Spurrier Takes Himself Out of Running at Florida

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — If Steve Spurrier decides to coach again, it won’t be at his alma mater.

Spurrier, 59, withdrew his name from consideration Thursday to replace Ron Zook, saying his time at Florida had passed.

The announcement relieves any reservations boosters and school officials had regarding Spurrier’s potential return. It also opens up a coaching search for a job that was widely considered Spurrier’s to lose.

“He said he’s done his thing here and he just thinks it’s better for us to go find a coach who will be here for the next 10 or 15 years,” Athletic Director Jeremy Foley said.

The Gators won six Southeastern Conference championships and the 1996 national title under Spurrier. He posted 122 victories over 12 seasons, tormented opponents with his offensive flair and witty one-liners, and left town with the best winning percentage in SEC history.

Zook, hired in 2002 after Spurrier left to coach the Washington Redskins, was fired last week after the latest in a series of embarrassing losses, a 38-31 defeat by lowly Mississippi State.

Spurrier quit the Redskins after two losing seasons, and indicated last week he would consider a return to Gainesville.

Foley and Spurrier exchanged several phone messages, trying to set up an interview with school President Bernie Machen after the season.

Now, with Spurrier out of the picture, Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops, Utah’s Urban Meyer and California’s Jeff Tedford are considered other possible candidates.