Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Hurricane Irma hits home for UF players
the Gators have given up the team hotel for Friday night.
“That’s the least you can do when something like this has come up,” McElwain said. “I think the biggest thing is the important lesson of giving of ourselves for the benefit of others. That’s what everyone of us should do.”
Players usually are together the night prior to games, but now must prepare to remain at their Gainesville residences.
“They’ve got to prepare for what may happen as our governor has stated for everybody in the state of Florida,” McElwain said. “That’s part of it and they’ll have the opportunity to do that. Obviously, we’ll have plans.
“If they need to stay here and sleep on the floor of the weight room or whatever, we’ll do whatever we have to do.”
McElwain had a somber tone throughout the 12 minutes he met with reporters following Wednesday’s practice.
Irma has put everyone in the state on edge and upturned the lives of millions. McElwain said he hopes the Gators can provide some people a chance to put their energies elsewhere for a few hours Saturday.
“Hopefully those couple hours of that ballgame can give people a chance to take their mind off of what’s real out there in the world,” he said.
While the realities of a potentially devastating storm loomed McElwain continued to prepare his team to bounce back from a disappointing 33-17 loss in the season opener to Michigan.
By the time UF takes the field Saturday, Irma is expected to be closing in on Florida. But McElwain expects the Gators to keep their minds on football until the game has ended.
“It is a challenge, and yet we have a responsibility. The responsibility is to be a Florida Gator,” he said. “It doesn’t mean you don’t care. What it means is you’ve got to focus on the task at hand. Our guys will come out ready to play.
“Obviously there’s a lot bigger things going on, and yet you know what, we’ve been through that here already since we’ve been here. A lot of different things that have gone on. That’s all part of the journey is learning how to deal with it.”