Jim McElwain addresses Florida's crushing loss to Alabama in the SEC Title Game
Saturday was not a pleasant afternoon for Jim McElwain and the Florida Gators.
Taking on No. 1 Alabama, the Gators faltered heavily — losing the contest by a score of 54-16. Special teams play was atrocious, the quarterback play wasn’t much better, and lack of healthy bodies across the board finally did catch up with McElwain’s team.
After the game, a sullen McElwain addressed the media:
“Obviously, you’re not going to beat anybody giving them the ball four times, especially a team like Nick has put together, which in my opinion, is the best team top to bottom that he’s had since he’s been there. That’s a credit to him, his coaching staff, their commitment, their commitment to him, and what he’s able to do.”
On the overall talent on the Alabama roster:
“Like I said, I do, I think this is the best 85 that they’ve probably traveled with to the SEC Championship game. I mean, that’s a real ball squad.”
On possibly playing one of the freshmen quarterbacks in the bowl game:
“I don’t — I mean, I haven’t really — you know, that’s one of those deals I think we have to sit down with them and their parents and handlers and all that. I’m not sure it’s fair, but at the same time, I know they want to play. So we’ll see.”
On the need to continue to develop at the quarterback position:
“Yeah, that’s something we’ve got to do. We’ve got to make sure that happens sooner or later, and that’s my responsibility, and it will get done.”
On the team’s hot start to the game – Florida scored a touchdown on the game’s opening drive:
“Defensively, what did they have, six plays, zero yards, or something there, on a couple of series. Their guys — but trying to — you can’t — you know, when that happens, when you shoot yourself with the turnovers, and they’re getting cheap points, which got them into the game. But with that being said, our guys came here to win, and I think it showed.”
On how his team measured up against top-ranked Alabama:
“I’ll tell you what I saw. Obviously, the depth was a huge issue, and where it really shows up, guys, you know. You’ve been around a long time. It’s in special teams. Obviously, we got our tails kicked in that area. When you’re thin like that, that’s the nature of it.”
On the gameplan and the expectations of not only making, but winning, the SEC title game at Florida:
“We had a pretty good plan, I felt. We put some dents in them. Would have liked to have pounded that one in there. Realize maybe, take the field goal, get it to a two-score game. But at that point, I felt momentum-wise, we could bang one of them in there — I don’t know what they were at, 33 or something like that. I felt we could maybe get them puckered up a little bit.
“I will tell you this. I didn’t come here to be close. We came here to be champions of the SEC. That’s what you do when you’re at the University of Florida, and that’s the expectation, and I understand that. I’m proud of those seniors that chose to come back. I thought what Jarrad Davis did today was fantastic. That speaks a lot about a guy who was willing to lay it all out there for his team and for his family.”
Crushing loss? Florida hung with the best team in the land with a 2nd string QB until the 4th quarter, when a depleted and exhausted defense could no longer do it.
It is too bad they do not get Gators to write Gator articles.
Trying to soften the blow for yourself, huh? Haha, ok.
Hate to break it to ya, but 54-16 is a crushing loss. I should know, my Hogs experienced a couple of them this season.
Uh, yes. Crushing. There was no “hanging with” them.
Did you watch the same game I watched?? Hung with em my arse!
I think we might need to agree on a definition for “hanging with.” Florida got blown out in the 2nd quarter and it was over by halftime. Can’t run on that Bama D, and putting it in the air against them is suicidal. They impose their will and just completely pound the want-to out of offenses.
HUNG???π Ok? π
Auburn and LSU are the only teams that you could even consider saying “hung with bama.” Moreso LSU. Auburn was depleted and their defense was on the field for over 40 minutes and yet they at least held them to 30. What’s your excuse again?
You really know how to sugar coat it there Bullgator.
Appleby was probably the better of the two bama quarterbacks for the first half. Not sure his numbers, but fairly certain he had more yards to bama receivers than Hurts.
And come on man, 54-16. That’s a thumping. Should of, could of, would of, if then, whatever the excuse is it’s what we all have to deal with every year. Auburn definitely Sugar Bowl bound now, hopefully we can heal up first, but if not we push on, but we are SEC West.
He threw 3 picks in the first half.
That’s what he was getting at, Appleby threw more receiving yards to the opposite team and his own to make it so he had more yardage than Jalen hurts.
Hey McElwain, I only have one thing to say to you. YOUR PLAYERS GOT WHAT THEY DESERVEDππππππ Remind you of anything?
Florida’s players, for once, wasn’t running their mouths like LSU did about Florida.
I believe it’s for one, and weren’t running. Go crawl back under your rock and try to figure out where you all went wrong in that ass whipping you got. HaHaHa
Actually, come to think of it, it DOES remind me of something. Like when they came to Death Valley with a second string QB, busted ass defense, and an OL holier than the Pope, and kicked the dog squeeze out of y’all after all the “too scared to play us” B.S. That’s what it reminds me of.
16-10 is a dog squeeze? Please!! When Bama best LSU it was 10-0. But 54-16. That’s just plain embarrassing.
LSU got shutout at home after saying they would dominate… That’s embarrassing
He also said “it should have been worse” and it could have
Could have, but wasn’t. Only by 6. Not as bad as that ass whipping Bama put on them Gators.
With all the injuries Florida had this season it was very difficult for them to match up with Alabama
Ohio State is probably the only team that can compete with the tide
I seriously doubt that. Their schedule minus two games has all been cup cakes and blow outs. And the other two one they should have lost and the other they did loose, mind you to their conference champion. Now it going to be between them and Clemson, if it’s Ohio state I imagine a score much like today
30 rush attempts for 0 yards
Florida got what they deserve!………what goes around comes round.
Cheerleader… yal gotta count on other schools to beat someone you dont like bc your team couldnt.
Only good thing for us Gators is we got some experience for our young guys who were filling in for injured starters, and there were a lot of them.
Also, we did score two TD’s on a team that went many games without giving up a TD. Hard to believe it, but we did it…
Florida needs a QB and a new OC. We have lots of pieces, but no overall identity sicne we have horrid QB play and lackluster, at best, play calling.
Bring the National Championship back to the SEC though Alabama… we need it.
Not sure why some of my fellow LSU fans are trying to talk trash to Florida. We choked at home. Best to be quiet now.