HOOVER, Ala. — The star of Monday’s media session at the Wynfrey Hotel, new Florida coach Jim McElwain shied away from saying anything controversial or loud.

He doesn’t have Les Miles’ quirky humor or Steve Spurrier’s quick wit. But he is the man charged with restoring Florida football to its apex as a national championship contender.

Here’s what he and some of his players had to say about the program’s direction in 2015.

HEAD COACH JIM MCELWAIN

Opening statement

I just want to say what an honor it is to be back in the SEC and how humbling it is to be the head ball coach with the University of Florida. It’s something you dream of as you go through this profession, and I can’t tell you how honored and excited I am to have this opportunity.

How long will it take to get this program back to a championship level?

I think part of the experience of being in this conference is realizing it doesn’t happen just overnight. It’s something that we know. And yet every time we go to work every day, every time we wake up, our responsibility is to try to go out there and win. There’s never been a game that we haven’t been in that we don’t think we’re going to go out and be successful, and that’s really what it’s all about. We’ve got a ways to go, and yet there are some good things in place. Coach Muschamp and his staff did some really good things, obviously setting the table, and we need to just pick up from that and move forward.

How do you make sure your defense, which was ranked so well last year, doesn’t fall off this season?

Outstanding job on defense, no doubt about it, and a lot of those guys returning that have experience. We’re going to have to lean on them as we introduce some of these younger guys, and yet it’s up to the offense to kind of take some of the heat off them as well. It goes hand in hand. We’ve got to be good in special teams. We’ve got to be able to flip field position and force teams to go long field when needed and try to sustain some drives to keep them off the field. That’s one of the things that, going through, we really have kind of set as a staff that we need to focus on. There’s some good competitive players over there, and obviously, losing the production as we did at what turned out to be the third pick in the (NFL) draft, that guy was pretty special. Yet we’re going to need some guys to step up around him, with him not being there, to take part of that burden off up front as well.

On the quarterback competition:

I think it’s one of those things that’s kind of exciting for both guys. Really what it comes down to when we get there in August is which one of those guys affect the play of the other people around them to help them be successful. There’s a lot of talented guys out there that can throw it and do all that, but for some reason don’t click with the guys around them. And how they help those guys play better, that’s something we’re looking for. I know those guys have done a good job of getting the guys together, doing the offseason workouts. To see which one of them kind of stood up, maybe did some other things. What I mean by that, just a little extra work in the weight room, maybe a little pulling the guys aside here or there and communicating with those O-linemen that are going to be their bread and butter as far as being successful. So I think the biggest thing is who’s going to move the football team up and down the field is really what it’s all about.

On tough season-opening games:

I really like those opening games, like we’re going to get an opportunity in a while to play Michigan down in Texas, and I’m looking forward to that. I think that’s good for college football. I really do. Playing Florida State, that’s one of those rivalry things, and I don’t think you ever get away from that. I’m a big believer in — that’s what I love about college football. I love the rivalries. I love those Saturdays. Those are certain things that I think just shouldn’t go away. So for us, maybe playing some of those opening games like that, I just think it helps your team prepare in the offseason knowing that right off the bat, here we go. And I think it’s a good thing.

On his relationship with Nick Saban:

He’s been a guy that’s always been there. As soon as I took the job, and a couple times a year, three, four times, in some cases five, just being able to call, have as a resource, he’s there to help along the way. And obviously, taking this job, he’s been a guy that has answered a lot of questions, maybe gave me some things to look for and look out for as we kind of roll through. In fact, something like this, right? But having that relationship is something I’ll cherish forever, and to have a guy that you can pick up the phone and get an answer that has that much experience and credibility, man, that’s something special.

DL JONATHAN BULLARD

Do you ever catch yourself peeking at the offense during practice and hoping they’ll be able to score some more points and help you guys out this year?

Oh, no question. Every day you see them do something good. It’s been like that. We go out and practice as hard as we can against them and try to make the game easier. With us being one of the best defenses, if they can do it against us they should be able to do it in the games. When they do good things, we encourage them, tell them good job. Making them compete. Making them practice hard and want to be good.

How does your strong defensive backfield affect your play on the defensive line?

I think it’s going to (allow us to) do a little stuff that’s out of the ordinary. Take a few more shots. Having guys like Vernon Hargreaves, you’re not really worried about him getting beat too often. All of our DBs back there are all really, really good. With all the young guys that are going to play, they know exactly what they’re doing and we have 100 percent confidence in them. I’ll probably take a few more shots than I would.

CB Vernon Hargreaves III

There’s been some debate between LSU’s defensive backfield and your team as to which group should be called DBU. What do you think?

We tried not to get into the whole Twitter debate about ‘who is DBU?’ We’re just going to let the season play out for itself and then at the end of the season it won’t be close.

How were you able to handle the coaching change?

I think my understanding and knowledge of coaching and how coaching works. I gave a talk to the guys so they won’t have to hear it from somebody older. I’ve been through it. My dad’s been a coach my whole life. I understand how coaching works. Coaches get fired and coaches get hired. I think my job was to sit down with guys who are having a hard time and break it down to them and say that’s just how coaching works.

Who are the best receivers you’ve faced in your career thus far and who do you most look forward to covering this year?

The best I’ve faced in my career would have to be Odell Beckham. Amari Cooper, he’s at the top. No doubt. Jarvis Landry. Who I’m looking forward to covering? Laquon Treadwell in Week 4.

Tell us about making your teammates to pushups.

“That is something I learned when I was younger, watching my dad coach at Miami. The first time I told them to do pushups, they kind of looked at me like, ‘Are you serious?’ and I said, ‘Yes I’m serious.’ They understood where I was coming from. They know I wasn’t trying to be an arrogant leader, and I do my fair share of pushups. I think they respected me enough to do them.”