Farewell Dave Odom

Now was the time. If Dave Odom remained and these young players hadn't reached their potential, the players would have lost out.

Bring on Greg Marshall!

COLUMBIA, S.C. - University of South Carolina head men's basketball coach Dave Odom announced Friday he is retiring at the end of the 2007-08 season. The announcement was made at an 11 a.m. press conference at the South Carolina Practice Facility. Coach Odom, who has been in college coaching for 43 years, is in his seventh season with the Gamecocks and recently won his 400th career game. He has a 123-94 record at South Carolina and a career heading coach record of 401-268 record (East Carolina, Wake Forest and South Carolina).

Statement from South Carolina Head Basketball Coach Dave Odom:
"Everything has a beginning and an end. It's a hard decision because this profession and this game are all about passion and I can tell you the passion is still there, but I recognize the signs and I recognize the thoughts that brought me to this decision. The best way to help the University of South Carolina basketball team at this time is to answer the concerns about my future and Gamecock Basketball. By announcing my decision today, every Gamecock fan can expend all their energy for and encouraging our team by helping them become the best that they can be this year. It is my hope that our players will feel the energy and enthusiasm of our students and fans and that motivation will drive them to new heights as players, students and young men. Establishing that atmosphere in the Colonial Center for our remaining games is an important step for the future of Gamecock basketball. Our players and our university deserve as much.

"Lynn and I share a real fondness and love for Carolina, the Columbia area and the state of South Carolina. We are confident the remainder of this season will be filled with many exciting moments as we will focus all our energy on the remainder of the season. It is our hope and desire that we complete this season on a positive note that builds toward the future. I'm certain we will enjoy revisiting many special memories as we reflect on our time as members of the Gamecock family."

Once Upon a Time....

...Steve Spurrier blessed my college experience when he chose to coach my South Carolina Gamecocks when he returned to college football. I'm a die-hard Washington Redskins fan but I had no doubt the Head Ball Coach could resurrect USC football and knock down the conventional order of SEC dominance. Spurrier's got USC on its way with an exceptional recruiting class, a stable running game and one of the nation's best defenders, Jasper Brinkley.

The college football season is 55 days away (for my team anyway) and I wanted to commemorate Spurrier's return with Tony Kornheiser's reaction to Spurrier 10 games into Spurrier's first season. I chose Kornheiser's piece for this week's column of the week because Kornheiser knows Spurrier deserved his NFL shot and is ready to win in college, again --

A FEW CHOICE WORDS: TONY KORNHEISER

Gamecocks Spurred by Ol' Ball Coach

Tuesday, November 15, 2005; Page E02

How about a big round of applause for the Ol' Ball Coach!

What a triumphant return Steve Spurrier has made to the place where he belongs -- college football. (Though hour by hour in Gainesville, an increasing number of angry souls fume about what on earth Spurrier is doing in South Carolina, and not back at his alma mater, Florida.)

I'll defend my position until my dying breath that it was the right move for Danny Snyder to hire Spurrier. A man that innovative and dominant in big-time college football deserved the chance to carry that magic to the NFL. Okay, he couldn't. We're all wiser and more humble. . . . Well, I'm not, but Spurrier is.

Spurrier never lobbed grenades at Snyder and the Redskins. He sat out a year to watch his son play high school ball, then jumped back in at South Carolina -- because the geniuses who are running Florida didn't want him. They wanted young, hot shot Urban Meyer instead. How's that working out for them?

Spurrier went boldly back to the Southeastern Conference -- even though it meant playing Florida -- and cleaned out the trash Lou Holtz left behind in Columbia, S.C., some of whose names Spurrier had to read on a police blotter. In his first year Spurrier has coached 'em up pretty good. He's 7-3, and ranked No. 19. He beat his perennial patsy, Phil Fulmer, and over the weekend he humiliated the Gators' Whiz Kid.

How sweet to be the Ol' Ball Coach now. Spurrier is happy coaching South Carolina. (You'll love this: To raise money for a short-game practice area for the school's golf team, Spurrier has lent his name and likeness to a California vineyard producing, hello, "Cock-n-Fire Cabernet" at $15 a bottle!)

And everybody here is happy with Joe Gibbs coaching the Redskins. Who says there are no happy endings?

-Courtesy of www.washingtonpost.com