Central Connecticut State Blue Devils

Former Duke Football Head Coach Secretly Coached While Suspended

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Former Duke Football head coach Steve Spurrier opened up on when he secretly called plays for the Blue Devils while he was suspended from the game.

Steve Spurrier retired from coaching college football during last season with the South Carolina Gamecocks. The former head coach opened up on his great career and revealed a secret story from his time with the Blue Devils

Spurrier was once suspended by the ACC for the final game of the 1988 regular season against rival UNC after criticizing the referees after the previous game. However, the suspension did not prevent him from coaching. He was banned from Wallace Wade Stadium for the game but recently revealed that he used Duke golf director Ed Ibarguen to deliver plays from Steve Spurrier to the coaches’ box while they were watching the game together in the trainers’ office.

Duke went on to beat North Carolina 35-29 in the game. The story was so private that nobody knew other than Spurrier, Ibarguen, and Ibarguen’s wife until recently. Steve Spurrier started as Duke’s offensive coordinator from 1980-1982 and became the head coach in 1987 until 1990. While at Duke, he recorded a 20-13 record and led the Blue Devils to the 1989 ACC Championship game earning back-to-back ACC Coach of the Year awards in 1988 and 1989.

Steve Spurrier is currently a football consultant at the University of Florida where he played and coached the Gators to a national title. He has always been supportive of Duke Football and grateful for the Blue Devils giving him his first head coaching position.