Florida coach Jim McElwain has been the king of coach speak the last few days.
When Oregon fired coach Mark Helfrich Tuesday night, McElwain immediately became a name of interest and the rumor mill took off from there. He has responded several times, saying things like the reports are “hot air,” that he “has a heck of a job,” and the Ducks’ opening “hasn’t crossed my mind.”
Yet, with every possible chance to convince media otherwise by shutting down any possibilities for an exit, McElwain has continued to leave a small door open.
McElwain on coaching rumors: "People can do whatever they want and say whatever they want. I know how excited I am to be a Gator."
— Barrett Sallee ?? (@BarrettSallee) December 2, 2016
Once again, perfect opportunity to say “I will not be going to Oregon. I plan to coach at Florida for a long, long time.” https://t.co/YLLrtEh6tz
— FootballScoop (@FootballScoop) December 2, 2016
McElwain could very well mean what he says — it’s clear that he’s “excited to be a Gator,” because he wouldn’t have accepted the job two years ago if he didn’t think coaching at UF was a good opportunity.
But actions speak louder than words, and it would be rather easy to squash the rumors quickly.
Wonder why he doesn’t?
Tyler Waddell is a member of the Saturday Down South news team. He brings over five years of professional journalism experience and is closing in on a Bachelor's in sports management. Follow him on Twitter (@Tyler_Waddell).
