Spurrier to SC if Holtz steps down

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http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=1925598

 

Report: Spurrier has agreement in principle

 

South Carolina football coach Lou Holtz said last week that it'd be a great thing if Steve Spurrier were the one to replace him if he retires.

 

Now, according to reports, that could be closer than ever to reality.

 

ESPN has confirmed a report in the Nashville Tennessean that Spurrier, who won a national title and six SEC championships in 12 seasons at Florida, has agreed in principle to be the next coach of the Gamecocks.

 

The newspaper, which identified its source as being someone close to the situation, reported that an announcement is expected early next week.

 

A potential snag in the agreement could be if Holtz, 67, decides he wants to come back for a seventh season in South Carolina, according to the report.

 

Holtz is signed through 2008. However, a clause in his deal lets him or the university get out of the agreement with five days notice.

 

In the past few weeks, Holtz has said he was tired and worn out from the season. He has continually made references to "whoever is the coach next year" when questioned about his future.

 

On Monday, Holtz refused to talk about his plans.

 

"This is not a good time to talk about it, it really isn't," Holtz said. "It's just not a good time."

 

South Carolina Associate Athletics Director Kerry Tharp would neither confirm nor deny to the newspaper that a deal was imminent with Spurrier.

 

"We're not going to comment about any of it right now," Tharp told the Tennessean. "It's all speculative. When Coach Holtz decides what he's going to do, then we'll decide where we're going to go with it."

 

South Carolina (6-4) ends its regular season Saturday at Clemson (5-5).

 

Spurrier, 59, has said that he would probably prefer the college ranks if he decides to get back into coaching. He hasn't coached since he resigned from the Washington Redskins in 2003 after going 12-20 in two seasons. Spurrier, who left Florida in 2002, also has been linked to a potential opening at North Carolina, according to published reports.

 

Earlier this month, Spurrier withdrew his name from consideration to return to Gainesville, where Ron Zook was fired last month after two-plus seasons.

 

Last week, Holtz told The (Columbia, S.C.) State: "I can understand why [spurrier] would want to come here, and I can also understand why they would want him."

 

And earlier this week, Holtz confirmed that he had spoken to Spurrier, whom he said he considers a friend.