STEVE SPURRIER WAS hired as head football coach at the University of Florida in l990. In 11 seasons at his alma mater, the 1966 Heisman Trophy recipient has led the Gators to a national championship and six outright Southeastern Conference championships. Florida has won at least nine games all 11 seasons under Coach Spurrier, tying a record of coach Paul (Bear) Bryant at Alabama.

On an individual level, Spurrier became the only major college coach in the 20th Century to win 100 games in his first 10 years at a school, with 102 in the l990s. His six outright SEC championships (1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 2000) trail only Coach Bryant’s 11.

Innovative Play
Spurrier, who led Florida to its first national championship in l996, is renowned for his uncanny recruiting ability and his innovative use of a pro-style offensive playbook.

One of his most successful plays has been the I-Right Sprint Draw With Pass X Option. Spurrier will call the sprint draw as a running play several times and when the defense makes the proper adjustments, he’ll switch to a play-action pass. There are several benefits to mixing it up in this fashion, as it becomes extremely versatile and a very tough play to defend.

DIAGRAM 1: I-Right Sprint Draw With Pass X Option. Run out of an I-formation, this play can be called on any given down in any situation. When this play is run as a pass play, both backs become involved in the pass-protection scheme.

PLAYER RESPONSIBILITIES: (Play-Action Pass)
Quarterback: When the play-action pass is called, the QB fakes a sprint draw to the tailback and sets up to throw. The QB’s options are:
-  X running a short curl route.
-  Y running a drag route.
-  Z running a crossing pattern deep across the middle.
-  If X, Y and Z aren’t open, he throws to the TB who’s running a hook route out of his draw.
-  If no receiver is open, he should look for an open running lane or throw the ball away.
Fullback: Fakes the draw play and blocks the first rusher on the play side. Handles any outside blitz on play side.
Tailback: Fakes the draw play, runs a hook pattern between the play-side offensive guard and offensive tackle 5 to 6 yards deep. Must pick up any blitzing linebacker.
Weak-Side OT: Blocks the weak-side gap.
Weak-Side OG: Blocks the weak-side gap.
Center: Blocks the weak-side gap.
Play-Side OG: Blocks the weak-side gap.
Play-Side OT: Drive blocks defensive end straight across and engages him so that the TB can run through the hole.
Receiver X: If the cornerback plays off, run a 16 yard curl route. If the CB plays bump-and-run or cover 2 zone, run a corner route.
Receiver Y: Releases inside and runs an 8-yard drag route across the middle. Must not be afraid of getting hit going across the middle in traffic.
Receiver Z: Runs a crossing route across the middle 18 yards deep. Should run up the play-side hash mark before breaking across.