The first question that needs to be addressed is "Did they need him?" Former coach Marty Schottenheimer got off to a bad start in Washington. His style was abrasive to the many veterans on his team and he clashed with owner Daniel Snyder about personel decisions. The team started 0-5 being beaten badly by all who played them. But to his credit he realized that his style needed to change and he changed it. The team rebounded finishing the season with an 8-3 run and looking promisingly to 2002.
The problems between Snyder and Schottenheimer continued though. Look at it like this, Snyder needed a good football guy to make personnel decisions that would be sound and in the long run good for the team. Schottenheimer was that guy, but then Snyder also wanted a buddy who would agree with him when he heard a name talked about at a luncheon, and Dan then wanted to sign said hot name to a large contract. This is not Marty Schottenheimer. He is a classy straight shooter who told Snyder he was in charge of personnel and the team didn't need anymore over the hill Deon Sanders types. Snyder who looks at the Redskins more as an expensive fantasy team didn't like this, enough to eat 7.5 million dollars left on Schottenheimers contract. On January 14th 2002 he fired Schottenheimer and began the search that led to Steve Spurriers hiring.

Rumor is that Snyder had contacted Spurrier before deciding to terminate the Schottenheimer. This may have been a mutual exchange with Spurrier letting Dan know he was ready for the pros and Dan, always a sucker for a nice grin and a popular name, doing his part by taking the 7.5 million dollar enema. Two weeks after taking up the ass on the Schottenheimer contract Snyder took it again this time with a smile, signing Spurrier to a five year, 25 million dollar contract. Spurrier becomes the Redskins 25th coach and the first truly offensive minded coach since Joe Gibbs who led the Redskins to three Superbowls in the 80's. Will the Redskins be better because of his hiring?

Redskin fans can't be totally disheartened. There is no question that on the college level Spurrier has proven himself an excellent football coach. In his twelve years at the University of Florida he compiled a 122-27-1 record, employing one of the most dynamic offenses in the college game. He won seven SEC championships but may be remembered as the coach who couldn't win the big game. In reading comments from NFL General Managers I see many think he has the skills to be very successful in the NFL, but is he the next Joe Gibbs as alot of Skins fans seem to think?

Looking at his early moves as a coach it is hard to say. His first personel move was to sign former Gator Danny Wuerffel, a reasonable backup quarterback who had shown little in his time in the NFL. Spurrier then said that he didn't need a star quarterback when asked about the possibility of trading for New England's Drew Bledsoe. Doesn't need a star QB, how about a starter? Does he really think that he can get away with a backup? The Redskins continue to talk to Jeff Blake who is at least a little better than what they currently have. Spurrier further got fans worried by signing two more former Florida players, wide receivers Reidel Anthony and Jacquez Green. Again what was more important than the fact that they were former players for Spurrier was the fact that neither player had proven to be more than a backup at the pro level.
Then there is the question of egos. Dan Snyder has show a distinct lack of patience with strong egos (I guess there is not much room with his taking up so much space.) yet he signed one of the larger egos in the college coaching ranks? What happens when the honeymoon is over and Danny boy doesn't have the Championship he envisions? What about when Dan catches wind of a hot name that would be a good signing for his ego but won't fit the teams needs. Will Spurrier play sheppard and work with what he is given or will he want to mold his own team? So far it looks like he can mold, but how long will Snyder allow Spurrier to build the best college team in the pros?

So the question of whether Spurrier will be beneficial to the Skins stands open. Doubt from his early decisions must rest heavy on Skins fans, and what happens early in the season will certainly enlighten us to the competence of this personable coach. We can be sure of one thing, like the weather in New England, Syder will change his mind minute to minute, so pay attention and pray it doesn't rain.