SEC Media Days: Spurrier Earns a Save

Steve Spurrier is running the anchor leg this year, and with good reason. Several good reasons, actually.

One: Spurrier always begins and ends the same way. A running bet in the journo pool ran thusly:

Journo One: He'll start with "Okaaaaaaaay."

Journo Two: Nah, he'll clear his throat and then say "Okaaaaaay."

Journo One: Put a dollar on it.

Journo Two: You're on.

Journo One: One condition. I get it back if he mentions being in the league sixteen years.

Spurrier takes the mic. "AhhhheEEEEEMMM!!! Okaaaaaay..."

Dollar exchanges hands. One minute passes, then:

" ...I've been coaching in this league sixteen years...."

Dollar re-exchanges hands.

Spurrier's final sentence began with "Okaaaaay...", as well. He's like the tides, right on schedule and regular.

Spurrier always ends his sentences on the up tick. There's a slight rise at the end of every statement he makes, like every statement is really just a question waiting for an unwritten question mark. Sometimes, it's effective, as in "I don't know if Tim Tebow can win, but he could if he scores five touchdowns in a game like he did last year?" Sometimes, it's humorously ironic in an inadvertent way, as in "I really believe South Carolina can win in the SEC?"

Spurrier serves quote at break point and never loses. On their season last year: "We were 6-6, which was mediocrity at its best."

On 6-6 Alabama being invited to a bowl game over South Carolina: "Well, Alabama got invited, because Alabama's got a little more pull than South Carolina. That's not fair, but that's life, and that's fine."

On getting the exact type of linebackers you want but coming up short.: "It's sorta like going after girls. You do the best you can. You know that. (pointing at journalists) You'd be surprised. Some of these guys actually have good-lookin' wives."

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.