DC Touchdown Club to Honor Spurrier

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Steve Spurrier was rummaging through the papers on his desk a couple months ago when he came upon letter from the DC Touchdown Club making official his place and participation in the organization’s annual awards dinner. 

Award for what, the Gators legend and beloved “Head Ball Coach” was asked.

“Not for anything I did with the Redskins, I can tell you that,” Spurrier cracked. 

Instead, Spurrier is being honored with a Founders award for lifetime achievement, specifically his 1966 Heisman Trophy at the University of Florida and magnificent coaching career at Duke, Florida and South Carolina (a record of 228-89-2, with seven conference championships). The DCTC dinner is set for Thursday night at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., and will also recognize a hit list of Washington sports icons and high-achievers, including former Redskins standout defensive end Dexter Manley and current Pro Bowl wide receiver Terry McLauren, along with 2022 Heisman winner Caleb Williams, ESPN personality Scott Van Pelt and star high school football players and coaches from the DC, Maryland and Virginia area. 

The DC Touchdown Club honors the best in Washington Metro area football, with year-round events highlighted by its annual awards dinner. Operated by the Military Bowl Foundation, the Club promotes the game of football, hosts entertaining social events and generates a significant philanthropic impact for Patriot Point, a retreat for recovering service members, their families and caregivers on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

“What an amazing group of award winners, including two Heisman Trophy winners, one of the most recognizable players in Redskins’ history and perhaps the best-known sports broadcaster of this generation,” Military Bowl Foundation president Steve Beck said. “We can’t wait to gather, relive some amazing memories and celebrate this terrific group.”

Spurrier, of course, had a rather unceremonious two seasons with the NFL Washington Redskins, since rebranded the Commanders, when he left UF in 2002 to take a crack at football’s highest level. The Redskins went 12-22 in two seasons under Spurrier, including losses in 10 of his final 12 games. 

Worth noting: Spurrier’s Redskins teams defeated a trio of Super Bowl-winning coaches over his two seasons — Mike Holmgren (twice), Tony Dungy and Bill Belichick — with the victory over the ’03 New England Patriots the…