Jim McElwain managing expectations with win the day mentality

Expectations don’t change in Gainesville, Florida in the fall. An 11-13 (7-9 SEC) record over the past two years doesn’t diminish what fans of the Florida Gators expect from their football team.

A pedigree of winning championships was built in the ‘90s and further cemented with two National Championships in the early ‘00s. A few losing seasons doesn’t change the expectations that fans have and new Florida Gators head coach Jim McElwain not only embraces those expectations he relishes the opportunity that comes along with the pressure.

There isn’t a game, there isn’t an event, there isn’t a thing that we would do that we go in expecting a participation ribbon,” McElwain said. “I mean, I struggle with that. You go in expecting to win. It doesn’t matter the opponent.”

The Gators will be young. McElwain will look to a sophomore or a redshirt freshman to quarterback his football team. The offensive line could feature as many as three freshmen, there is a manhunt for offensive playmakers and the defense is talented, but young and inexperienced in many spots.

McElwain and his coaching staff had just 15 practices during the spring to really get in and work with the players. Players can and have been dropping by the coaches offices to build relationships with the new staff but the fall is really where McElwain will get an opportunity — over the course of 29 practices — to build and mold his first team in Orange and Blue. The NCAA mandated distance he has had to keep from the players meant leaving the bulk of the offseason in the hands of the strength and conditioning team as well as the veteran leaders.

“I’m really proud of our older guys as far as indoctrinating the young guys into what our expectations are to be a Gator and really to be part of the Gator brand,” he said. “That is something we’re excited to see.”

Thursday the training wheels come off. McElwain will run a split squad practice with the older group of players going first in the morning before the younger players, freshmen and transfers, work out after them. For most of the second group, it will be the first time that they have the chance to impress the coaching staff. It will be the first time McElwain has been able to coach Jordan Scarlett, Martez Ivey, CeCe Jefferson and other freshmen in pads. Tomorrow will also be the first time McElwain will be able to see which players took their offseason seriously in the weight room and during player run practices.

Thursday marks the official beginning of the McElwain era. The expectations are high, unrealistic even. He knew they would be when he signed on the dotted line but to keep the mountainous task of rebuilding a college football giant, McElwain must break it down and make it simple. Win each day.

“I’ll tell you each and every day what we did that day and if the Gators got better that day or not,” he said. “Because the game against New Mexico State’s going to happen, it’s on the way. But that game doesn’t mean anything right now unless you put the preparation in now to get ready to play that season.

“They put in a ton of work for 15 opportunities. That’s what it is. 15 opportunities to play the game. Put in over 300 days of work just for 15 opportunities.”

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