McElwain has a plan in place for indoor practice facility
Sunday, August 16, 2015 | Football, Men's Swimming & Diving, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- As the Florida football team participated in Fan Day inside the O'Connell Center on Saturday afternoon, a construction crew nearby worked outside in the hot and humid conditions.
The workers continued to put the finishing touches on the Gators' new $17 million indoor practice facility. The building rose from the ground quickly this summer after extensive groundwork was completed in the spring.
First-year Gators head coach Jim McElwain has a formulated plan on how to use the facility once it is ready to move in, which is expected by the end of the month.
"I was able to learn from a master on this, obviously, at one of the stops," McElwain said following Friday afternoon's scrimmage under the mid-August sun.
Hint: McElwain was at Alabama as offensive coordinator for Nick Saban when the Crimson Tide's indoor facility got a makeover in 2009.
While the facility will allow the Gators to take cover when Mother Nature gets cranky, escaping inclement weather is not the only use McElwain has in mind for the facility.
Taking a break from Florida's famous heat is important, too.
"Anytime you can just take the heat-drain off, it helps you in the long run,'' McElwain said. "It helps you be a little fresher at the end of the year."
McElwain said during the regular season, the plan is for the Gators to practice outside Monday through Wednesday, and then go inside for Thursday's practice and Friday's walk-through.
