Steve Spurrier Storytime with James Bates

Former Florida Gators linebacker James Bates tells his favorite Steve Spurrier stories to commemorate the Head Ball Coach resigning from college football.

[@princebowie9950]

As a life long FSU fan, this is amazing. Nothing beat the Big 3 in the 90's. Nothing but respect for the HBC.

[@steveacree5827]

It was a unbelievable time. Bobby and SOS were iconic as were the games.

[@scarter9876]

I was a great time for the whole state for sure

[@virtuousvoice]

From a UF fan, likewise to you and yours. 1990s CFB was the best.

[@bamaalum0920]

I love these Steve Spurrier stories and Bates has the perfect delivery. There will never be another coach who has the swagger, humor, and zingers like the Head Ball Coach, and I miss him being a staple in the SEC even though he gave the Tide fits in the 90’s.

[@Silverheart1956]

Thanks for the memories. I guess South Carolina & Florida will always be brother teams because of our common love for the HBC. DZ

[@scarter9876]

the HBC was a national treasure. there will never be anyone like him.

[@clath2823]

*OBC

[@dannyjackson3879]

As a Nebraska fan I really enjoyed this video. I loved seeing Florida win a National Championship the year after Nebraska. There is something special in the story of losing a Championship game and coming back to win it. It’s a huge part of Nebraska 94-95 and what they learned from losing in 93 to FSU. They regrouped and came back and won 2 against Miami and Florida. I would love to hear the story of what the 96 Gators learned and what resolved they had to win after losing in 95. You can’t find reference to it ANYWHERE. Has anyone ever heard a Gator or Spurrier talk about it? Would love to hear it.

[@virtuousvoice]

Haven't heard a comment from Spurrier himself, but one key difference for the Gators in 1996 was Spurrier hiring Bob Stoops as DC. Stoops was a Big12 guy and immediately implemented a tougher, more physical defensive scheme and the Gators I believe set a school record for sacks in '96. Florida had often given up a lot of points including big leads to the toughest opponents (FSU, Tenn, Auburn, Nebraska) in the previous years, so I think Spurrier being an offensive-minded coach, realized he needed a premium defense to win a National Championship.

[@32kdkelly]

Bates I could listen to your stories all day! Do you have a podcast?

[@NickDiasOuttaMyLeague]

I’m an LSU fan. I could listen to this shit for hours 😂😂😂😂. Spurrier was almost our coach in 1987. (I was born in 1994) so it would’ve been before my time.

[@blake7871]

Yep Spurrier said he wanted that job.

[@antoniowatkins7823]

I love this story time, great stories 😂😂🐊🐊

[@maxtew6521]

I'm a Bama fan, but you've gotta love Spurrier. One I can't find evidence of, but was related to me by my older brother goes as follows: During his time in the pros, Spurrier ran up the score against an opponent in a preseason exhibition game. When asked why he did this by a journalist after the game, he answered, "Well, they still had their first string in."

[@seenwalk]

Absolutely love these stories about the greatest gator HBC and teams ever. Keep em coming.

[@sjenkins8468]

I just landed a job at UF 33 years after being a player there. I’ll be working across the street from Ben Hill Griffin, and I sure hope I have some interactions with HBC. 🐊

[@briangardner1361]

Only a Tennessean can imitate another Tennessean this good. Too funny. Go Gators 🐊

[@gatorprincess8]

These are great stories. Thanks

[@scottmullis4230]

As a Florida fan and media guy...This is one of the best youtube video's I have ever seen. Scott from the Big J Report

[@terrancethomas9792]

Spurrier would have a vinyl, plastic type jacket on the side of the bench. When the Gators had a big lead with 2:00 left to play, he would put the jacket on. Later the players will give him a Gatorade splash. He would take off the wet light jacket and keep on coaching.

[@GatorKing96]

That was awesome......thanks for sharing

[@jenniferburns8169]

these are great. I love the Bado story and the 44 story

[@CarlosCooksChi]

I was crying laughing when he says "Oh you're right. Go ahead."

[@mathman1923]

great stories

[@kimcoffee100]

Hope you can open this but, if you can't...open KZbin and type in James Bates /Spurrier Impressions. Good funny stories!

[@nickbrown9163]

Great video.

[@bcsgator1]

Love Batesey's stories!

[@spurriousgod]

Funniest thing I've seen in a long time - thanks Batesey!!!

[@dgyoutube2405]

This is unreal good.

[@karenharris3254]

Maybe my fav Spurrier story ever at 2:15!!!

[@LALMCGatorsfan]

Darl Bush went to FSU. lol Love Steve Spurrier.

[@justinleereacts2927]

Lol that damn impression.

[@gregorygilbert3500]

I love James Bates. I always thought he was hilarious with Shane Mathews on the golf course with the golf cart antics.

[@roberthurst4035]

James Bates, next to Cal Dixon he’s the funniest Gator ever! And a helluva player!

[@rodcrawford5547]

Him and Bobby Bowden! The best...👀👀👀😎😎😎🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🙏🙏🙏

[@jtizzy12]

Bates is hilarious

[@PatrickMastersProductions]

I pray the day the good Lord calls Spurrier home that Bates gives the eulogy at the funeral.

[@everetthenderson5466]

Go Gators! Spurrier is the best coach!

[@2and26]

From a Gator and Tide fan, I have to agree HBC is one of a kind - he made it fun for his guys. I miss the days of the visor toss, "God smiling on the Gators" phrase, and you can't spell Citrus without "UT" - he and Ms. Jerry are great ambassadors for UF.

[@scottmann560]

Funniest thing about this is this sounds nothing like Spurrier but coming from Bates it just sound right.

[@briangardner1361]

Wasn't expecting the Daryl Bush story. 😊 unfortunately, the Gators had no shot anyway

[@carltonreese4854]

Bates needs to bring back his Luther character!

[@grantmays5502]

Haha greatest Purrior inmpersenation ever 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@waynenoll1967]

Classic

[@southernskeeter9634]

Can’t hear you

[@johndor7890]

Who is Spurrier?

[@grantmays5502]

Spurrier Impersonation*

[@veryhairykrishna7225]

His Spurrier voice sounds a lot like my homosexual father in law.

[@veryhairykrishna7225]

I love Hatin Ass Spurrier, because, I too am a hater. It ain't hate, just got to get that dig in.

[@65Cobra]

"Head Ball Coach resigning from college football." Resigns???? I think you mean he quit on South Carolina.

[@ravenking1822]

Cleve Ard boo hoo so sad

[@blake7871]

Cleve Ard He said when the program started to go south, he’d give someone else a chance. That’s what he did.

[@keithbrown3302]

Spurrier is old and it's time for him to retire.🎉

[@graylonperson9012]

He has the worst Steve Spurrier impression ever

[@ravenking1822]

graylon person you have the worst opinion ever

[@joesstockmail]

where you at James? .... in your life .. you talking about Steve Spurrier ....hmmmm

[@robjohnson8861]

Are we laughing about the quitter Steve Spurrier?

[@blake7871]

You wish he wouldn’t have quit? You like going 3-9?

[@robjohnson8861]

@@blake7871 He had a lot of years of 4 and 5 losses. I don't remember 3-9.

[@robjohnson8861]

@@blake7871 You missed the point. Quitting mid season, vs resigning at the end is a whole diff matter.

[@blake7871]

Rob Johnson His last year at SC we were awful. He probably goes 3-9 that year, maybe 4-8 at best. Our recruiting was terrible and our roster wasn’t much better. Would you have rather he didn’t quit and continued the losing trajectory OR give another coach a chance like he said he would do if the program started heading south?

[@blake7871]

Rob Johnson That’s dumb. He quit to give Sean Elliott a chance to get the job. He saw how it worked when Clemson fired Bowden mid season and Dabo was given a chance. He did the absolute right thing.