Dean was a good QB.  He played very well in some important games and led the Gators to some big victories- none bigger than the 1993 rain game against Ga when superstar-to-be DW was awful.  Early in their competition, I was pulling for Dean to win the job, before my sister convinced me DW was so wonderful.  After dean was beaten out by a better QB, he complained more than he should have.

Spurrier!  Before he arrived, the Gators' greatest accomplishment was to play in four Gator Bowls- ever!  Before Spurrier, Zook-like seasons brought dancing in the street.  Spurrier- and, of course, Ray Graves- started the transition that first made the Gators winners and then made them a major power.  When Spurrier won the Heisman Trophy, he gave his trophy to UF because he loved UF so much.  The Heisman committee now gives trophies to both the player and the school, but Spurrier set the precedent.

Even when he left for his long, unspectacular pro career, Spurrier kept a home in Gainesville because he truly was a Gator.  Over the years, he quietly completed the requirements to get his UF degree and walked across the stage to receive it- no fanfare, just one more UF graduate.  When he finished his playing career, he bought Gator season tickets and when he watched from the stands, he realized that he could design a better offense than those he saw teams run on Florida Field.  After one year as a Gator assistant, new coach Charlie Pell didn't hire Spurrier- he got some guy named Shanahan who had more experience- but Spurrier publicly expressed understanding and support for the Gators.  No one called him disloyal for coaching for Georgia Tech against the Gators in '79.

Even when the Gator job was available in '89, Spurrier behaved professionally as he led Duke to the ACC championship.  He would not speak publicly about the Gator opening until after Duke played its bowl game.  Personally, I was afraid we'd get stuck with Bill Arnsberger's protege, Mike Archer.  Finally, Spurrier came aboard and my favorite comment was from Spurrier's mother.  Ever since he had been a player, Spurrier's parents had Gator season tix and she hopied this meant they would get better seats.

After having been the Gator's greatest player, Spurrier became their greatest coach.  No one deserves more respect than Spurrier, no one deserves more loyalty.  He acknowledges leaving for the NFL was a mistake for him and for the Gators, but he rightfully says everyone has to move on.  He never criticized Ron Zook and he has spoken only in positive terms about Meyer.  Remember, it was incredibly stupid Gator fans- probably the same true fans who talked to Dean- who made life unpleasant for Spurrier before he left.

So now Spurrier has another job.  One thing that doesn't worry me is that S.Carolina ever will be a threat to the Gators.  They may win some games, but I really don't care about them.  Because Spurrier is their coach, I'll pull for them the same way I pull for pro teams that have Gators playing or coaching. 

It's some Gator fans who are being disloyal!  That includes Dean's true fans and I'm not happy about some posts on VS.  I don't mean that Spurrier deserves blind loyalty, but just today when I heard his comments to ESPN about loving the Gators, but deciding the new situation is best for everyone, I had to agree.  My definition of a true Gator fan is one who is loyal to the guy who has done more for Gator sports- BY FAR- than any other person.