Gators, families have gotten death threats

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida coach Jim McElwain said Monday that Florida players and families have received death threats amid the team’s struggles. McElwain acknowledged the allegation while responding to a question about whether the team deserves credit for staying competitive despite missing more than 20 scholarship players because of injuries and suspensions.

“Credit in this business is internal; it’s never external,” McElwain said. “It’s a good lesson for the way things are. There’s a lot of hate in this world and a lot of anger and yet (there’s) freedom to show it. The hard part is obviously when the threats against your own players, death threats to your families, the ill will that’s brought upon out there.

“It’s really one of those deals that really is a pretty good testament to what’s going on out there nationally. A lot of angry people. In in this business, we’re the ones they take the shots at and that’s the way it is.”