Florida Football: Jim McElwain fired in third season with Gators
There are plenty of coaches on the hot seat but Florida football has become the first SEC school to cut bait with their coach, firing Jim McElwain on Sunday.
In a stunning turn of events, Florida has reportedly fired head coach Jim McElwain. Details continue to trickle out, but Gainesville Sun reporter Robbie Andreu has reported that the team has been informed. Expect a statement to be released by the university soon with further details.
Why the Gators chose to part ways with a coach that had won back-to-back SEC East titles is complicated. Reports began to circulate on Saturday during the Gators’ loss to Georgia that the university was looking into whether or not they would be able to fire McElwain for cause. That comes on the heels of McElwain’s comments that he and his family had received death threats. No evidence had been provided by him up to this point.
When asked about his future with the university during the post game press conference, McElwain gave a rather bleak response:
"“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 we haven’t won enough, haven’t won a championship. That’s real, that’s life, that is this business. And I take full responsibility for all of it. There’s no doubt.”"
The Gators became the first of what is expected be several open coaching jobs in the SEC. Butch Jones at Tennessee, Bret Bielema and Arkansas, Kevin Sumlin at Texas A&M and Barry Odom at Missouri are all rumored to be on the verge of being unemployed by season’s end. It looks like Florida will have the jump on all of those schools, acting quickly.
Next: Projected College Football Playoff Rankings - Week 10
Who will be the Gators’ first call? Don’t be surprised if Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen‘s name pops up in the rumor mill as quickly as this week. The former Florida offensive coordinator has been rumored to be interested in leaving Starkville for a few years now. If his former employer came calling he’d have to at least listen.