The University of South Carolina enjoyed the best run of success in program history from 2011-2013 before taking a step back this year, and perhaps Steve Spurrier is to blame. The Old Ball Coach has struggled on the recruiting trail recently, and some players have even decommitted from the university.
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Programs go through cycles of success and failure (or slightly less success, for the lucky few). The University of South Carolina repeatedly established program bests for a few years running, compiling a 42-11 record from 2011-2013. This year, they took a step back, finishing 6-6 with a bowl game still to come.
One of the big reasons for the drop off was that this year's team had noticeably less talent. Talent obviously comes from the recruiting trail, and coaches like Steve Spurrier normally have a great deal of success, meaning these steps back are usually short-lived. But Spurrier may be fighting a different battle.
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According to media reports, Spurrier's comments about how much longer he wants to coach are preventing him from pulling in elite talent. "Give me two or three more (years)," Spurrier said. "I used to say four or five, now I'm down to two or three. I mean, I could get in a car wreck, but I'm definitely planning on being back."
Spurrier is a coaching legend, and he deserves to retire when he is ready, but it is easy to see why players might not want to head to a program where they know a coaching change is imminent. There is no guarantee that the next coach will be as good as Spurrier (and many would argue that he almost certainly will not be).
Players are leaving the program and recruits are decommitting to head to other schools. USC is on track to lose the in-state recruiting battle with Clemson again this year after winning it for most of the last six or seven years. If Spurrier does not stop the bleeding, the university is running the risk of sliding down a slippery slope.
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