Florida-Michigan Citrus Bowl Matchup Features a Pair of 2015 Turnaround Teams
Sunday, December 6, 2015 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida and Michigan, two of college football's traditional powers, opened the 2015 season with new head coaches.
Florida's Jim McElwain and Michigan's Jim Harbaugh don't know each other, but they have this in common: both have done superb jobs in their inaugural season.
McElwain took over a Florida program that was 11-13 the past two years and guided the Gators to a 10-3 record and their first appearance in the SEC Championship Game in six years. Meanwhile, Harbaugh returned to his alma mater and led Michigan to a 9-3 record, a four-game improvement from the previous year.
McElwain and Harbaugh will soon spend some time together when their teams meet in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1 in Orlando.
"I have a bunch of respect for what they've done,'' Harbaugh said of the Gators. "They have had a heck of a year. I feel like we drew the long straw on this one."
McElwain passed compliments back Harbaugh's way.
"I don't know Coach Harbaugh personally or anything like that," McElwain said. "But I've seen from afar what that guy has done and obviously the fantastic job he has done at his alma mater."
The schools have met twice previously, both Michigan wins in bowl games. They are scheduled to meet again in 2017 at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys.
Michigan finished 14th in the final College Football Playoff rankings on Sunday; Florida checked in at 19th coming off Saturday's 29-15 loss to No. 2-ranked Alabama in the SEC Championship Game.
Much like Florida, Michigan's defense carried the Wolverines for parts of the season. Michigan posted three consecutive shutouts during one stretch as former Gators defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin, who served as Florida's interim head coach last season in its Birmingham Bowl victory over East Carolina, helped Harbaugh transition back to the college game after coaching the San Francisco 49ers.
Durkin was named Maryland's new head coach last week and Harbaugh said Sunday that assistant Greg Mattison, a former Gators assistant under Urban Meyer, will serve as defensive coordinator for the Citrus Bowl.
The Wolverines did not play in a bowl last season and lost to Ohio State in the regular-season finale.
"They have worked extremely hard, they've competed well and they look forward to doing it again in this game,'' Harbaugh said. " That's why we're so excited about it."
Harbaugh was in Miami recruiting on Sunday and spent part of the day on the sideline with his brother, John Harbaugh, whose Baltimore Ravens team was on the road playing the Dolphins.
McElwain and his staff are focused on recruiting this week, too, as they try to build on the program's success in Year 1. McElwain became the first UF head coach to win 10 games in his first season.
Next up is his first bowl game in orange and blue.
"What a great honor for our team and how far we've come this year,'' McElwain said. "I know for our guys having the opportunity to play against such a storied program, it should be a lot of fun. This is one of those bowls that our guys really deserve to go to for what they have gone through this season."
McElwain hasn't had time to study Michigan on film yet, but he does have familiarity with Wolverines offensive coordinator Tim Drevno. They worked together at Montana State in the 1990s.
By the time these two programs open the 2017 season against each other in Texas, both could be among the country's best if McElwain and Harbaugh continue to make strides like they did this season.
For now, they provide the Citrus Bowl with an intriguing matchup.
"It speaks very well for the players on both sides,'' Harbaugh said. "They care about being good. We'll just keep moving at the same pace that they've been on."
Florida's Jim McElwain and Michigan's Jim Harbaugh don't know each other, but they have this in common: both have done superb jobs in their inaugural season.
McElwain took over a Florida program that was 11-13 the past two years and guided the Gators to a 10-3 record and their first appearance in the SEC Championship Game in six years. Meanwhile, Harbaugh returned to his alma mater and led Michigan to a 9-3 record, a four-game improvement from the previous year.
McElwain and Harbaugh will soon spend some time together when their teams meet in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1 in Orlando.
"I have a bunch of respect for what they've done,'' Harbaugh said of the Gators. "They have had a heck of a year. I feel like we drew the long straw on this one."
McElwain passed compliments back Harbaugh's way.
"I don't know Coach Harbaugh personally or anything like that," McElwain said. "But I've seen from afar what that guy has done and obviously the fantastic job he has done at his alma mater."
The schools have met twice previously, both Michigan wins in bowl games. They are scheduled to meet again in 2017 at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys.
Michigan finished 14th in the final College Football Playoff rankings on Sunday; Florida checked in at 19th coming off Saturday's 29-15 loss to No. 2-ranked Alabama in the SEC Championship Game.
Much like Florida, Michigan's defense carried the Wolverines for parts of the season. Michigan posted three consecutive shutouts during one stretch as former Gators defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin, who served as Florida's interim head coach last season in its Birmingham Bowl victory over East Carolina, helped Harbaugh transition back to the college game after coaching the San Francisco 49ers.
Durkin was named Maryland's new head coach last week and Harbaugh said Sunday that assistant Greg Mattison, a former Gators assistant under Urban Meyer, will serve as defensive coordinator for the Citrus Bowl.
The Wolverines did not play in a bowl last season and lost to Ohio State in the regular-season finale.
"They have worked extremely hard, they've competed well and they look forward to doing it again in this game,'' Harbaugh said. " That's why we're so excited about it."
Harbaugh was in Miami recruiting on Sunday and spent part of the day on the sideline with his brother, John Harbaugh, whose Baltimore Ravens team was on the road playing the Dolphins.
McElwain and his staff are focused on recruiting this week, too, as they try to build on the program's success in Year 1. McElwain became the first UF head coach to win 10 games in his first season.
Next up is his first bowl game in orange and blue.
"What a great honor for our team and how far we've come this year,'' McElwain said. "I know for our guys having the opportunity to play against such a storied program, it should be a lot of fun. This is one of those bowls that our guys really deserve to go to for what they have gone through this season."
McElwain hasn't had time to study Michigan on film yet, but he does have familiarity with Wolverines offensive coordinator Tim Drevno. They worked together at Montana State in the 1990s.
By the time these two programs open the 2017 season against each other in Texas, both could be among the country's best if McElwain and Harbaugh continue to make strides like they did this season.
For now, they provide the Citrus Bowl with an intriguing matchup.
"It speaks very well for the players on both sides,'' Harbaugh said. "They care about being good. We'll just keep moving at the same pace that they've been on."
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