McElwain: 'Things Are Coming Together'

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jim McElwain isn't a big fan of the word "culture," at least in the context of what it's like to come in as an outsider and discover the identity of your new extended family.

In McElwain's case, the extended family being Gator Nation.

McElwain grew up in Montana and spent the first 15 years of his coaching career in the Pacific Northwest, first at his alma mater, Eastern Washington, and then at Montana State. He branched out east of the Mississippi in 2000 when he took a job as an assistant at Louisville in 2000.

The closest his career brought him to Florida other than on recruiting trips or for games is when he was offensive coordinator at Alabama for four seasons, winning a pair of national titles.

When the Gators came calling for McElwain after three seasons as head coach at Colorado State, he prepared for a challenge unlike any other in his career. As the face of one of the most visible programs in the country, McElwain's profile increased significantly.

39694 — In the biggest on-field development for the Gators this spring, quarterback Feleipe Franks gained separation in his battle with Kyle Trask. (Photo: Courtney Culbreath/For UAA Communications)

Part of the process was getting to know his constituency. Before McElwain made his regular-season debut in 2015, he toured the state during the head coach's annual speaking tour to Gator Clubs. Class was in session, for both the coach and the fans.

"Culture is an overused word in my opinion,'' McElwain said of the experience. "I would say [learning] the personality of the institution, it's supporters, the people that are here."

Two years later, McElwain continues his third speaking tour around the Sunshine State tonight in Orlando when he visits the Central Florida Gator Club. His link to Gator Nation is much stronger. Back-to-back Southeastern Conference East Division titles – after a six-year drought for the program – does that for a coach who arrived as a relative unknown in these parts.

The Gators are 19-8 in McElwain's first two seasons, including 13-3 in the SEC. They won the East both seasons despite not being picked to finish above third at the annual SEC Media Days.

Fresh off the end of his third spring camp at UF and with a little more than four months remaining until the Gators open the season against Michigan, McElwain has a clear message for Florida fans.

"The biggest piece is the really positive momentum we have and what we're building, and yet we're not where we're going to be,'' he said. "That excitement within our program here, with our players, the understanding of what we need to do and yet we can do it, everything from the things that have been hindering us in some ways. Things are coming together. That's the exciting part."

They are coming together off and on the field.

The University Athletic Associations continues to make progress toward building a stand-alone football facility to serve as the program's new headquarters, and on the field, another wave of newcomers will join the team in Summer B as part of a strong signing class in February.

McElwain's stop in Orlando is the first of several this spring to feature either McElwain, former UF head coach/current ambassador Steve Spurrier, or UF Athletic Director Scott Stricklin.

McElwain steps onto the tour bus this year more familiar with his constituents -- and the optimism of a coach with a full grasp of his program.

"Knowing what we've done here is remarkable so far with what we've had,'' he said. "I'm just grateful for the people who are here helping us."

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