Are Jim McElwain's Death Threat Claims Another Step Toward a Split With Florida?
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Are Jim McElwain's Death Threat Claims Another Step Toward a Split With Florida?
Things got weird in Gainesville this week, and you had questionsâŚ
From Don: Why do you think [Floridaâs statement regarding coach Jim McElwainâs death threat claims] was telling?
First, some background. During a press conference Monday, McElwain referenced âdeath threats to your familiesâ while discussing the negativity surrounding the Gatorsâ season so far. Naturally, the reporters in the room followed up on the phrase âdeath threats.â McElwain elected not to elaborate. Naturally, Florida administrators wanted to know if their coach or his family had received death threats out of fear for everyoneâs safety. Again, McElwain elected not to elaborate. (On Wednesdayâs SEC teleconference, McElwain said heâd reveal more if the situation became unmanageable. Itâs perfectly understandable why someone wouldnât want to discuss such things publicly. But it is odd that person wouldnât want to discuss them with an employer who might provide assistance.)
The telling part came next, when Floridaâs athletic department released this statement Monday afternoon: âThe University Athletic Association takes the safety of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and families very seriously. Our administration met with Coach McElwain this afternoon and he offered no additional details.â
Someone very high up had to approve the wording of that statement, because it amounts to a very public distancing from the head football coach by the athletic department administration. That is a sign of an unhappy union. Typically, a situation like this would cause strife behind the scenes, but any public-facing correspondence would imply unity. This did not, and that wasnât an accident.
Iâve said all season that McElwainâs two SEC East titles and his $12.5 million buyout would absolutely keep his job safe this year. Now Iâm not so sure. If he canât get along with the administration, itâs difficult to imagine the administration protecting him when much of the fan base wants a change. I may call Florida fans the nationâs most spoiledâbecause two all-time great coaches provided most of the programâs success in a short timeâbut they arenât wrong here. The Gators won a weak East twice, but under McElwain they have yet to look capable of truly competing for an SEC or national title. Fair or unfair, thatâs the expectation at Florida.
The liquidated damages clause in McElwainâs contract calls for him to receive $2.5 million for each year remaining on the contract if heâs fired. So his buyout next year would be $10 million, which is still a hefty sum. If things keep going south during the next month, athletic director Scott Stricklin might have to analyze how much he stands to lose in potential donations and season ticket sales by keeping McElwain.
Itâs possible Florida could offer to waive the buyout McElwain would have to pay if he terminates the contract by getting another job, but itâs unwise to assume that McElwain would simply bolt to another school. Yes, heâs from the northwest. Yes, Oregon State is open. That doesnât mean either is a fit for the other. Also, McElwain is a proud person. He wants to prove he can make this work at Florida. But if he and the administration are at odds, itâs difficult to imagine anything working long-term.
Also from Don: Do you think Mac wants out? Doesnât seem to be a good personality fit. [Answer linked here, and in the video atop this story.]
From Matt: Why does it feel like playoff rĂŠsumĂŠs are helped more by bad losses than good losses?
It may feel that way listening to and reading the discussion of who might make the playoff, but based on its actions the committee seems more interested in good wins than in either kind of loss. Ohio Stateâs experience is probably the most instructive. Ohio State made the playoff last year without winning its conference in part because the Buckeyes had an exceptionally good win (at eventual Big 12 champ Oklahoma) along with very good wins against Michigan and at Wisconsin in the conference schedule. The 2015 Ohio State team, which was probably better than the 2016 version and probably better than some College Football Playoff participants, had a very good loss (Michigan State) and finished No. 7 in the final rankings. The difference was it didnât have a good win beyond Michigan. In 2014, the Buckeyes had a bad loss (Virginia Tech) and would have been left out if not for the strength of their late wins at Michigan State and Wisconsin.
The ultimate good loss team so far this season is Notre Dame, but I donât know if the committee would weigh the quality of Fighting Irishâs loss to Georgia very heavily if Notre Dame sat at 11â1. I also donât think it would matter in that case if Notre Dame was 11â1 with a loss to a bad or mediocre team. If that happened, wins against Michigan State, USC, NC State, Miami and Stanford would mean much more.
From @WojDaGawd: Notre Dame hasn't scored a TD against NC State in two tries. Do they finally cross the goal line on Saturday? [Answer linked here, and in the video below.]
From Ikeyo: How have we reached the point in CFB where no coach can have a disappointing season without having job security murmurs build up? #Harbaugh
Iâm convinced itâs the money. My lizard brain still remembers when $1 million was a lot to pay a major college coach. So even though the pay has risen due to market forces, itâs still tough for my brain to adjust expectations accordingly. If $1 million still feels like a lot, then a guy making $4 million a year or more should win every single game.
The rational side of me understands that he canât win every game and that heâs coaching against people who also are making similar salaries. But that lizard brain canât let it go. I donât think Iâm alone there. The acceleration of the firing cycle suggests plenty of decision-makers feel the same way.
From Cory: Bold statement, Barkley rushes for 150 yards in the Shoe? [Answer linked here, and in the video below.]
From Ben: Considering blaring âClosing Timeâ in the office at 5 p.m. Good idea or GREAT idea? RT for a better chance at making me look like an idiot.
This is a fabulous idea. Semisonicâs masterpiece perfectly encapsulates the feeling at last call, and it will be a great reminder to your co-workers that they should have spent less time reading #DearAndy and more time working so they can head home or to Happy Hour when a late-â90s classic commands them to leave. But every terrible afternoon drive DJ in every mid-size market in America would remind you that youâre going to have to use this song on Friday at 5 p.m.
From Andrew: Would an undefeated TCU get left out of the final four for a one-loss "name" program? [Answer linked here, and in the video below.]
