Florida legends weigh in on Gators new head coach Jon Sumrall

While Gator Nation attempts to decipher how it feels about the hiring of Jon Sumrall as Florida's new head coach, several program legends are publicly endorsing him.

Proven winners in Gainesville, such as Steve Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel and Urban Meyer, praised Sumrall’s résumé, energy and leadership, noting his history of building physical, disciplined teams and his rapid rise through the coaching ranks.

While people associated with the University, such as athletic director Scott Stricklin, stand to gain something from a positive endorsement of Sumrall, neither Meyer nor Spurrier have spared anyone's feelings throughout their careers.

Here are their full statements.

Head Ball Coach Steve Spurrier

"I'm 100 percent supportive of the hiring of Coach Sumrall. He is an excellent choice and has the track record to prove it. He is a young coach on the way up and certainly has a winning record and produced winning teams. He is coaching in his fourth straight league's championship game Friday night. He's a proven winner and he will bring a little more fire and emotion to our team."

Heisman QB Danny Wuerffel

"I got the chance to talk with Jon Sumrall and I'm really excited for him to be our new coach! He is a winner. His passion is contagious. He is a great leader of men. And for those offense-minded folks—like me—he understands us and is committed to hiring an elite OC.  I'm as excited to be a Gator as I've been in a long time."

Former Florida Coach Urban Meyer

"What a special day for Gator Nation. Jon is one of the top young coaches in the game. I've studied Coach Sumrall and have gotten to spend some time with him. His teams are tough, physical and he creates a competitive environment. I look forward to getting to know him even more and the special things he will do at Florida."

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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida Gators football legends commentary on hiring of Jon Sumrall