Florida University Athletic Association releases statement on Jim McElwain death threat comments
By Cody McClure
Published:
The University of Florida’s UAA — or University Athletic Association — released a statement to multiple media outlets on Monday regarding head coach Jim McElwain’s comments made earlier in the day about alleged death threats to him, his family and Florida football players.
McElwain said to reporters Monday morning, “There’s a lot of hate in this world. A lot of anger, and yet, it’s freedom to show it. The hard part is, obviously, … threats against your own players. Death threats to your families.
“You’re in the business, so that’s all part of it,” McElwain continued. “But when it’s directed towards your players, families, wives and that kind of thing …”
Apparently, the UAA didn’t get any additional details out of the Gators’ head coach.
“The University Athletic Association takes the safety of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and families very seriously,” read a UAA statement released to multiple media outlets. “Our administration met with Coach McElwain this afternoon, and he offered no additional details.”
Here are the full comments made by McElwain on Monday morning:
“I think it’s a pretty good lesson for the way things are,” McElwain said. “There’s a lot of hate in this world. A lot of anger, and yet, it’s freedom to show it. The hard part is, obviously, when the threats are against your own players. Death threats to your families. The ill-will that’s brought upon out there, and yet, I think it’s really a pretty good testament to what’s going on out there nationally. A lot of angry people. In this business, we’re the ones who you take the shots at, and that’s the way it is.”
“You’re in the business,” McElwain continued. “So, that’s all part of it. You get it. It’s when it’s directed towards your players. When it’s directed towards families, wives and that kind of thing. And yet, at the same time, they know what they signed up for as well, and that’s part of the business.”
Cody McClure is an SEC Football Writer for Saturday Down South. He lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he also co-hosts a midday sports radio show for FOX Sports. Cody previously worked for Athlon Sports.
