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Spurrier: How the Ball Coach Taught the South to Play Football

Ran Henry (Goodreads Author)

3.81 · Rating details · 16 ratings · 4 reviews

“We all like to prove people wrong who say we’re no good,” says the eternally driven Steve Spurrier, the 1966 Heisman Trophy winner and NFL quarterback who took off his helmet, put on his coaching visor, and turned three downtrodden universities into winners. Spurrier’s Fun ’N’ Gun offense at the University of Florida flummoxed defenses and rewrote playbooks across the Sou ...more

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Hardcover, 336 pages

Published September 2nd 2014 by Lyons Press

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Nov 04, 2014 Lance rated it liked it

Shelves: arc, blog, football, net-galley, own-a-copy, sports

Rating:
3 of 5 stars (okay)

Review:
College football fans have seen his grimace underneath his visor many times. Steve Spurrier has made an art out of taking football programs that have had very little success and making them winners. He did this at Duke, Florida and now South Carolina. The legendary status of the “ball coach” grew in Florida when he took the Fun ‘n’ Gun offense to a new level, brining a national championship to the university.

This book by Ran Henry chronicles how a son of a prea ...more

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Jan 07, 2015 Jeff Brannon rated it it was amazing

Has there ever been a more compelling and unique story about about any figure in sports, coach or player, than Steve Spurrier? It would be hard to convince me otherwise after reading this beautifully written collection of the stories that made the Ball Coach who he is today. This isn't your typical sports book, and for the good, let me assure you. This isn't just a collection of stats or review of game film, this is a masterfully narrated depiction of a man whose day as an athlete began at a qua Has there ever been a more compelling and unique story about about any figure in sports, coach or player, than Steve Spurrier? It would be hard to convince me otherwise after reading this beautifully written collection of the stories that made the Ball Coach who he is today. This isn't your typical sports book, and for the good, let me assure you. This isn't just a collection of stats or review of game film, this is a masterfully narrated depiction of a man whose day as an athlete began at a quaint little neighborhood park that would later be named after Spurrier. Spurrier, like many of us, is a product of his upbringing. His father, a loving, dedicated father and husband, and rabid sports fan, Reverend Spurrier, taught Steve the ins and outs of sports, and influenced his ethics as a coach and player that shaped Steve into the unique, lovable, and darn right competitive player (and later coach) that he would become and still is. Steve was pushed to always improve his game on the field and court. Even when Steve won a game as a player or coach, Reverend Spurrier always could find something worthy of making better for next time. That mantra of "It could've been better" is one that Spurrier still uses today at the University of South Carolina. Spurrier could be up 35, take out the starters for the backups, go on to win the game, and still have something to tell the press after the game that "could've been better". That's what makes him one of the most respected and feared coaches in College Football; he's competitive, and will do just about anything it takes to win, as you will find when you read Ran Henry's in-depth look at a life that is certainly worthy of a book of this quality. There would be no point for any other author/sportswriter to attempt to write a book on Steve Spurrier; the definitive story of the man with the visor is right here in Ran Henry's new captivating and exciting biography. Even if you aren't a fan of Coach Spurrier (probably because your team is on the bad side of his sideline genius) or the SEC, you still need to read this book. This isn't about the SEC, this is about a man whose desire to coach and win and better his players and assistant coaches is far greater than anything, and that the Ball Coach, Steve Spurrier, will not stop until he outsmarts the opponent.
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Nov 23, 2014 Jim Stiver rated it it was amazing

Under the Visor

If you are a fan of the Ball Coach, of course you have to read this book, but the same goes for all those who think of him as the Evil Genius. I know you’ve never figured him out. That’s part of the coach’s plan. But Ran Henry has, and don’t you want to understand what makes Spurrier tick?

But even if you have only a mild curiosity about the man, you will enjoy the read. Masterfully written with a compelling story to tell, Spurrier reads like a novel, as literary as it is insight ...more

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Jan 06, 2015 Robert rated it it was ok

Fans of Steve Spurrier will enjoy this book for all the detail that the author describe Spurrier. Unfortunately, it is a 325 page biography written more in the style of a 1000 word article in the sports section. At times tedious and hard to follow, the pace picks up in the latter stages and the stylistic problems become less irritating.

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