Florida head coach Jim McElwain during the LSU game two weeks ago. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)
Gators Head Coach Jim McElwain: 'I've Got a Heck of a Job'
Wednesday, November 30, 2016 | Football, Scott Carter
Second-year Gators coach Jim McElwain says he has not heard from Oregon and is pleased at UF.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida head coach Jim McElwain said Wednesday he has a good job at Florida.
As for the opening at Oregon, McElwain said he has not heard from the Ducks despite a rash of Internet reports linking him as a possible candidate to replace Mark Helfrich.
"It's always interesting this time of year and how whatever comes out,'' McElwain said. "No, I haven't heard from Oregon. The things that get thrown out there at times, I don't know how it gets linked sometimes. I got my hunch that there might be some recruiting things behind it. I don't know. A lot of time on the phone last night obviously [with recruits]."
When asked if that means he is not interested in the Oregon job, McElwain replied: "Yeah. Look, I've got a heck of a job. In case anyone has checked, this is the University of Florida and we're playing in what they call the SEC Championship Game. It hasn't really crossed my mind."
Oregon fired Helfrich on Tuesday after a 4-8 season. Helfrich had a 37-16 record with the Ducks and is the first head football coach fired by Oregon since 1976.
Meanwhile, McElwain is 18-7 at UF and 13-3 in the SEC, the first coach in league history to lead his team to the SEC Championship Game in each of his first two seasons.
The 15th-ranked Gators (8-3) are preparing to face No. 1-ranked Alabama (12-0) on Saturday in Atlanta in a rematch of last season's SEC Championship Game, won by the Crimson Tide 29-15.
As for the opening at Oregon, McElwain said he has not heard from the Ducks despite a rash of Internet reports linking him as a possible candidate to replace Mark Helfrich.
"It's always interesting this time of year and how whatever comes out,'' McElwain said. "No, I haven't heard from Oregon. The things that get thrown out there at times, I don't know how it gets linked sometimes. I got my hunch that there might be some recruiting things behind it. I don't know. A lot of time on the phone last night obviously [with recruits]."
When asked if that means he is not interested in the Oregon job, McElwain replied: "Yeah. Look, I've got a heck of a job. In case anyone has checked, this is the University of Florida and we're playing in what they call the SEC Championship Game. It hasn't really crossed my mind."
.@CoachMcElwain? Oregon? Coach Mac addresses all the recent rumors during today's press conference. #GoGators pic.twitter.com/S0IjAfgXkX
— Gators Football (@GatorsFB) December 1, 2016
Oregon fired Helfrich on Tuesday after a 4-8 season. Helfrich had a 37-16 record with the Ducks and is the first head football coach fired by Oregon since 1976.
Meanwhile, McElwain is 18-7 at UF and 13-3 in the SEC, the first coach in league history to lead his team to the SEC Championship Game in each of his first two seasons.
The 15th-ranked Gators (8-3) are preparing to face No. 1-ranked Alabama (12-0) on Saturday in Atlanta in a rematch of last season's SEC Championship Game, won by the Crimson Tide 29-15.
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