Urban Meyer reveals how Steve Spurrier’s South Carolina win nearly broke him before Jarvis Moss saved Florida’s championship hopes
Speaking on A Peek Inside Florida Football on November 4, Meyer looked back at his early days in Gainesville and explained how much the criticism affected him. Florida had lost 30-22 to South Carolina on November 12, 2005, ending its 14-game winning streak against the Gamecocks. It was also a special win for Steve Spurrier, who was coaching South Carolina after spending 12 seasons leading Florida. Spurrier was still a much-loved figure in Gainesville, having led the Gators to their first national championship in 1996. A year after the loss, Meyer got another chance to face Spurrier, this time at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 11, 2006. The Gators later defeated Arkansas 38-28 in the SEC Championship Game and beat Ohio State 41-14 to win the national championship.
Recalling the experience, he said, “I remember the year before when we lost to South Carolina.
“Emails and letters and Nancy would try to hide them from me,” Meyer said. For Meyer, the defeat was difficult for another reason. Meyer was trying to build his own legacy while dealing with the pressure of following one of the most successful coaches in the program’s history. The reaction from fans was something Meyer had not expected. The messages he received made the situation even harder. “You know, about get the hell out of the town and you don’t belong here, and so it was rugged. Florida needed a win to secure its place in the SEC Championship Game, but South Carolina made the contest extremely close. That win helped Florida finish its SEC East campaign undefeated.
With eight seconds left, Ryan Succop lined up for a 48-yard field goal. Defensive end Jarvis Moss broke through and blocked the kick, securing Florida’s one-point victory.