New Ball Coach can't afford misstep against Ol' Ball Coach

Urban Meyer keeps facing Gator steps. Some are scary steep. Danced up a few; stumbled on a couple. Nearly tumbled through a trap door against Vanderbilt. Each rung a learning experience. Meyer getting to know life in the talent-deep, speedball Southeastern Conference.

First step was a roaring, sell-the-home-folks win in The Swamp opener against Wyoming. Soon came a chance against a marquee SEC opponent; and Meyer's Gators handled Tennessee. At the time, we couldn't imagine the depths to which these Vols would plunge.

It keeps evolving. Urban handled his first road step, beating puny Kentucky. After that, opportunities for Meyer to take a Paul Bunyan step, beating an SEC power away from The Swamp, spiraled into double failure, at Alabama and LSU.

Pain was throbbing. Questions stalking. Could the Urb O survive at the SEC level? He badly needed to ease the hurts against one of oldest, spiciest Gator rivals. Meyer would leap up that step, going to Jacksonville for the first time, being properly romanced by a classic's unique magnetism, then beating fourth-ranked Georgia.

Next step wasn't expected to be so testy. Florida had put 14 consecutive wallops on Vanderbilt. Gator coaches aren't supposed to lose to Mississippi State (see Ron Zook). Not supposed to lose to Vandy (see Meyer squirm). Zook (4-0) never fell to the 'Dores, nor did Steve Spurrier (9-0). It was a step Urban would crawl up; his knees bloodied; but the Gators survived 49-42 in double OT.

Seventeen days from now, New Ball Coach will get to know another pulsating step, playing Florida State. It'll sizzle. Always does. But, right now, Meyer approaches what I see as the biggest, most vital step of his maiden Gator voyage. Coping with a visit to "Newspurrierland."

This one should sit atop Urban's "musts." Ahead of Tennessee, Georgia, Florida State and even Vandy. Seventy-five hours before Columbia kickoff, intensity is lava-hot. New Gators matched with Ol' Ball Coach, the Gainesville icon, grabber of six SEC trophies and a national championship plus the Heisman Trophy he earned as 1966 quarterback.

There is no name as large, no figure as imposing in Gator history as Stephen Orr Spurrier. He even nicknamed The Swamp. But, now, ol' Mr. Orange and Blue is "Stevie Gamecock." Dedicated to hoisting "the other USC" from stumbling generations in football's dumps. Nothing, even his upset of Tennessee in Knoxville 11 days ago, would be bigger for Spurrier putting an abrasion on his alma mater.

Steve never wanted to return, after the Gators jettisoned Zook. Orr knew the only way for him to go - having won so many championships, averaging 10 wins a UF season - would be down. Oh, he wanted to be begged, but that wouldn't happen. Meyer was the coveted darling.

In a shocker to sun-splashed multitudes, Ol' Ball Coach opted for South Carolina, where championships are fantasy. A 7-4 season, a result that would bring frowns at to Gators, is an outcome that could trigger downtown parades for Orr and his Gamecocks through Columbia, Charleston, Greenville and Monk's Corner.

USC East has tried almost everything to become a major force. Lou Holtz was the latest stab but the bony sideline pacer couldn't deliver. He bailed, becoming an ESPN yapper, having sold his pal Spurrier on Gamecock positives that include a huge stadium, fanatical support and generous finances.

Holtz was not entirely forthcoming. He didn't tell Steve about all the USC baggage, including a dumpster-load of Gamecock academic horrors and police-blotter miseries. Spurrier had more to overcome than he'd figured. But he's rising, with a 6-3 record so far.

Stephen Orr will come up with some sort of "Miracle On Ice," from-the-gut motivation. You know he's scheming. He is, really, in a no-lose Saturday situation. Urban? At best, he can survive and move on.

Gators, beware of trickeration. Ol' Ball Coach is coming off having been humiliated, if financially enriched, by a Washington Redskins experience involving an egomaniacal owner and an inept front office. Spurrier made his share of NFL errors. He is working passionately on a renaissance.

How hungry is Steve at age 60? Probably more than on any 1976 Sunday as QB of the newborn Tampa Bay Bucs, who went 0-14. You can bet he is no less ravenous than in 1990, his first flurry as UF coach, back when the Gators had never won an SEC championship.

Urb, you'll never come against a more fierce competitor. You now know there is a load of critical steps involved with the UF gig. Saturday next is many things, including staying alive in the SEC East.

Winning would bring the Urban Gators to 8-2, with FSU ahead. Could they vault to 9-2, even 10-2 with an SEC trophy, getting a BCS chance to reach 11-2? Watch out; Gators; stay in the present. Fantasies can be dangerous. Worst scenario, a Columbian tumble would make you 7-3, with a 7-4 possible; even 7-5 with a loss in some lesser bowl. This one at USC East is huge. Every year, Urban, you will be up against four or five major exams, games that either solidify or fracture the Gator season.

For obvious reasons - and who in Urb's new domain is, by now, not aware of what it'd be like if Spurrier put an '05 gash on the Gators? - this is a step Meyer absolutely, positively needs to turn into a joyous leap.

Hubert Mizell is an award-winning sports writer who lives in Gainesville. You can reach him by e-mail at mizell3@cox.net