ATLANTA — Texas quarterback Arch Manning hadn’t heard that
Steve Spurrier
wondered what all the fuss was about.
Manning had his own question about Spurrier at SEC Media Days.
Given Manning could not earn the starting nod over Quinn Ewers the past two seasons, Spurrier asked last month how good Manning could really be. Manning said Tuesday he wasn’t aware of the comments, but it wasn’t the only thing he appeared not to know about the
Head Ball Coach and 1966 Heisman Trophy winner
.
“Steve Spurrier is a great coach,” Manning said. “Is he in the College Hall of Fame?”
Told by the Orlando Sentinel as he exited the podium that the 80-year-old UF legend is in as both a player and coach, Manning scrambled to recover.
“Hell, yeah,” he said. “That’s a stud.”
Manning is expected to be one himself as he enters his redshirt sophomore season the Longhorns’ starter and
betting favorite for the 2025 Heisman
.
Speaking June 23 on “Another Dooley Noted Podcast,” Spurrier weighed in.
“Most people (are) picking Texas to win the SEC,” he said. “They’ve got Arch Manning already winning the Heisman, too. My question is: If he was this good, how come they let Quinn Ewers play all the time last year? And he was a seventh-round pick.”
Spurrier’s quips as a coach (1990-2002) were nearly as potent as his Florida attack. The Gators once beat Tennessee 62-37 by scoring
41 consecutive points
to beat the Vols and quarterback Peyton Manning, Arch’s uncle. His 0-4 record against UF could have been a factor in Peyton Manning losing out on the Heisman Trophy.
Years later, Arch Manning landing in Spurrier’s crosshairs could be considered the 21-year-old’s welcoming to the SEC, even if he didn’t seem to care.
“I’m just worried about myself right now and trying to get better each day,” he said. “And that’s that.”
Edgar Thompson can be reached at
