Gator officials fly to meet with Kelly

GAINESVILLE — The Florida Gators’ pursuit of

picked up steam on Sunday. UF athletics director and school president were among a group of six who flew to Portsmouth, N.H., Sunday to meet with Kelly.

Stricklin and Co. flew out of Ocala early Sunday afternoon and arrived late Sunday night. Kelly was not with them.

“We’ve got a process we’re going to,” Stricklin told reporters. “There will probably be some more productive conversations in the days ahead.”

Whether those conversations lead to Kelly becoming UF’s next head football coach is unclear. On Sunday, UCLA fired after six seasons to open a job that also might appeal to Kelly, who made his name coaching in the Pac-12 at Oregon.

The 53-year-old Kelly, a New Hampshire native, is currently an ESPN football analyst after a failed one-year stint in 2016 with the San Francisco 49ers.

Asked on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” about his interest in the Gators’ job, Kelly joked, “Is this your way of firing me?”

Kelly then said whoever becomes the Gators’ next coach “will be really lucky.”

Some internet reports already have tabbed Kelly the Gators’ next head coach once contract details are ironed out and assistant coaching options are vetted by UF.

Speculation of Kelly’s imminent hire ramped up last week, with speculation he was on a flight to Gainesville. Kelly said he instead spent last week in New Hampshire.

UF vs. FSU, Saturday, Noon, ESPN

Kelly Kent Fuchs Next game: Scott Stricklin Jim Mora Jr. Chip