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Spurrier Signs Extension with South Carolina

Steve Spurrier, who has denied interest in but nonetheless heavily touted for the openings at Miami and Alabama, has signed a lucrative extension with South Carolina.

South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier has almost a half-million more reasons to stay with the Gamecocks. The university’s board of trustees on Saturday approved a reworked contract that increases Spurrier’s yearly salary to $1.75 million, up from his current package of about $1.25 million. The first coach to lead South Carolina to a bowl in his first two seasons also had his contract extended through the 2012 season.

Spurrier said he hoped the new deal would end speculation he would be anywhere else than South Carolina next season and beyond. He wanted prospects to know “if you come to South Carolina, you’re going to play for coach Spurrier and his coaches.”

The agreement also increases the buyout Spurrier or the school would pay to terminate the contract from $250,000 per remaining year to $500,000.

Athletic director Eric Hyman had approached Spurrier about putting his deal more in line with other coaches in the Southeastern Conference. The two hoped to handle that in the spring, but rumors of Miami and Alabama showing interest in Spurrier sped up the process, Hyman said.

A good move by USC and one that makes sense for Spurrier at this stage. He’s built a solid program there and Alabama, especially, would be a serious rebuilding effort. He’s put the Gamecocks in a position to win the SEC. The only real draw to one of the other programs would be money, which he doesn’t need, and a somewhat easier path to another national championship.

 
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