October 12, 2015: The Day of College Football Craziness
A day that will go down in history as one of the most noteworthy days of college football. Two historic programs now without head coaches due to retirement or resignation. A redshirt freshman quarterback being suspended a full calendar year for taking steroids. October 12th didn't have a college football game scheduled, but it didn't have to because everyone was already on the edge of his seat.
October 12th was not a good day for college football coaches with the first name Steve, last name starting with an S, and coaching for a variation of the abbreviation USC. Steve Spurrier, the longtime head coach (or how he likes to be called “Ole Ball Coach” or “Head Ball Coach”) of the Florida Gators, and recently the South Carolina Gamecocks, stepped down October 12th after a tumultuous and exciting career. He was known as one of the best coaches of all time (if not the best) and often made irrational decisions that seemed bad from the start. But the Ole Ball Coach always found a way. For example, coming off a win against Tennessee, Spurrier said this: “Will be the 14th time I’ve coached in Neyland Stadium. … I’ve coached there more than some of their head coaches.” This quote is one of many reasons why he was such a legendary coach.
The other Steve S comes at the other USC known as Southern California. His name is Steve Sarkisian. He is originally a USC graduate but was the head coach at Washington for years. When the USC job opened, he took the chance to coach the legendary universities in Los Angeles at the most historic stadium. The public didn't know one thing: he had a drinking problem. According to the LA Times, he showed up drunk to a donor’s dinner and yelled profanities, and showed up drunk to practice. The worst of all, also probably the tipping point, was showing up drunk to USC’s game against Arizona State. It's not like his teams were performing well. This is certainly not a good recipe for success at a traditionally historic university. Since Sarkesian has been fired, there will be a long line for high profile coaches waiting for a chance to coach the Trojans.
Last but not least, Florida quarterback Will Grier, a redshirt freshman who has led the Gators to a 6-0 start was caught after using performance enhancing drugs (also called PEDs). He was using Ligandrol, a not very easily obtained steroid that he said he got “over the counter.” He has played a huge part in Florida’s success so far but they will not have him for a full calendar year if the appeal is denied. That means they lose him for the rest of the year this year and the first six games next year.
College football is crazy most days of the year, but October 12th was special in what happened and the unfolding of it. It's what makes the sport exciting and fun to watch.
