South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier garnered the nickname “The Ol’ Ball Coach” after he dominated the Southeastern Conference with his Florida Gators in the ’90s.Known for offensive prowess, unpredictable nature and generally fearless play-calling, Spurrier could be labeled the gutsiest coach in the conference. And he had the statistics to prove it: six SEC championships and one national championship during a decade of dominance.New York Times sports editor Neil Amdur praised Spurrier’s competitive nature when he left Florida in 2001 for an NFL stint. “In his heart, Spurrier believes he can outcoach the Bobby Bowdens of the world,” he wrote. “As a coach, he has devised enough trick plays to fill a playbook.”But in a different decade, and with a different team, Spurrier has faced a man with a similar philosophy toward taking calculated chances in big games — LSU coach Les Miles.Miles struck first in last year’s 28-16 win against South Carolina in Tiger Stadium. Many viewed Colt David’s fake field goal touchdown off a flip pass from Matt Flynn as Miles showing Spurrier who was boss.”You saw the look on his face when that happened. It was utter disgust,” ESPN analyst Trevor Matich said Thursday. “He got ‘out-Spurriered.’ I don’t think he has a feel of revenge for that play. But I know he remembers it, because he remembers everything.”Miles is reluctant to buy into comparisons to Spurrier’s risky nature. At Wednesday’s post-practice media briefing, he denied any parallel to Spurrier.And perhaps he doesn’t need to acknowledge any comparisons. In the 21st century, Miles boasts the upper hand. Spurrier posted a 21-16 record through his first three seasons at South Carolina. Miles’ 34-6 record during his first three years at LSU is the best three-year stint in school history.Certainly the win-loss comparisons have significant contributing factors. Spurrier inherited a program that accumulated a 16-19 record during Lou Holtz’s last three seasons at the helm. Miles inherited a program just one year removed from a national championship.But Matich said fans can’t expect Spurrier to echo the success at Florida with the personnel he inherited at South Carolina.”He’s had a very conservative offense. He’s pounded the ball,” Matich said. “You have to credit him to being a great coach for tailoring his own desires to his team’s capability. I think Steve Spurrier is one of the best college coaches in the nation, but he’s in a place where it’s harder to win.”With the hype for trickery and deception between the Gamecocks and the Tigers, fans may expect a string of unpredictable plays in Saturday’s 7 p.m. contest in Columbia, S.C.But Matich doubts multiple trick plays will occur.”You need to be the first one to run it,” he said. “Because both teams are in the rhythm of the normal game, and then a big bang happens. I wouldn’t be surprised if any coach pulls something crazy out of the hat early in the game.”Also to be considered is the possibility for a worst-case scenario: the failure of such a play. Miles has yet to be significantly burned on such a call during his LSU career, instead igniting fan support with his fourth-down conversions and last-second touchdown calls.But he made a crucial error in 2001 while at Oklahoma State — calling for a failed fake punt while pinned deep in Texas A&M territory. Some analysts say it was a call that swung the momentum and led to the Aggies’ 21-7 win.”When those plays work, they’re real smart and when they don’t, you’re not real smart,” Spurrier said Oct. 1 during a Southeastern Conference teleconference. “Most of Les’ [trick plays] have been working, so he’s a smart coach.”Miles takes perhaps a stoic approach in examining his successes with risky calls. “It was there, and it was executed well,” he said last season about David’s fake field goal.An onside kick in the third quarter of this season’s 26-21 win against Auburn prompted a similar nonchalant response.”We felt like we had a decent call there,” he said. “Our guys really pursue excellence in those types of plays, so when I have someone who has skill, it wouldn’t be right for me not to call those types of plays.”Matich said it’s easy to paint Miles as a fast-talkin’, smooth-dealing riverboat gambler, but it may not be a reputation that accurately depicts his style. He labeled Spurrier as a classic “gunslinger” while calling Miles more of a decisive risk-taker.”He takes calculated risks,” Matich said. “He looks into his players’ eyes and knows if they’re on a roll and have the momentum. A lot of his success comes from knowing his players. He knows the risks and the rewards.”—-Contact Amy Brittain at [email protected]