McElwain addresses the Antonio Callaway accusations

Florida Gators head coach Jim McElwain met with the media for the first time since ESPN broke news on Friday that sophomore Antonio Callaway was being investigated for sexual assault.

McElwain, and the rest of the University Athletic Association, have been tight lipped regarding Callaway throughout the process, given the confidential nature of Title IX hearings. After a relatively quiet offseason in terms of off the field issues Florida was thrust into the national spotlight when news broke about Florida appointing a booster to oversee a student conduct code hearing that took place Friday.

“Obviously I’m not happy about any of it,” McElwain said Monday. “And yet at the same time, the way it’s been handled has been handled very well. The impact, I guess we’ll see down the road on that. As we’ve talked a lot, we’ve got choices, right? And yet, we’ll see. I haven’t been updated on anything new or where it’s at.”

According to multiple reports the student conduct code hearing was had on Friday, despite the complainant and her attorney choosing not to attend because of their claims that a booster presiding over the meeting was not fair to their case. McElwain couldn’t say whether Callaway would face additional repercussions from the investigation from a university standpoint. being that this is a university matter, McElwain, as the head football coach, doesn’t have control over the outcome or ruling in the matter.

“When we were made aware of whatever it was, immediate action was taken,” he said. “We don’t have, we’re going by what we’re given, which is whatever is going on and whatever it is. Somebody will tell me in the end.”

McElwain spent Monday morning speaking to more than 400 local high school football players about choices, life and how to affect the people around you in a positive way. Florida has had good off the field stories this year. Walk-on linebacker Christian Garcia helped stop a potential sexual assault outside of a bar in July. Center Cam Dillard and his wife adopted a child this year, but an incident like Callaway’s seems to get more attention in the media.

“One thing I would say is we’ve got a lot of really good guys, a lot of really good guys,” said McElwain. “Good people who do a lot of great things for this community, this university and this school that don’t get celebrated as well. And yet, I understand that piece of it.”

For now Callaway remains with the team as they go through fall practice in preparation for the 2016 series opener against UMASS. Pending a ruling, Callaway may or may not be eligible for the season opener. It’s not up to the coaches or up to even Callaway. Callaway and the Gators are in a holding pattern until a ruling comes down.
“It’s one of those deals, there is really nothing to handle until something happens,” said McElwain. “In that case we will find out when that time comes.”

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