Year of the Gators

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the grand opening of BALLPLAYS, returning for its second year of insightful commentary on the football season. Enduring countless NL Central highlights on Sportscenter has cast a gloom across the sports land, but we are back to bring you the Light of Spurrier, and so much more.

It is only fitting to begin with the release of the Coaches poll for NCAA football, which came out today. As is well known amongst fans, Steve Spurrier casts a vote every year for Duke in the Coaches poll for the first poll. This year was no different. Even as coaches across the country denied South Carolina its obvious place in the top 25 teams in the country (although it's not hard to name one team better than UF last year, it's even less hard to name THE team that was the best in the country by the end: South Carolina), the Head Ball Coach cast a vote as usual for Duke. Most people have found it charming.

Today, the AJC reports, things suddenly changed.

It's clear that what once might have seemed quaint has begun to lose its charm," Welch said in a USA Today story that accompanied the poll. "We're hopeful that before next season the coaches association can prevail upon Coach Spurrier to find another way to salute his former team — or that Duke gets better in a hurry."

And who the hell are you, Welch? I'll tell you who you're not: Steve Spurrier. Spurrier is a Heisman Trophy winner, a National Championship winner, has coached another Heisman Trophy winner, won 7 SEC Championships, and basically is better than you at everything.

Sorry he's not kow-towing to the self-important administrators of the Coaches poll. Spurrier is loyal to a fault, without impugning the integrity of the poll in any way, and you are just another cog in the vast anti-Spurrier conspiracy that has long engulfed this country. Let's listen in to Steve's explanation:

"It's a vote for a school that has been special to me and my family," said Spurrier, who won an ACC championship at Duke in 1989. "They hired me when I didn't have job. I've been doing it for about 15 years and all of a sudden they want to make a big deal out of it."

In years past Spurrier has quit voting for the Blue Devils once they lose a game.

"I doubt if they'll get my next vote but I always feel like I owe that to Duke University," said Spurrier, whose son, Steve Jr., played at Duke.

Know this: as long as Spurrier coaches, there will be a place for honor and loyalty in this game. There will be a place for a little bit of levity. And most of all, there will be a type of football that soars -- football characterized by a brilliant, effortless grace that lifts all those who stand to gain by appreciating its beauty.