A Tough Day Caps a Rough Week for McElwain, Gators

Florida head coach Jim McElwain and the Gators suffered a humiliating defeat on a long day in Jacksonville on Saturday. (Photo: Jay Metz/UAA Communications)

A Tough Day Caps a Rough Week for McElwain, Gators

Saturday, October 28, 2017 | Football, Scott Carter

The Gators fell behind by 21 points in the first quarter and never recovered in their worst loss to Georgia in 35 years.

By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer

JACKSONVILLE Fla. – After the seventh game of his third season, Florida head coach Jim McElwain walked toward the locker room early Saturday evening at EverBank Field hand-in-hand with wife Karen.

Moments earlier, McElwain departed the UF sideline and trudged to midfield, where he was greeted by his ex-colleague, second-year Georgia head coach Kirby Smart, for the obligatory postgame handshake.

McElwain and Smart, former assistants together at Alabama under Nick Saban, shared a brief word and then headed their separate ways following No. 3-ranked Georgia's 42-7 thumping of the Gators. Before exiting the field, McElwain looked around, shook hands with a couple more Georgia players and coaches, and then departed with his wife.

What happened next summed up a gloomy day for the Gators perfectly.

At his press conference about 15 minutes later, McElwain was reminded of the peculiar tone that surrounded Saturday's game, even facing a question about a photo of he and his wife smiling as they left the field. In the span it took for McElwain to address the Gators after their third consecutive loss and arrive at his press conference, the photo had gone viral on social media.

"Well, she told me to keep my chin up,'' McElwain said. "That's something my dad used to tell me. It doesn't do any good to hang your head, like I told the guys. I've never been about good looks. I apologize for that, I guess."

It was that kind of day for McElwain and the Gators, one that started with rumors about his future with the program and ended with Florida's first loss to the Bulldogs since 2013. Nothing has been normal for the Gators since McElwain casually mentioned receiving death threats at his Monday press conference, following back-to-back home losses to LSU and Texas A&M.

McElwain spent the rest of the week dealing with the aftershocks of those comments and answering questions about much more than football.

That trend stayed intact Saturday as McElwain stepped to a podium to answer questions about Florida's worst loss to Georgia since a 44-0 defeat 35 years ago.

In undoubtedly the most penetrating press conference of his UF tenure, McElwain revealed a candor he has rarely displayed in his 34 games as head coach.

46217 — Florida head coach Jim McElwain and his wife, Karen, leave the field after Saturday's loss to Georgia. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)

Did the outside distractions impact the Gators on the field?

"It's hard to tell. I thought our guys prepared well,'' McElwain said. "Obviously, I was made aware of all the stuff today as I walked into [our] pregame meal. I hadn't heard anything of that nature. I talked to them immediately right there. That was the first I had heard of it."

Is he concerned about his job security?

"At the end of the day, we were brought here to win. We haven't done it. My concern is not about my job. my concern is with these players and my staff. We have a fantastic staff. That's the concern. It isn't about me."

Will you be surprised if you're not the coach after today?

"Nothing in this world surprises me. I know what I was brought here to do. Look, we haven't been good on offense, I get it. We've won a few games, but haven't won enough. We haven't won a championship. That's real and I take full responsibility for it. Like I said, my concern has to do with those players. Seeing them in that locker room and seeing that staff that has worked so hard to get to even where we are right now. That's what's hard, the unknown."

Do you want to be the Florida coach?

"Yeah, this is one of those deals, this is a dream job. It's a great place. Great fans. Great support. The resources are there to win. Obviously, I'm disappointed that I haven't been able to deliver in the time I've been here. But you know what? It's an opportunity … just to be able to be in a game like this is something that's really special."

Do you have regrets in your time at Florida?

"I'm sure, when you look back, I've made mistakes in my life, and yet, stand by everything that occurred. It is what it is. It won't be the first time to happen to anybody, I get that. We've put a lot into this program. People have been great to my wife and I. We'll see what happens. That's the stuff that's out of your control. But I'm proud of my team. I am. I know we haven't won and that's what it's all about."

Once McElwain finished taking questions, the Gators tried to make sense of a situation that stretches beyond their normal comfort zone.

"We are definitely not going to fold,'' quarterback Feleipe Franks said.

"We're a team. This is a program,'' defensive back Chauncey Gardner Jr. said. "We stand behind Coach Mac. He stands behind us. This program stands behind us. We're going to keep playing football. Outsiders are going to be outsiders. We're not worried about them."

Senior cornerback Duke Dawson acknowledged McElwain spoke to the team at their pregame meal about the ongoing drama outside the locker room. Dawson declined to go into specifics about what was said, but as one of the team's veteran leaders, he said no one is pleased with the way the season has turned out.

The Gators dropped to 3-4 overall, 3-3 in the Southeastern Conference, and have lost three consecutive conference games for the first time since 2013.

"It's something I didn't want to see but life has its turns,'' Dawson said. "We just have to move on."

What that next move is remains a mystery. The Gators have a week to prepare for their road game at Missouri on Saturday.

McElwain stood by his team, saying he remains proud of the effort amidst the turmoil.

Still, as he departed the press conference, the day's events loomed heavily in his body language and words, starting at that pregame meal.

"As a coach, you really put your head down and kind of just work,'' he said. "I was surprised as anybody when I was going to team dinner today. Those eggs didn't taste very good."