HEAD BALL COACH

The decorated football player and coach offers an overview of his upbringing and remarkable career.

In his first book, Heisman Trophy winner and award-winning college football coach Spurrier, who has a national championship and six Southeastern Conference championships to his name, leaves no stage of his life unexamined. Though he regrets certain aspects of his coaching career—e.g., leaving his head coaching position at the University of Florida for an unsuccessful stint as the head coach of the Washington Redskins or losing the Chick-fil-A Bowl to Florida State in 2010 while coaching the University of South Carolina—it is noteworthy that he harbors very little bitterness and seldom says a negative word about anyone (especially surprising given his penchant during his career to take jabs at nearly everyone). Demonstrating that he can find motivation from unexpected sources, Spurrier's philosophical inspirations are as wide-ranging as Atilla the Hun, Sun Tzu, John Wooden, and even pop singer Taylor Swift's anthem "Shake It Off." One of the author’s useful pieces of advice for readers is to listen closely to friends and peers, both of which have helped to guide his career. Spurrier shows readers how he reversed the losing records and cultures at Florida and South Carolina and how he left them better than they were when he arrived (though some South Carolina fans who suffered through the bizarre 2015 season, during which the coach stepped down halfway through, may disagree on that last count). "My satisfaction was in charting new territory,” writes the author, “and going where the programs had rarely, if ever, been before.” He certainly accomplished that at both Florida and South Carolina. Some of the other lessons from the head ball coach: treat others fairly, maintain a good reputation, have a charming spouse, and value your country club membership.

An easy, straightforward read with plenty to chew on for fans of college football, especially the SEC.