Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
McElwain seeking upset of surging Bulldogs
GAINESVILLE — UF coach Jim McElwain arrived three seasons ago ready to chase former boss Nick Saban and the juggernaut he had built at Alabama.
Now McElwain finds himself also pursuing fellow Saban acolyte Kirby Smart and a Georgia program more of an imminent threat to the Gators’ standing.
Smart’s Bulldogs once again dominate the state’s fertile recruiting territory — where McElwain wants to maintain a sizeable Gators’ footprint. Georgia also is establishing itself as the class of the SEC East, where UF is a two-time defending champion but currently trails the Bulldogs by two games.
“He’s got things going,” McElwain said.
Meanwhile, McElwain enters Saturday’s matchup with nothing going his or the Gators’ way lately.
McElwain’s week began with his startling revelation he and his family had received death threats, painting UF’s fan base as unhinged amid the team’s disappointing start. When he declined to provide even his superiors with details, McElwain became an easy target for anyone wondering if he is the right man for the job.
A bad loss to the Gators’ primary rival — the schools have met 94 times since 1916 — would give McElwain’s detractors more fuel and amplify the already-considerable pressure on the 55-year-old.
But even though UF (3-3, 3-2 SEC) is a two-touchdown underdog to the unbeaten Bulldogs (7-0, 4-0) history says anything can happen when the teams meet.
No one, especially the oddsmakers, gave Will Muschamp’s 2014 team a chance prior to the Gators’ 38-20 shocker or expected the 2002 Gators, struggling under rookie head coach Ron Zook, to upset unbeaten Georgia. The wins might have been the highlights of each failed tenure.
Now, McElwain looks to shift the narrative away from death threats, his moribund offense and his massive, $12.5 million contract buyout. An upset likely will require the Gators’ most-inspired performance since at least last season’s win at LSU — more than 11 months ago.
The Gators are banking on it, and on Monday guaranteed victory in what has become a one-sided series. UF has won 21 of 27 games against Georgia, including three straight.
“Georgia isn’t a team we lose to,” receiver Josh Hammond said.
McElwain was equally confident after two strong days of practice.
Execution, not effort, has been the Gators’ bugaboo.
During losses to LSU and Texas A&M, UF allowed 10 sacks, converted just six of 24 third downs and did not have a pass play longer than 20 yards.
Georgia, on the other hand, has been a well-oiled machine. The Bulldogs are third in the nation in total defense, lead the nation in red-zone efficiency (29 of 29) and convert an SECleading 51 percent on third down (52 of 102).
Smart said nothing the 2017 Bulldogs have accomplished will matter Saturday.
“It’s not about what the favorite is, what the line is,” he said. “I mean, it’s going to boil down to how we play.”
The Gators’ defense is coming off its best twogame stretch and will look to put the game on the shoulders of Bulldogs’ firstyear freshman quarterback Jake Fromm.
Senior tailbacks Nick Chubb and Sony Michel lead the SEC’s second-ranked rushing offense, which averages 282.9 yards. But the duo is 0-3 against UF and combined for just 22 yards on 12 carries during last season’s 24-10 loss.
While Georgia’s offensive line has gone from a weakness to a strength since then, UF’s defensive front will be the most-formidable it has faced.
The Gators are second in the SEC with 41 tackles for loss. End CeCe Jefferson has a team-high seven TFLs while tackle Taven Bryan had 1.5 sacks two weeks ago against A&M.
Struggling UF redshirt freshman quarterback Feleipe Franks is sure to face his biggest test, too. The likely return of leading receiver Tyrie Cleveland, who missed two games with an ankle injury, should help.