Spurrier to pitch South Carolina seat-belt safety

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Lou Holtz got South Carolina to clean up. Now, Steve Spurrier wants the state to buckle up.

Spurrier, Holtz's successor as South Carolina football coach, filmed a public service announcement for the state Public Safety Department on Tuesday, urging drivers and passengers to "buckle up, South Carolina."

Spurrier said he has long been a committed seat belt user and thinks everyone should wear one. "If you don't like life, if you want to die, then don't do it," Spurrier told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Public Safety director James Schweitzer said he hopes Spurrier's participation will give the ads more punch.

"We're excited to have coach Spurrier doing this," Schweitzer said this week. "If we can get these ads on the air, we believe they'll have an impact."

Spurrier says he counsels his players to wear seat belts and the coach said he had been fortunate in that he hasn't been in any serious car accidents.

"I just hope people will listen," Spurrier said. "Maybe only Gamecock fans will listen."

History shows it can work. Just look what Holtz started six years ago with a few words about trash on the highways.

About a month after taking the job, Holtz questioned all the garbage he saw along Interstate 26. "You don't see as much pride as I thought I would" in South Carolina, Holtz said in January 1999.

That sparked a spirited movement to beautify state roadways. Holtz filmed antilitter spots, the Gamecocks picked up trash around Williams-Brice Stadium and the Palmetto Pride campaign was born.

Holtz "really pumped life into this thing," Sen. David Thomas, R-Fountain Inn, and Palmetto Pride board chairman.

Thomas remembered challenging Holtz to put his "money where his mouth" was and attend an antilitter task force meeting. Holtz showed up and became a force for change. "He had such a fire in his belly for this," Thomas said.

Thomas cited statistics that litter in South Carolina was reduced 30 percent since the push began.

Public Safety Department leaders only hope Spurrier has the same pull.

Seat belt use in South Carolina averages about 65.7 percent - well below the national average of 80 percent - according to a survey from June 2004, the most current figures provided by the Public Safety Department.

Last year, 73 percent of the 1,046 people who died in vehicle accidents tracked by the department were not wearing safety belts. Of the 304 people killed on the roadways in 2005 who had access to seat belts, nearly 75 percent (227) did not use them, the agency said.

"It just there's no arguing the fact that if you're wearing a seat belt, your chances of survival are that much higher," Schweitzer said.

Schweitzer met with Spurrier nearly two months ago on several issues, including the possibility of a public service announcement. Schweitzer knew Spurrier's star power could get everyone, particularly the target demographic of males 16 to 34 years old, thinking seat belt safety.

The coach took to the idea immediately, Schweitzer said. Spurrier donated his time - and use of his office - for the spot.

Spurrier's original script had him saying, "I'm coach Steve Spurrier. We would never send our players into a game without the proper equipment. That would be dumb and dangerous.

"So is not buckling your seat belt. I do it, my family does it, and we expect our players to do it. So when you get into a car - be smart, fasten your seat belt. It very easily could save your life.

"Buckle up South Carolina," Spurrier concludes.

The Public Safety Department is launching a "Buckle Up South Carolina" campaign this week to increase awareness.

Schweitzer said the agency has yet to reach out to Spurrier's state rival, Clemson coach Tommy Bowden. Bowden did antilitter spots six years ago along with Holtz. Schweitzer said if Bowden wants to take part this time, that can happen.

The agency expects to distribute the Spurrier spot to TV and radio stations throughout South Carolina within the next two weeks. Since the agency can't pay for airtime, Schweitzer says, it falls on stations to place it into their PSA rotation.

Thomas of Palmetto Pride said the group considered contacting Spurrier to add his charisma to the litter campaign. But the effort was so closely connected with Holtz, Palmetto Pride leaders decided against it.

Palmetto Pride features the mascot, "Louie the Lion," who was "named after the original King of Cleanup, Coach Lou Holtz. Louie will carry on the same tireless effort" as Holtz, according to the group's Web site.

No word yet if "Stevie the Safety Belt" will soon show up on your TV.