Former Duke head coach Steve Spurrier met with Director of Athletics Joe Alleva Wednesday afternoon, athletics department officials told The Chronicle.
Duke's Sports Information Department confirmed Spurrier's presence on campus Wednesday and would not deny whether the former Duke coach from 1987 to 1989 is being considered for the opening.
"He could be, sure," Duke Sports Information Director Art Chase said. "Everyone's a candidate."
Alleva said at Monday's press conference announcing Ted Roof's firing that he planned on contacting Spurrier to consult in the University's search for a new head coach. Spurrier, now at the helm of South Carolina, aided the athletic director in Duke's last two coaching searches.
"There a lot of resources out there to consider, and Steve is just one of them," Alleva said Monday. "There are a lot of resources out there when it comes to looking for a coach, and I will use all of them."
Spurrier and Alleva are longtime friends, and Alleva said that the Gamecocks' coach was already in the area recruiting.
The news of Spurrier's Duke visit, though, seemed to catch USC media representatives off guard. A member of South Carolina's media relations office said he was unaware of any such visit and was under the impression that the coach was simply on the recruiting trail.
If Spurrier, who left Duke for Florida in 1989, is a candidate for Roof's old job, his mere presence on campus would speak to those who question whether Alleva is willing to break open the school's checkbook to sign a high-profile coach, as he implied in the press conference Monday. Currently, Spurrier is under contract with the Gamecocks for $1.75 million annually through 2012, but the agreement includes a $500,000 buyout.
Roof earned a reported $500,000 per year in his four years as Duke's head coach.
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