After a third straight loss and a strange week that saw the school publicly distance itself from his allegations about death threats, Florida head coach Jim McElwain has been fired, according to a report citing unnamed sources from FootballScoop.com. The university has yet to announce the decision but Robbie Andreu of The Gainesville Sun reports that the players have been informed.
Florida officials met with McElwain this morning and have asked him to accept less than his $12.76 million buyout and step down. ESPN reports that McElwain has not been fired and was still in talks with athletic director Scott Stricklin and others.
The Gators were blown out by Georgia on Saturday, 42–7, dropping the Gators to 3–4 on the year. Even before the game, though, ESPN reported that Florida officials were exploring whether they had the legal standing to fire McElwain with cause—and therefore without paying his $12.9 million buyout—due to his admittedly dishonest reference to supposed death threats earlier in the week.
McElwain said Monday that he and members of staff, as well as their families, had received death threats. Asked by the press for further details, McElwain declined to elaborate. “Our administration met with coach McElwain this afternoon and he offered no additional details,” the school said in a statement.
McElwain later admitted that the threats he was referring to happened “in the past” and said he was wrong to bring them up.
Florida won the SEC East in each of McElwain’s first two seasons but lost to Alabama in the conference championship game on both occasions. Florida lost just four games in those years, a total the Gators have already matched this season.
SOURCE: By Dan Gartland October 29, 2017. Sports Illustrated Online. https://www.si.com/college-football/2017/10/29/florida-gators-jim-mcelwain-coach-fired
Florida officials met with McElwain this morning and have asked him to accept less than his $12.76 million buyout and step down. ESPN reports that McElwain has not been fired and was still in talks with athletic director Scott Stricklin and others.
The Gators were blown out by Georgia on Saturday, 42–7, dropping the Gators to 3–4 on the year. Even before the game, though, ESPN reported that Florida officials were exploring whether they had the legal standing to fire McElwain with cause—and therefore without paying his $12.9 million buyout—due to his admittedly dishonest reference to supposed death threats earlier in the week.
McElwain said Monday that he and members of staff, as well as their families, had received death threats. Asked by the press for further details, McElwain declined to elaborate. “Our administration met with coach McElwain this afternoon and he offered no additional details,” the school said in a statement.
McElwain later admitted that the threats he was referring to happened “in the past” and said he was wrong to bring them up.
Florida won the SEC East in each of McElwain’s first two seasons but lost to Alabama in the conference championship game on both occasions. Florida lost just four games in those years, a total the Gators have already matched this season.
SOURCE: By Dan Gartland October 29, 2017. Sports Illustrated Online. https://www.si.com/college-football/2017/10/29/florida-gators-jim-mcelwain-coach-fired
