While the four priorities of IPTAY are the guiding force of the organization, the mission of Clemson University has not been overlooked either. The IPTAY Academic Scholarship Endowment was created to help meet the need for more academic scholarships for non-athletes who are qualified academically. The IPTAY Academic Scholarship Fund is presently the second largest scholarship of its kind at Clemson, and has helped more than 1200 students attend Clemson University.
IPTAY, under the guidance of its Board of Directors, is continuously making improvements and adding programs to enhance the organization and university. In recent years, some of the most impressive changes have been the addition of the Tiger Cub Club, IPTAY CATS (Clemson Active Teen Support), and the IPTAY Collegiate Club.It is now focused on the WestZone Club, the fund-raising effort to greatly enhance the West Endzone area of Memorial Stadium, and the construction of a “One Clemson” museum, which will document the history of the university and its athletic program.
IPTAY is expecting even more growth in the coming years and its member’s track record of loyalty and generosity is well documented. Those loyalists include Alan McJohnstone of Orangeburg, SC, the only one of IPTAY’s 110 charter members that remains active. With his help and the help of many like him, it is no wonder IPTAY heads into its 73rd year as strong as ever.
Let’s use their Tradition to build OUR FUTURE.
If you are in email Carolinaten@gmail.com to confirm
Talk it up on facebook, twitter, Gamecock boards and pass it on.
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