Gone to Carolina?

Panthers may be leader of the Spurrier derby

While nobody seems to have a clear handle on which NFL franchise will pursue and hire former Florida head coach Steve Spurrier as its next head coach, indications are that Carolina is emerging as the front-runner in that derby.

Though Panthers officials would not comment on anything regarding Spurrier or the fate of current head coach George Seifert on Friday, it is widely expected that the team will fire Seifert as early as Monday, a day after Carolina (1-14) closes out the worst season in franchise history with a game against visiting New England.

Spurrier, whose surprising resignation rocked the college football world on Friday, is not scheduled to speak publicly until Monday. He made it clear he wanted to pursue an NFL head coaching job in his "retirement" statement, but his career's next destination spawned hours of speculation Friday as NFL observers tried to link him to half a dozen potential head coaching jobs all over the league's map.

Video Click the image to launch the clip Steve Spurrier says he spent enough time at the college ranks and wants to test his abilities in the NFL. Start CNNSI.com's Trev Alberts thinks Steve Spurrier simply became bored at Florida. Florida AD Jeremy Foley wishes Spurrier all the best. Visit Video Plus Spurrier's Statement Text of the statement Friday by Florida coach Steve Spurrier: I'm announcing my retirement today Jan. 4, 2002, as head football coach at the University of Florida. I simply believe that 12 years as head coach at a major university in the SEC is long enough. I thank all the players, assistant coaches, support staff people and the greatest football fans in the world for the success we have shared the last 12 years. I also personally thank all the Gators that went to the Orange Bowl to support our team last Wednesday night in my final game. Click here for the entire statement.   More Stories SI Flashback: Steve Superior SI's Layden: A new challenge Mandel: State of the game Reaction: Spurrier resigns Stoops faces 'tough decision' Shanahan avoids UF questions Pruett happy at Marshall Gators rout Terps in Orange

While almost all Panthers sources outside of owner Jerry Richardson's immediate family are seemingly out of the loop in regards to the Spurrier situation, several who were interviewed Friday said they are hearing increased internal speculation that Carolina is on the pole position to land the University of Florida's all-time winningiest coach.

Panthers quarterback Chris Weinke, who like Spurrier won the Heisman Trophy for a Florida school (Florida State), is said to have heard from friends and informed sources in Tallahassee and Gainesville that Spurrier and Carolina are a likely pairing.

Spurrier has some ties to North Carolina: He was Duke's head coach for three years in the late 1980s and his wife's family has roots in the state. Another telling hint may be found in a story that appeared Friday on the Web site of the Gainesville Sun, in which Spurrier is quoted saying he is tired of coaching a perennial favorite like the Gators and wouldn't mind leading an underdog for a while.

While that doesn't definitively point in Carolina's direction, there are no bigger underdogs in the NFL this season than the sad-sack Panthers, who can set a league one-season record with 15 consecutive losses if they fall to New England on Sunday. Carolina won its only game of the season Sept. 9 at Minnesota, but hasn't triumphed since the season-opener.

If he wanted it, Spurrier, 56, would likely receive total control over all personnel decisions in Carolina, just as Seifert did when he was hired in 1999. The Panthers also fit Spurrier's long-held desire to coach in warm-weather southern locales, where his popularity and fame count for the most and his beloved golf game can receive near year-round attention.

It is believed that Spurrier will cost an NFL owner in the range of more than $3 million per season, but Richardson would likely embrace that investment given that Spurrier would likely re-invigorate the team's marketing and ticket sales. Carolina has sold out every game in the six-year history of Ericsson Stadium, but the smallest crowd in team history (about 43,000) attended the Panthers game last Sunday, a desultory 30-7 loss to Arizona.

Only a late-week purchase of a huge block of tickets by a local TV station ensured the sellout, and there were some 30,000 no-shows at the game. Hiring Spurrier would be viewed as a major step toward returning the Panthers to the land of the NFL competitive. Carolina hasn't made the playoffs or had a winning record since 1996, its second season. The Panthers this week rank dead last in the NFL in five of the league's six major team yardage rankings.

Jacksonville was considered another likely destination for Spurrier at one point Friday, but Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver has made it known he will award embattled head coach Tom Coughlin a three-year contract extension in the coming days.

Tampa Bay also was considered a possible Spurrier landing spot. But league sources continue to maintain that the Bucs will either retain head coach Tony Dungy or hire former Jets-Patriots-Giants head coach Bill Parcells as his replacement.

Washington and Atlanta also are being watched for signs of any interest in Spurrier. But while Redskins owner Daniel Snyder tried to hire Spurrier last year, before settling on Marty Schottenheimer, Washington is not thought to be anywhere near the top of Spurrier's wish list. Indications are that Atlanta will retain head coach Dan Reeves barring an unforeseen development.

Seifert is 16-31 in three seasons in Carolina, and has two seasons remaining on his contract. Richardson will owe Seifert about $5 million upon termination.

Don Banks covers pro football for CNNSI.com.

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Spurrier resigns after 12 seasons at Florida Text of Steve Spurrier's statement SI's Tim Layden: Spurrier needed another challenge Broncos' Shanahan dodges Florida questions Spurrier resignation fuels Stoops speculation
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