Florida should make one call to Steve Spurrier and ask one question.

Are you interested in your old job?

If the Ol’ Ballcoach says, “Well, I like golf, but I don’t like the athletic director, let me think about it” the Gators should hang up.

The line is too long behind Spurrier.

Bobby Petrino at Louisville entertained a Southeastern Conference job at Auburn last year when it wasn’t even open. He’ll answer the phone.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL More on Florida's coaching change Spurrier reportedly eyes return Ask the Expert: Gators will rally behind fired coach Glier: Don't beg Spurrier to return TSN: Plenty of candidates for job Pells: No-win situation for Zook Florida players question firing Web site part of Zook's legacy More on college football

Parity and the NFL salary cap might be old for Denver’s Mike Shanahan. Riiiiiiiing.

Utah’s Urban Meyer looks like he can coach up mid-major talent. The Gators should make a call and see if Meyer would like a crack at coaching Chris Leak.

Like we said, if Spurrier says anything other than “When can I start?” Florida needs to expand its search.

The Gator fandom might think it runs the asylum through gatorcountry.com and can pressure the school into hiring Spurrier, but the zanies won’t get Spurrier if he is unreasonable.

They might not get him even if he is reasonable and wants to come back. Remember, he left Gainesville.

Spurrier left for $5 million a year to coach the Washington Redskins. He said most of the right things on the way out the door, but he did leave.

Does Florida spread its arms wide to welcome him back? Of course, but only if he spreads his arms wide and says it’s mutual. Spurrier should have to interview and convince the majordomos at the school he’s still worth a big payday.

The man was a dominant coach. The respect the program has lost under Ron Zook with 13 losses in three years can be immediately won back. Recruiting won’t run off the road and fall behind if Spurrier rides back on a white horse.

Can you imagine the bedlam inside The Swamp when he returns?

Yeah, but how much does Florida crawl?

Not at all, I say. It doesn’t have to.

Spurrier should have some competition for his old job. Petrino almost beat Miami at Miami with less talent than what he will inherit at Florida. Meyer keeps insisting his team has the talent of a BCS school, but that is a PR campaign to move up the polls. He is working wonders with mid-major kids. Shanahan has Super Bowl rings.

There are others coaches for Floida to ponder. Of course, there are schools for Spurrier to ponder, too.

North Carolina no longer plays in a basketball conference. The Tar Heels have a lot of money and a nice stadium. They could make a run at this year’s hot prospects, including Spurrier.

And there are plenty of good golf courses in Texas and wouldn’t Spurrier relish the chance to knock Oklahoma off its throne?

The Longhorns have been getting pushed around by the Sooners for too long so there are two ways for Texas to get even with Oklahoma. Hire Spurrier to replace Mack Brown or hope Bob Stoops leaves….for Florida.

Whoops . . . there’s another name to line up behind Spurrier. Texas fans could have two parties. One hailing the departure of Stoops, the other hailing the arrival of Spurrier.

Imagine that? Spurrier coaching a football team referred to as “UT”.

Tennessee fans, of course, are disguising themselves on the internet as they drop rumors about Spurrier, their arch-enemy.

“He prefers to run the ball now, you know.”

“He’s going to keep Zook as his special teams coach, you know.”

Georgia fans will dread the day, too, that Spurrier returns to the SEC. The Dogs had trouble with Florida even after Spurrier left, but that was easier to take because Spurrier always rubbed it in when he beat Georgia . . . and that was annually.

It will be a month of speculation and secret negotiations. Spurrier might just decide to stay retired and spend the Redskins’ money.

But if he wants back, Florida should ask once. If he says no, the school must move on and hire Petrino or Meyer, and not look back.

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