Steve McClain marched down to the podium.
Will Muschamp lingered.
One, the University of Florida’s senior associate athletics director, has a long enough title to suggest that he has done this a time or two.
The other coaches football.
Fitted in glasses, a Gator emblazoned button-down and a crisply ironed pair of khakis, the football coach was out of his element.
Business casual is not Will Muschamp.
McClain thanked the media for its patience (all but a clever guise worn by the reporters to conceal their growing impatience) and stood tall as he recited his 19-second opening statement.
His confidence gushed. He may not have wanted to be put in this scenario, but he was tackling it head on like Mike Taylor on an A-gap blitz.
The lights were on, and so was McClain.
"We didn’t figure it was appropriate to stand up here Monday and talk about football," McClain said scanning the room, locking eyes with nearly every journalist. "I know only 48 hours has passed, and I respect that you have a job to do and have some questions for coach, so we’ll turn it over to him."
Muschamp first adjusted the mike. Even at 6-feet tall, he’s a much bigger man than McClain. But on Wednesday morning, he’d rather be small, hidden away from the spotlight that he never asked for.
The room was spacious enough to hold more than a dozen writers along with a crowded cackle of cameramen. But to Muschamp, it must have felt so cramped that he would need to step outside just to change his mind.
A somber coach "Boom" rested on the pulpit. Muschamp had a cross to bear that wasn’t his own but instead a player’s. The weight grew heavy.
"To reiterate what Steve said, sorry to inconvenience you guys, but with the situation Monday and the seriousness of it, I felt like it was a little insensitive to have a football press conference. I think it is today, too," Muschamp said from the crease of his mouth.
His head drooped, his voice lowered.
"But we’ve got to move forward."
In a little more than 25 minutes, Muschamp uttered the phrase "move forward" on five different occasions. "Step forward" was mentioned once more.
Forward? The man who was destined to take Florida forward is now in the shadows. From star to suspect, Treon Harris still has an undecided role in this Greek tragedy.
But even so, it’s not Harris’ voice that will speak the loudest when the case closes to an end.
"Mighty is the murmur of a crowd," said Agamemnon, the tragic hero in his own myth.
The King of Argos was slain upon his return home. Treon Harris is hoping for better results.
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"He is not guilty of a crime and he did not mistreat this young lady in any way that night."
Huntley Johnson is doing his best to save his client’s future, one that shone so bright that every school in the Sunshine State wanted a piece.
Harris had his pick of the litter: Florida, Florida State, Miami.
All three programs had national titles to boast to the 18-year-old kid who had already had one of his own from his time with Booker T. Washington High.
All three were selling in a buyer’s market. Harris was a winner and acted like one.
First was Florida State.
Harris committed to Jimbo Fisher’s team before entering his senior year.
"Florida State’s a great school," he said while attending the Jimbo Fisher Football Camp in July 2013.
He speaks rhythmically. His cadence, bouncing from word to word in staccato fashion, has a hypnotizing effect.
Harris knows you’re waiting, and he knows you’ll stick around to hear what’s coming next.
"Like I told you — for the ranking — it sells itself — great academics — players in the NFL every year — winning program," Harris said to SB Nation.
Fisher initially drew Harris to Tallahassee because of his success with past quarterbacks.
Christian Ponder and E.J. Manuel had both risen out of Fisher’s system and were drafted into the NFL, Harris’ end goal.
If anyone were to help Harris make that next leap, it would be Fisher.
Until it wasn’t.
"‘I know he’s committed to us right now, but I understand that schools are going to come after him late in the game, and my job is to just fight them off,’" said Tim Harris Jr., who recalled Fisher’s foreshadowing message.
"(Fisher) was hoping that Treon stayed a secret for him throughout the whole process, but he knew there was going to come a time where he’s going to have to fight for him."
On National Signing Day, Fisher officially lost the fight. Muschamp, the proud victor.
Maybe it was the addition of offensive coordinator Kurt Roper that swayed Harris’ decision. Maybe it was the lore of possibly reforming a once rich program back into what it had been.
Or maybe it was the fact that a certain Jameis Winston cemented his role as FSU’s starting quarterback, automatically relegating Harris to the bench or even a redshirt campaign in Tallahassee.
But now separated by more than 100 miles, Harris and Winston are still but a breath apart for all the wrong reasons.
Winston won a Heisman and the final BCS National Championship under the cloud of a sexual assault investigation while FSU gave its quarterback "due process." The Seminoles’ star was never charged and therefore never gave up the pads.
Harris won’t get the same treatment.
The climate surrounding athletics and violence toward women has heated up as of late considering the Ray Rice, Greg Hardy and Ray McDonald scandals.
No matter the reality of what happened in that Springs dorm Sunday morning, UF President Bernie Machen couldn’t allow this investigation to idle while Harris continued to don the Orange and Blue.
Not with UF’s very own notorious assaulter still on the lam, preying on female students on what is supposed to be their safe haven: campus.
It was time for Machen to lay down the hammer, and Harris — innocent or guilty — was the nail.
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In the midst of all this is a simple game of football.
No practices have been moved; no staff meetings have been canceled. Florida’s matchup with LSU on Saturday is still happening at 7:30 p.m. inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Just as scheduled.
In a world that feeds off the chaotic rumble that is unpredictability, Muschamp must enjoy the order and the organization that comes with Saturday night football.
This he has a game plan for. This he has a clock, which will expire after 60 minutes every time. This he doesn’t have to wear loafers to.
The Tigers may not be the doormat the Gators could use at a time like this, but they still beat the hell out of loafers.
So Muschamp once again leans on his old battling buddy, Jeff Driskel. The starting quarterback gig falls right back into Driskel’s lap along with all the pressure that comes with it.
The situation isn’t ideal for Florida, but it is comfortable.
Football players are creatures of habit. They run the same drills, they practice the same plays, they work out the same muscles with the same equipment at the same time every day.
Win or lose, Saturday will bring the players back to their favorite habit of all: strapping on a helmet and getting back to black-and-blue football.
To Muschamp, it’s all part of taking the next step.
Moving forward.
UF quarterback Treon Harris (3) walks off the field of Neyland Stadium with wide receiver Quinton Dunbar (1) following Florida's 10-9 win against Tennessee on Saturday in Knoxville, Tenn.
Quarterback Jeff Driskel (right) warms up prior to Florida's 42-21 loss to Alabama on Sept. 20 while Treon Harris (3) and offensive coordinator Kurt Roper (center) look on.
