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Steve Spurrier could meet with SEC Network about commentating gig

(AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
(AP Photo/Richard Shiro)

Steve Spurrier as a commentator? It could happen.

Spurrier told The State that he expects to meet with the SEC Network “in the next month.” This is not a drill.

“We have tentatively discussed getting together to talk,” the former South Carolina coach said Monday, “but I’m not sure what I’m going to do yet but hope to do something constructive and productive. I have seen people who don’t do anything and that doesn’t work. Hopefully, I will get involved in something here in about a month or so.”

Spurrier made a guest appearance on ESPN’s College Gameday soon after announcing his resignation and recently held down a two-hour spot on the Paul Finebaum Show, so he is certainly familiar with the network. ESPN declined to confirm if a meeting was scheduled when reached by The State.

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“Steve Spurrier is a legend in the SEC and we’ve had the pleasure of having him as a guest on various shows during the off-season,” ESPN spokesperson Gracie Blackburn told The State. “We are in the midst of planning for the college football season and don’t have any new commentator announcements at this time.”

Spurrier abruptly resigned in October in the midst of his 11th season coaching the Gamecocks. He led the program to an SEC East title in 2010 and three straight 11-win seasons from 2011 to 2013, but things were starting to look bleak for the program. After a 7-6 record in 2014, the Gamecocks started 2-4 (0-4 in SEC play) in 2015. Spurrier decided he’d had enough.

“The last several years as I've traveled around the country, seen guys and so forth I always get asked 'How much longer are you going to coach?'" Spurrier said when making his decision official. "And my answer is always the same. As long as we keep winning, keep winning these bowl games, everybody's happy, we're ranked, life's pretty good, I guess I could go several more years.

"But, as it starts going south, starts going bad, I need to get out. You just can't keep a head coach who's done it as long as I have when it's heading in the wrong direction.”

Before his time at South Carolina, Spurrier was the head coach at Florida, his alma mater, for 12 seasons. He won six SEC titles and the 1996 national title with the Gators. As a player, he won the Florida program’s first Heisman Trophy in 1966 as a quarterback. Florida announced earlier this month that it would name its field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium after Spurrier.

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The Head Ball Coach has never been afraid to speak his mind and has appeared comfortable on camera during past network appearances. He seems like a natural fit to join ESPN’s coverage. He certainly knows the teams in the SEC well.

For more South Carolina news, visit GamecockCentral.com.

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Sam Cooper is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!