As the Florida Gators prepare for not your grandfather’s Vanderbilt team they were hit with the news that nine of their teammates were hit with 62 sworn complaints and a recommendation for third degree felony charges.
The nine players facing these potential charges are the ones that are surely feeling the real gravity of the situation but they remain suspended from all team activity. Their friends and teammates that are trying to prepare for Vanderbilt are also dealing with the news, while still trying to remain focused.
”How you let it get to you really reveals who you are. I guess part of growing up is look, things are going to happen, now you’ve got a choice as to how you’re going to deal with it,” McElwain said of his team on Wednesday. “If you’re going to let it hang over your head or are you going to move forward and learn from it and really an opportunity for some guys to step up. I’d say for the most part our guys have done a pretty darn good job of that.”
Since McElwain has been here the Gators are 2-0 against Vanderbilt but neither game has been a walk in the park. In 2015 Florida needed a 43-yard field goal from Austin Hardin with less than three minutes left in the game. Last year in Nashville the Gators held a narrow 10-6 lead into the fourth quarter before winning 13-6. Needless to say, this matchup has not been an easy one for the Gators and one they can’t afford to overlook.
“Derek does an outstanding job of coaching and what he’s built in that program and what he’s brought from a mindset standpoint and good players standpoint,” said McElwain. “Historically, in the history of this game, this has been a battle and we’re expecting nothing less this week.”