NCAA coaches react to Steve Spurrier's resignation

Few names reverberate in the college football world such as Steve Spurrier's.

When he was a player, he was the best, and when he went on to coach in what can only be described as an illustrious career, everyone continued to notice.

Upon stepping down from the head coaching job at South Carolina on Tuesday, top FBS coaches from around the nation chimed in with their take on one of the NCAA's most polarizing figures.

He blessed college football for a long time. - Georgia's Mark Richt

I hate it for Steve and hate it for college football. - Alabama's Nick Saban

It's the legacy. He's a legend. He’s a living legend. - Tennessee's Butch Jones

Nobody jabbed at you the way Coach Spurrier would, and let me tell you, he jabbed at everybody. - Texas's Charlie Strong

Thank you, Coach Spurrier, for paving the way and showing us all what greatness truly is. - Florida's Jim McElwain

He brought a different philosophy to the game and changed a lot of things in college football. ... I actually sacked his punter (as a player against Florida) in the first SEC Championship Game, and I think he threw his visor. - Clemson's Dabo Swinney

I've got a million of them. ... The sport is going to miss him. - Ohio State's Urban Meyer on how many stories he has about Spurrier

Coach Spurrier has impacted and influenced more of us in this business than he will ever know. He will be missed and will always be the "HBC." - Ole Miss' Hugh Freeze

Thank you for all that he's done for our game - Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald

To see that (his retirement) was a little tough. He's had an impact on me and a lot of other coaches. - Texas A&M's Kevin Sumlin

Thirty-one years as the HBC - an icon, a hall of fame career, and great mentor - one of the best ever to coach! - Oklahoma's Bob Stoops