After loss, McElwain’s future in doubt
GAINESVILLE The pressure bearing down on UF coach Jim McElwain has escalated quickly.
One of the most bizarre weeks in Florida Gators football ended with one of the most lopsided losses in the school’s storied series with Georgia.
With McElwain’s future at UF growing bleaker by the day, the Gators’ 42-7 loss to the Bulldogs Saturday afternoon intensified the tension between the school and its football coach and put McElwain’s future in peril.
When asked after the game if he would be surprised if he was fired, McElwain responded, “Nothing in this world surprises me.”
The Georgia game could not have started worse for the Gators. In fact, it has not during the modern era.
Georgia scored three first-quarter touchdowns for the first time against UF since prior to 1960, giving the unbeaten Bulldogs (8-0, 5-0 SEC) an insurmountable 21-0 lead Saturday as an announced crowd of 84,107 fans looked on at EverBank Field.
But the real story of the day unfolded hours prior to kickoff and was the latest twist during a week that has left McElwain under serious fire from his administration.
On Saturday morning, sports agent Darren Heitner posted on Twitter: “Source: Agent Jimmy Sexton & UF have been trying to work out Coach Mac buyout, but are ‘miles apart.’ Still working hard on it.”
Heitner, an attorney and UF fan, is not among the power brokers in sports agency. Yet UF soon responded to his tweet, announcing the school is not negotiating a buyout with McElwain’s representatives.
“No one representing the University of Florida or our athletic department has had any conversations with Coach McElwain or his representatives regarding a buyout of his contract,” UF athletics director Scott Stricklin said in a statement released Saturday. “Our focus is on this great FloridaGeorgia rivalry Jacksonville.”
The back and forth fueled speculation McElwain would not be UF’s coach much longer. The idea seemed far-fetched despite his team’s disappointing start until a stunning revelation Monday he and his family had received death threats.
When asked today to in provide evidence to his bosses, McElwain declined, potentially giving the school cause to part ways and avoid paying $12.5 million, or $2.5 million for each of the remaining five years of his contract.
UF officials released a statement Monday insisting they were doing everything possible to protect McElwain and his family.
McElwain’s odd behavior, increasingly tense relationship with higher-ups and the Gators’ mounting losses have led to questions about his future in Gainesville.
Since he arrived in December 2014 to replace Will Muschamp, McElwain has taken jabs at the UF administration about lagging facilities. This even after the school built a $17 indoor practice facility prior to his first season and later committed to a $60 million stand-alone building for football that remains in the planning stages.
In addition, McElwain’s players have faced extensive legal issues, including a credit-card fraud scandal that generated national headlines and led to nine suspensions in August. On the field, McElwain’s struggling offense has never come close to meeting expectations set when he was hired and even proclaimed he could win with his dog playing quarterback.
The UF offensive line racked up seven false starts. Starting quarterback Feleipe Franks was 7-of-19 passing for 30 yards and one interception for the Gators. Backup Malik Zaire was finally allowed to take over during the fourth quarter and led UF to a touchdown run while facing Georgia reserves, but the game had long been decided.
All that was left to discuss was McElwain’s future.