re: Who knows the details of Spurrier almost becoming LSU coach

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He came in for an interview in 1987(?) after Arnsparger left. Spurrier has commented how he thought he was interviewing for the head football position but LSU administration had him meeting with state lawmakers and such. Anyway, LSU admins made the great decision to hire a 33 year old defensive coordinator puppet to take over the reigns because the current players liked him, and the outgoing coach, who was secretly making deals to be Florida's athletic director, said he'd be a good fit.

That outgoing head coach and newly hired athletic director at Florida hired that same Steve Spurrier less than a year later.

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This is how I recall it went down as well. The key was supposedly, Arnsparger in essence named his successor, Archer, as he was going out the door, to be the AD of UF.

Archer was the DC I believe, and flopped as HC. Arnsparger then hires Spurrier shortly after. People always wondered if Arnsparger purposely screwed LSU as he was walking out the door, knowing he was going to be AD of a rival.

Most believe that it was going to be Spurrier's job, but Arnsparger swung it away from him. Spurrier certainly felt like he was led to believe the job was his, and I believe he has openly stated that he felt spurned.