Spurrier Donates $100K to Prep Facility

By: BE Coleman

Current South Carolina head football coach Steve Spurrier has donated $100K to his prep alma mater’s new football stadium in Johnson City, Tennessee.

The city had razed Steve Spurrier Field at Memorial Stadium at the conclusion of the 2009 playing season to stay competitive with city neighbor and arch rival Kingsport.

Spurrier and prep playing teammate Carlton Jones each donated $100K towards the stadium’s enhancements. The pair decided the stadium name should be reflective of their former head coach Kermit Tipton.

“Hopefully, when this is finished, we’ll have a facility that’s as good or better than any in East Tennessee,” said Spurrier. “I can remember 50 years ago when Coach Tipton would have us go out and pick up rocks off the field.”

The new five million dollar playing venue will be on campus, features 6000 seats, electronic signage, a 33 x 25 foot scoreboard, a 14 x 11 video replay panel, a 3,100 foot fieldhouse and an artificial playing surface.

Spurrier stated they were doing this to honor the coach they cherish and to help his hometown community of 61,990 thousand, position themselves for the future.

The Hilltopper great was a prep All-American at quarterback for Science Hill, named basketball MVP. But, Spurrier’s true talent lay in the game of baseball, where he helped pitch the ‘Toppers to two consecutive Tennessee State Baseball Titles in 1962, 63.

The feisty fast ball pitcher never lost a game during his prep career as a starter.

Spurrier recanted how Tipton had told him, “ ‘You have the chance to become one of the greatest athletes ever.’ ”

Spurrier and his fellow Science Hill players had earned the moniker of the “Spurrier Legion,” that is used today by his fellow teammates during speaking engagements.

The “head ball coach,” was in Johnson City on Friday to celebrate the September opening of the brand new Steve Spurrier Field at Kermit Tipton Stadium, wearing his prep playing colors of maroon and fire yellow.

His brother still lives in Johnson City, but enjoys bass fishing just a little bit more than he does chasing his famous brother around a hot golf course, prefers the cool breezing on the area’s numerous lakes.

Spurrier and the Gamecocks will open their 2010 season at home against Southern Mississippi on ESPN Thursday Night Football, Sept. 2nd. The two football programs have never met on the playing gridiron.


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