Jim McElwain denies Oregon coaching rumors

Monday night Jim McElwain was linked to the head-coaching job at the University of Oregon. McElwain spent Tuesday night on the phone with recruits assuring them he wasn’t leaving and Wednesday McElwain officially stated his lack of interest or contact with the University of Oregon.

“You know it’s always interesting this time of year and how whatever comes out. No, I haven’t heard from Oregon and, you know, the things that get thrown out there at times, I don’t know how it gets linked sometimes,” he said. “I guess slow news day.”

McElwain was asked again for a clearer answer, which he provided.

“Look, I’ve got a heck of a job. In case anybody checked this is the University of Florida,” said McElwain. “We’re playing in what they call the SEC Championship game. It really hasn’t crossed my mind.”

Reports surfaced Monday, most notably from Dan Wolken of USA Today before Oregon had even parted ways with coach Mark Helfricht. McElwain was quick to deny the rumors on Wednesday but he did have an idea of how or why these sort of rumors start around this time of the year.

“I’ve got my hunch there might some recruiting things behind it,” he said. “I don’t know, but we got that taken care of. A lot of time on the phone last night obviously. And yet, at this time of the year, I can remember even those years I was at Alabama, it was every year Nick was going to go to the NFL or whatever it was, right? You know, it’s part of what you deal with. And as you guys know, I probably don’t take that stuff too serious.”

As part of his report, Wolken spoke to how McElwain, who is taking the Gators back to the SEC Championship Game for the second year in a row, has been underappreciated by fans. From his first press conference McElwain has always boasted about the fan base that the University of Florida has and he understands that comes with passion, both positive and negative at times.

“We’re at a place where people care,” McElwain said. “I’ve been at places where you were hoping that people cared.”

Nick de la Torre
A South Florida native, Nick developed a passion for all things sports at a very young age. His love for baseball was solidified when he saw Al Leiter’s no-hitter for the Marlins live in May of 1996. He was able to play baseball in college but quickly realized there isn’t much of a market for short, slow outfielders that hit around the Mendoza line. Wanting to continue with sports in some capacity he studied journalism at the University of Central Florida. Nick got his first start in the business as an intern for a website covering all things related to the NFL draft before spending two seasons covering the Florida football team at Bleacher Report. That job led him to GatorCountry. When he isn’t covering Gator sports, Nick enjoys hitting way too many shots on the golf course, attempting to keep up with his favorite t.v. shows and watching the Heat, Dolphins and Marlins. Follow him on twitter @NickdelatorreGC