Florida coach Jim McElwain might have an easy-going personality, but he doesn’t have the same mindset when it comes to discipline.
The first-year Florida coach has already levied out four suspensions this season — safety Duke Dawson for the first half of the season opener, and defensive lineman Alex McCalister, wide receiver Latroy Pittman and safety Marcus Maye for the entire contest.
And now, star receiver Demarcus Robinson has been dropped to the third team on the depth chart, reportedly for skipping a team meal.
McElwain did not address the cause of the demotion directly, but he alluded to it while emphasizing the importance of doing the little things right.
"It’s about continually taking a path and understanding the details to help you be successful," McElwain said.
"And that means don’t overlook missing a meal. That’s important.
"And yet, sometimes we enable people. ‘Oh, that’s OK. Don’t worry about it. That’s just him.’ Well as soon as we enable that act, then what happens 10, 20, 30 years down the road? So there are lessons to learn in everything we do. And in our case, we’ve got to detail everything we do to get better."
McElwain did add that Robinson will play on Saturday and that depth charts shouldn’t be analyzed too closely, but it’s clear that a message is being sent.
Throughout his short time at Florida’s helm, the coach has continually preached about doing what’s right, on and off the field.
After a 61-13 rout in his debut Saturday, McElwain said he was most proud of the fact that the team played "fast, physical but clean," earning only one penalty in the entire game while not sacrificing any aggression in the process.
That’s the type of attitude he wants his team to have off the field, too.
And while his players appreciate that McElwain is a laid back guy in many situations, they understand that addressing bad decisions is not one of them.
"He doesn’t put up with anything, no matter if you’re the star player or scout team player," defensive lineman Bryan Cox, Jr., said.
"If you violate the team rules, you’re not going to play or you’re not going to start at least. He’s right in what he does."
McElwain wants his players to make the right choice for themselves rather than be told what to do and blindly follow orders.
"His whole thing is you have freedom of choice but not freedom of consequence," Cox added.
"So he’s not mad, but obviously you made that decision or whatever decision you had. If it was wrong, you don’t have the choice of what the punishment is going to be."
McElwain talked about the same philosophy when he addressed Maye’s first-half suspension against New Mexico State.
"It was his choice," he said about the redshirt junior’s undisclosed violation of team rules.
"I mean, right? So, we all have choices, right? So, and that’s the case in everything that you do. Nothing against him, he’s a good player."
But like Cox said, even good players have to answer for their decisions under McElwain.
Follow Graham Hack on Twitter @graham_hack24
Gators celebrate after Demarcus Robinson (11) OT TD during the match between the Florida Gators and the Kentucky Wildcats Staurday night in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.