Spurrier Remains on the Offensive

Eschewing the usual back-slapping and mutual admiration rhetoric that precedes most bowl games, Florida Coach Steve Spurrier on Saturday continued his verbal assault on Florida State’s coaching staff for its alleged dirty tricks campaign against star Gator quarterback Danny Wuerffel.

Wuerffel was sacked six times and knocked down a dozen more in the Nov. 30 game at Tallahassee, a 24-21 Florida State victory.

Spurrier says “eight to 10” of the hits were late and not penalized.

Urging reporters to review the tape and judge for themselves, Spurrier turned the first Sugar Bowl news conference into spirited two-part sessions of accusations and denials.

“Danny Wuerffel should not be treated like a tackling dummy because he plays quarterback against FSU,” Spurrier said.

Spurrier, whose No. 3 Gators play the No. 1 Seminoles on Thursday in a game with national title implications for both teams, needed little prompting to fan the flames of a story he ignited.

Spurrier did not directly blame Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden for teaching his players to hit after the whistle, but he came close. “He’s responsible for how his players play, and I’m responsible for how ours play,” Spurrier said.

Bowden, in a separate interview, labeled Spurrier’s pregame comments “a side show” and added, “We don’t tell our kids to go out and hit a kid late.”

Bowden said he watched tape of the game and thought only one of the hits Spurrier deemed late might have merited another penalty. Florida State was penalized 12 times in the game for 143 yards.

Bowden blamed Florida’s five-receiver formations for the hits.

“If he’s going to send out five a lot, and we send six [rushers], it’s going to get you hit,” Bowden said.

Spurrier said he did not care if his attacks might be perceived as personal against Bowden, one of the most beloved and successful coaches in college football history. “I don’t know how personal he takes it, but you’ve got to call it like you see it,” Spurrier said. “I don’t think he can tell me what to say. We’re not in the ACC. I don’t have to worry about their commissioner getting on me or anything like that.”

Spurrier said he will address Florida State’s tactics at a meeting of officials on Tuesday, and encouraged Bowden to attend.

Asked if he would, Bowden said “I might or I might not.”

Bowden said he could only guess as to Spurrier’s motives.

“Steve could, No. 1, be hoping the officials get intimidated,” Bowden said. “It could be that Steve is hoping to excite his kids. It could be he thinks we hit late.

“So far, anything he’s said hasn’t hurt.”