![Former Florida head coach Steve Spurrier is acknowledged for his recent induction into the college football hall of fame during the game against the Tennessee Volunteers Saturday, September 16, 2017 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida. The Gators beat the Volunteers 26-20. [Cyndi Chambers/ Gainesville Sun/Correspondent] 2017](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_236,w_1626,h_914/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/213/01jyhyf969h1qr1a8qx2.jpg "Former Florida head coach Steve Spurrier is acknowledged for his recent induction into the college football hall of fame during the game against the Tennessee Volunteers Saturday, September 16, 2017 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida. The Gators beat the Volunteers 26-20. [Cyndi Chambers/ Gainesville Sun/Correspondent] 2017")
During his time as head coach of the Florida Gators, Steve Spurrier wasn't afraid to speak his mind. The "Head Ball Coach" wasn't worried about who he ruffled and never played it safe with his quotes.
So it should be no surprise that while the rest of the college football world expects Texas QB Arch Manning to have a monster season, Spurrier isn't ready to give Manning that crown just yet.
Steve Spurrier won't back down to Arch Manning
Appearing on the Another Dooley Noted Podcast, Spurrier was asked about the state of the SEC and the fact that many have Texas as the favorite to win the conference in 2025.
There are plenty of reasons to pick Texas, and they made it to Atlanta last season before falling in overtime to Georgia.
Taking over for Quinn Ewers this season is Manning, the former five-star prospect who comes from the same bloodline as former QB greats Peyton and Eli Manning.
But Spurrier wonders if the hype for Manning is warranted, considering he rode the bench the past two seasons:
"I think most people are picking Texas to win the SEC in football. They've got Arch Manning already winning the Heisman too. My question is, if he's that good, why did they let [former Texas starting quarterback] Quinn Ewers play all the time. [Ewers] was a seventh-round pick."
It's not unfair logic to ponder, though Texas coach Steve Sarkisian would probably argue it was all part of the plan all along. Florida found itself in a similar situation with Graham Mertz and DJ Lagway last season, and the plan was for Mertz to try and ride out the season as the primary QB before he was knocked out for the season against Tennesee.
The difference, though, is that Lagway was seeing the field in spurts even before the Mertz injury, whereas Manning was seldom used outside of a package play or two.
Florida will host Texas and Manning this season on October 4, where Spurrier will get to see Manning up close and personal for himself.