'The Kick' Was Spurrier's Heisman Moment

By JOEY JOHNSTON The Tampa Tribune

Published: Jul 14, 2006

Steve Spurrier, with a fixation all his own, remembers it as just another victory. Nothing more, nothing less.

History remembers it as a lot more.

It was Oct. 29, 1966, the day Spurrier stiff-armed all competition for the Heisman Trophy.

Faced with fourth down and a 40-yard field-goal attempt, Spurrier pointed to his chest and stared at Coach Ray Graves, essentially waving off Wayne Barfield, the regular University of Florida place-kicker. Graves, knowing that Spurrier was short on kicking practice but long on brinkmanship, called a timeout and nodded OK.

Even when Spurrier put on his square-toed right shoe, Auburn coaches suspected a ploy. But there was Spurrier, booting the game-winner with 2:12 remaining to beat Auburn 30-27.

"I think if there had been no goal posts and the official had said, 'Steve, you'll have to kick it through my upraised arms,' Steve would have done that," Auburn center Forrest Blue famously said.

The Gators had a monumental victory, moving them to 7-0 and the verge of UF's first SEC championship.

Spurrier, in a head-to-head Heisman duel with Purdue quarterback Bob Griese, stole the momentum. Along with his kick, Spurrier also completed 27 of 40 passes for 259 yards and a touchdown, ran for another score and averaged 46.9 yards on five punts.

"You know what I remember most about that whole deal? The next week, we didn't beat Georgia [losing 27-10, dashing SEC title hopes]," Spurrier said. "The kick didn't lead to a championship. It just helped us win a game."

Well, not exactly.

Then-Florida sports information director Norm Carlson, moving quickly, made certain national writers were apprised of Spurrier's exploits. Film highlights of Spurrier were sent to more than 500 media outlets, through Florida's Department of Tourism (Gov. Haydon Burns, a Gators booster, also was behind the campaign).

Spurrier won the Heisman in a landslide, getting 1,679 points to 816 for Griese. He became only the third player from a Southern school to win the award in 32 years.

"It was a really big deal for all of us," said former Gators tight end Jim Yarbrough, a sophomore in 1966. "Generally, the Heisman went to somebody from the Big Ten, Notre Dame or out West. It felt like Steve was representing all of us."

Spurrier made certain of that.

When Downtown Athletic Club officials presented Spurrier with the Heisman in New York, he handed it over to UF president J. Wayne Reitz, saying the trophy rightfully belonged to the university, where it could be viewed by students and alumni.

UF's student body began a fundraising campaign and persuaded the Downtown Athletic Club to issue another trophy for Spurrier. Ever since, two Heisman Trophies have been produced - one for the athlete, another for the school.

Reporter Joey Johnston can be reached

at (813) 259-7353 or

jjohnston@tampatrib.com.