Sports | Football - The Independent Florida Alligator

Head coach Dan Mullen observes his team in action during Mississippi State's spring college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday April 17, 2010. Maroon Team won 26-13 (AP Photo/Kerry Smith).

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With McElwain out, five candidates stand out for UF job

By Ethan Bauer | Oct. 29, 2017

1. Dan Mullen, head coach, Mississippi State

UF football players found out that their coach, Jim McElwain, had been fired on Sunday when they logged onto Twitter and scrolled through their notifications.

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Florida football players react to firing of Jim McElwain

By Dylan Dixon | Oct. 29, 2017

Nothing has gone according to plan for Florida’s football players in 2017.

UF coach Jim McElwain and the UAA mutually agreed to part ways on Sunday. McElwain leaves UF with a 22-12 record.

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FIRED: Jim McElwain out as Gators football coach

By Matt Brannon | Oct. 29, 2017

After a third consecutive loss and a media circus surrounding Jim McElwain’s claims that death threats were leveled against members of the UF football program, Florida fired McElwain on Sunday. He finished with a 22-12 record over two and a half seasons.

Reports by ESPN state that UF boosters believe they may be able to avoid paying the full buyout because of coach Jim McElwain’s claim Monday that threats, including some death threats, had been leveled against Florida players, coaches and their families.

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After blowout loss, Gators coach Jim McElwain addresses rumors of firing

By Matt Brannon | Oct. 28, 2017

Gators coach Jim McElwain knew something was wrong before the game even started. Walking into Florida’s pregame meal, he was informed of rumors that he could be losing his job.

UF quarterback Malik Zaire led Florida’s lone scoring drive of the game, a 9-play, 71-yard series that ended in a 1-yard touchdown run by Mark Thompson, on Saturday in the Gators' 42-7 loss against Georgia at EverBank Field in Jacksonville.

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Notebook: Zaire lone bright spot in loss; Toney, Cleveland ineffective in return

By IAN COHEN | Oct. 28, 2017

When examining Florida’s 42-7 loss — one in which UF’s offense appeared lifeless, its defense appeared lethargic and its coach appeared unsure of his job security — there was at least one positive to glean from the Gators’ performance: Malik Zaire.

Feleipe Franks completed 7 of 19 passes for a season-low 30 yards against Georgia in a 42-7 loss on Saturday.

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Georgia thrashes Florida in 35-point blowout

By Dylan Dixon | Oct. 28, 2017

Feleipe Franks laid face down on the 3-yard line of EverBank Field, his body dejectedly limp as Georgia’s players celebrated scoring another touchdown.

Malik Davis runs with the ball during Florida's 38-24 win against Vanderbilt Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

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Malik Davis: Exceeding expectations before they were set

By Ethan Bauer | Oct. 26, 2017

Malik Davis squeezed the handoff and darted around the right side of the Robinson defense. He rocketed down the field, spraying black turf pellets at the trailing defenders with each stomp and huffing air through his vampire-toothed mouthpiece. He arrived in the end zone 30 yards later, and the game stopped.

Georgia running back Sony Michel (1) out runs Missouri linebacker Cale Garrett (47) to score a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Athens, Ga. Georgia won 53-28. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

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Gators focused on stopping Georgia backs Chubb and Michel

By Matt Brannon | Oct. 26, 2017

Michel and Chubb. Chubb and Michel. The more you hear those names in Saturday’s game, the more it means the No. 3 Bulldogs (7-0, 4-0 SEC) are doing what they want. Running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel are the focal points of a Georgia offense that will face Florida (3-3, 3-2 SEC) at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Jacksonville. The two backs blow through tackles, break defenses with long runs and rank top 10 in the SEC in rushing yards per game.

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Callaway, Scarlett agree to enter pretrial intervention program

By Matt Brannon | Oct. 26, 2017

Seven of Florida’s nine players accused of credit card fraud are taking the first steps back to becoming eligible to rejoin the team. Receiver Antonio Callaway, running back Jordan Scarlett, defensive lineman Keivonnis Davis, receiver Rick Wells, linebacker James Houston, linebacker Ventrell Miller and defensive lineman Richerd Desir-Jones have agreed to enter a pretrial intervention program, which would lead to the dismissal of charges if completed, according to court documents posted by Alachua County public records.

Kadarius Toney carries the ball during Florida's 28-27 victory over Kentucky on Sept. 23, 2017, at Kroger Field.

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Notebook: Gators’ Kadarius Toney, Tyrie Cleveland probable to play against Georgia

By IAN COHEN | Oct. 25, 2017

Kerry Dixon saw it in the spring.

The Florida-Georgia rivalry will be rekindled this weekend in Jacksonville, Florida. The Bulldogs defeated the Gators handily a season ago after suffering three straight losses in the rivalry game.

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With history on their side, Gators have no fear of Georgia

By Matt Brannon | Oct. 24, 2017

Jeremiah Moon knows how important a win on Saturday is.

UF coach Jim McElwain said Wednesday that Florida coaches are receiving death threats because of the team's performance. “In this business, we're the ones they take the shots at and that's the way it is,” McElwain said.

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Jim McElwain says death threats are ‘part of the business’

By Matt Brannon | Oct. 23, 2017

Off to their worst start since Jim McElwain took over as head coach, criticism seems to surround the Gators (3-3, 3-2 SEC). On Wednesday, that negativity took a turn for the dramatic when McElwain said some people have sent death threats to UF coaches and their families.

Gators receiver Kadarius Toney (17) hasn't played since Florida's 17-16 loss to LSU on Oct. 7. Toney, a freshman, suffered a separated shoulder and was "very limited" in practice last week, UF coach Jim McElwain said.

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Depleted Gators open as 14.5-point underdogs to Georgia

By Matt Brannon | Oct. 22, 2017

UF receiver Dre Massey said he’s never been on a team with so many season-ending injuries.

UF defensive lineman Jordan Sherit gets carted off the field during Florida's 19-17 loss to Texas A&M. Coach Jim McElwain confirmed on Wednesday that Sherit underwent season-ending surgery earlier this week.

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McElwain confirms Gators defensive end Jordan Sherit is out for the season

By Ethan Bauer | Oct. 18, 2017

Jordan Sherit fell to the turf, propped himself up by the elbow and reached for his right hip. When Florida’s trainers arrived, he lied down and tugged at his facemask in pain. He hobbled to the sideline using the trainers as crutches. Finally, he was carted off the field, tightening his face with each movement and giving a thumbs up near the tunnel. But the thumbs up was just sentiment.

Despite a dominant performance on defense, Florida's offense failed to outscore Texas A&M in the Swamp on Saturday night. "I feel like the defense always does enough," defensive lineman CeCe Jefferson (right) said after the game.

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BEYOND REPAIR: No solution in sight for scoring struggles

By Matt Brannon | Oct. 15, 2017

Coach Jim McElwain stood in front of reporters and ran through his postgame clichés.

Jordan Sherit (17) attempts to get past a blocker during Florida's 19-17 loss against Texas A&M on Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

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Notebook: Veteran defensive lineman Jordan Sherit injured

By IAN COHEN | Oct. 14, 2017

There had already been so many. There was the ACL injury during his senior year of high school. There was the season ending injury in 2014. There was the time when a teammate rolled onto his leg against Florida State last year, ending his year.

Florida lost to Texas A&M 19-17 on Saturday night at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium after surrendering nine unanswered points to close out the game.

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Gators fall to Aggies after allowing trio of fourth-quarter field goals

By Dylan Dixon | Oct. 14, 2017

Tyrel Dodson knew the throw was coming.

Jordan Sherit (17) gets ready on defense during Florida's 33-17 loss against Michigan on Sept. 2, 2017, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

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Rejuvenated: Jordan Sherit making the most of his final season at UF

By Dylan Dixon | Oct. 12, 2017

As Jordan Sherit lay sprawled out on the ground of Doak Campbell Stadium, staring into the sky with tears in his eyes while Florida’s training staff attended to his knee, he couldn’t help but question his future as a college football player.

UF coach Jim McElwain motions to the Gators defense during Florida's 28-27 win against Kentucky on Saturday at Kroger Field.

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Gators facing must-win game vs. Texas A&M

By Ethan Bauer | Oct. 12, 2017

Florida emerged from the tunnel at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium last Saturday favored against the visiting LSU Tigers. It didn’t matter. Despite oddsmakers initially favoring the Gators by 3.5 points, Florida lost by one, leaving LSU players dancing on the field. It was coach Jim McElwain’s second-ever loss in The Swamp in 15 tries.

UF defensive end Jachai Polite celebrates during Florida's 17-16 loss to LSU on Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

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Expect big things: Jachai Polite’s hard work is finally paying off

By Matt Brannon | Oct. 12, 2017

Jachai Polite saw it coming.