Steve Spurrier admits 'firing himself' during video interview

By foxsports
Published

Steve Spurrier's sudden and unexpected mid-season departure from South Carolina shocked many in the college football community.

Considered one of the most iconic head coaches in his profession, Spurrier left a struggling Gamecocks team sitting at 2-4. 

On Monday, Spurrier was a guest of ESPN's The Paul Finebaum Show. He spoke about his resignation -- as well as his thoughts on why he abruptly departed. 

Speaking candidly, Spurrier admitted he should've retired after the 2014 Independence Bowl victory over Miami.

"We all have an expiration date, and I missed mine," said Spurrier. "Mine should've been after the Miami game. We won four bowl games in a row and never had a losing season here. I thought we had a team that should have had a winning season [in 2015], but I was definitely wrong."

Spurrier also spoke about the team needing a new voice to guide them throughout the remainder of the season. Offering up recent examples such as Dabo Swinney and Clay Helton, he was confident the interim coach (who came to be Shawn Elliott) would do a great job in his absence. 

"I didn't think this team was listening to me very well," said Spurrier. "I wasn't doing a very good job. In a way I sort of fired myself."

As currently constituted, the Ol' Ball Coach will continue to be fixture in the community of Columbia. He admitted to holding the job title of "special assistant" to AD Ray Tanner and President Harris Pastides.