Florida AD Scott Stricklin addresses Dan Mullen's 'pack The Swamp' comments
After discussing the crowd at Texas A&M’s Kyle Field on Saturday, UF coach Dan Mullen pointed to Florida’s governor lifting attendance restrictions and called for a packed Swamp against LSU.
Mullen’s comments were widely criticized when news broke that the Gators were dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak in the program. Mullen apologized for the comments during his appearance on Wednesday’s weekly SEC media teleconference.
Mullen’s boss, Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin, was asked by the head coach’s comments during a Zoom press conference to discuss the postponement of the UF-LSU football game. Stricklin suggested that Mullen will stick to Xs and Os instead of the attendance policy and public health matters.
“I think based on his comments today that, you know, (Mullen) respects the importance of listening to the medical professionals,” Stricklin said in his video press conference. “Coaches sometimes say things that are outside their area of expertise. And, you know, they’re really good at what they do. Dan is really good at calling plays.
“I’ll share a story with you I mentioned, [chief of UF’s Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine department] Dr. Mike Lauzardo, earlier I had a conversation with him yesterday and he said, ‘Hey, since Coach Mullen is now getting into public health policy, I want to know can I call some plays.’ So, I told him I’d make a deal going forward, Dan will focus on calling plays and we’ll let Dr. Lauzardo focus on the public health policy.”
I hear it’s official..no game in the Swamp this weekend. Bummer. Speedy recovery to all affected…
Yes, that decision seemed to be imminent. LSU vs. UF is typically a great game. Shame. Hoping we can keep these cancellations/postponements to a minimum. Looking forward to watching UGA vs. Bama and several other SEC games. Best wishes to all the players, coaches and staff. College football really provided a much needed lift to my spirit. I hope games can continue to be played…
“Coaches sometimes say things that are outside their area of expertise. And, you know, they’re really good at what they do. Dan is really good at calling plays.
-above is so loud. kudos to stricklin for remembering who’s in charge and the lightly veiled warning to mullen to stay in his lane.
Stricklin: “Hey Dr. Mike, I’d like you to meet Coach Mullen.”
(Coach stares icily at the doctor)
Ouch!
He has the right to say what he wants and you have the right to disagree with him. He said what he said but really what difference did or does it make? Time to move on from this. Still some good games this weekend.
I truly admire and respect Scott Stricklin. Great AD. And I knew he would talk to Mullen. It is over the line things like this that made Stricklin hesitate to hire Mullen out of the gate. Glad he eventually hired Mullen. He is a really good football coach and has the Gators headed in the right direction. But Mullen needs to run his mouth less, have a friendlier relationship with the press, and primarily stick to coaching and recruiting Gators. If he doesn’t, it will be a big and likely fatal mistake concerning his job at Florida. And that job is to win games and championships, not comment on or set university policy.
I get Stricklin’s comment and postactions. I just disagree. His boss, Fuchs, is a liberal academician who drinks the CDC kool aid on covid along with the rest of the University administrative crowd. All Mullen is looking for is every single advantage possible in order to win football games, which is indeed his job. The problem is he, along with most other coaches, has been fitted with “medical science” handcuffs and now an AD muzzle, when he actually is on the right side of the issue. I won’t bore everyone with all the stats that say “Play Ball” but that’s what should happen. The “experts” have played the fear game, and our nation (and football) have suffered enough. Cut the crap and move on. Go Gators!!!
It’s so easy to throw a label on someone because you disagree with them. The president of the University of Florida is world renowned and the university just achieved the number 6 rating of all public universities in the United States.. soon to be number four or five. He attends most sporting events with his wife and is not some right-wing or left-wing idealog. This is an academic institution first with a top-five athletic department to go with it. Save your vitriol 4 politics and you’re great orange leader
Thanks for your well-articulated response to the previous post. I might add that AD Stricklin appears to have handled the situation publicly with judicious amounts of both humor and serious introspection, while I suspect there may have been a little sterner discussion with Coach Mullen. Bottom line, “No story here, move along.”
I agree with Dan. Let’s pack the swamp and see what happens.