BEST. EVER.

It has taken Steve Spurrier fewer than three seasons to become the No. 1 football coach in USC history.

It has taken Steve Spurrier fewer than three seasons to become the No. 1 football coach in USC history.

Lou Holtz won back-to-back bowl games at South Carolina and Steve Spurrier hasn't.

Spurrier's Gamecocks are No. 7 in The Associated Press football poll. Joe Morrison got all the way to No. 2.

Rex Enright led South Carolina to 64 victories, still 44 ahead of Spurrier.

The 62-year-old Head Ball Coach is all of 1-1 vs. Clemson.

But Spurrier with a 20-11 record at South Carolina going into Saturday's game at North Carolina already is the best, most accomplished coach the school has ever had, at least since the legendary C.R. Williams.

This has nothing to do with Spurrier's dominance at Florida, where he established himself as one of the several greatest coaches in college football history, or Duke, where he almost miraculously won a share of an Atlantic Coast Conference title, or a sour 12-20 Washington Redskins record, which serves as an underrated key to his current success.

This is strictly South Carolina stuff.

Admittedly, there isn't much competition.

The "Great Football Moments at South Carolina" book has fewer pages than "Light Bulb Changing for Dummies." So far.

64-69-7

Pick the best Gamecocks head coach from this group:

--Lou Holtz.

Case for: It might be a long time before South Carolina wins two New Year's Day bowl games in a row. Still gives dandy pep talks.

Case against: As we predicted, Holtz brought a swoon of glory followed by NCAA and off-field problems which led to a demise he was not able to control. He went 2-16 against Florida, Georgia and Tennessee and 1-5 against Clemson.

--Joe "People Are Strange" Morrison.

Case for: The 1984 team was 10-2, the 1987 team was the best in program history and he went 39-28-2 before he died after the 1988 season.

Case against: Fairly or not, Morrison probably would have been fired as the primary fall guy for the 1988 steroid scandal.

--Jim Carlen.

Case for: A 45-36-1 record from 1975-81 and George Rogers won the Heisman Trophy.

Travis Bell/Sideline Carolina

Steve Spurrier has taken South Carolina to bowl games each of his first two seasons as the Gamecocks' head coach.

Case against: No bowl wins, 2-5 against Clemson.

--Rex Enright.

Case for: Tops the career wins list at 64 over two stints, 1938-42 and 1946-55.

Case against: There were also 69 losses and seven ties.

Impressed?

Which brings us to C.R. Williams, 14-3 at South Carolina in 1902 and 1903. C.R. didn't have much to work with and never won approval from Lee Corso, but his fundamentally sound 1903 squad shut out seven foes and Williams was undefeated against Clemson (1-0).

Spurrier probably won't hold Georgia and Tennessee scoreless in the same season as Williams did, but he likely will tie South Carolina's record for bowl game victories by a head coach if he sticks around another few months. Holtz is the leader with two, one up on Spurrier and Brad Scott.

UNC, another lock

Spurrier's Florida reputation precedes him to Columbia, and intimidates rival coaches into strategy mistakes. His ability to win with inferior Duke talent is a comfy confidence blanket for all players, regardless of ability. The unrealistically high expectations of Redskins fans and the meddling of owner Daniel Snyder have made the traditionally modest expectations in Columbia and absolute power attractive and enjoyable.

But what really separates Spurrier from his predecessors are contributions unmeasured in the record books. He has brought the football program, and therefore the university, unprecedented exposure and is trying to apply his unique brand of discipline. With a mere seven players from South Carolina in Spurrier's 31-member signing class of 2007, he and his staff have sent a message to the state's prospects, motivation that transcends athletics: Improve academically or you won't attend South Carolina. At a school infamous for having too many cooks in the football department kitchen, Spurrier is a master and commander with greater credibility than any previous coach.

Who knows?

LSU or the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers may call if Les Miles leaves, or Jon Gruden is fired, or Gruden goes to LSU.

But Spurrier looks happier and more content by the victory, which is more than just fine for Gamecock Nation. For while he hasn't pulled a lot of Tommy Bowden-like upsets, most fans find Spurrier's steadiness more satisfying: His South Carolina teams have yet to lose a game they were supposed to win.

Which is why Saturday's game in Chapel Hill is another lock.

Reach Gene Sapakoff at gsapakoff@postandcourier.com.