Former Florida Gators Safety Elam believes in Muschamp

As he sat in the middle of the Gator Room on Wednesday, head coach Will Muchamp looked exhausted.

Slouched over the table, a voice slightly quieter than normal, Muschamp talked about a Saturday that left fans with more questions than answers not only about the future of the team, coach included.

During the press conference, Muschamp said the accountability falls on his shoulders. In the midst of a fanbase that is drawing more and more ire towards the head coach, he understood the sentiments of Gator Nation coming off a loss against Alabama that saw Florida sputter on both sides of the ball.

“Everybody gets frustrated,” Muschamp said. “They want to win them all and so do I. that’s what we’re working to do and I think we have a very good football team, we didn’t always play that way or coach that way on Saturday and that falls on my shoulders to get it fixed. That’s what we plan on doing. I feel as confident as I did before the Alabama game about this team and where we are.”

Athletic director Jeremy Foley told Orlando’s 740-AM that the team will be evaluated after the season. In the weeks ahead, the Gators go to Neyland Stadium to take on Tennessee, then host LSU and Missouri at home before facing Georgia November 1st. A seat that was warm for Muschamp coming into the season will only get hotter depending on the Gators’ play over the next four weeks.

Despite the mounting pressure on Muschamp, former Gator safety Matt Elam showed support for his former coach. Under Muschamp, Elam had 154 total tackles, 22 tackles for a loss, six interceptions and three forced fumbles. Elam, a first-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens, was also part of the 2012 team that finished 11-2 with a Sugar Bowl berth.

Much focus has been on the secondary, which has looked different from the type Elam played for two years ago. The defense has given up 863 yards of passing through three games, something that Elam feels can be fixed with a better understanding of their assignments.

“They are young guys who are just learning the game,” Elam said. “I know [Will] Muschamp is coaching the guys up well, but the guys have to learn the game and know what they’re doing. The defense is playing, but I just feel like it’s the small things – knowing what you’re doing to be able to play fast. When you know what you’re doing, you can play fast.”

With an open date this week for the Gators, the time off gives the team time to sit on the loss and use that as motivation to work on the issues on the field that have plagued them early in the season. Practices were said to be physical this week, a much different tone than some of the practices last week, where players reportedly had subpar performances.

While some of Gator Nation are awaiting for Muschamp to turn things around and others have already discussed possible canidates, Elam believes in the abilities of his former coach.

“Will Muschamp is a great guy and a great coach,” Elam said. “I feel like he took my game to another level by giving me confidence and helping me become the player I am today. He’s a great guy to me, besides the coaching. He’s great off the field and cares about his guys.”

Ryan Randall
From Melbourne, Florida, Ryan has lived in Florida since he was three, becoming a sports fan around that age. His passion for journalism rivals his love of sports. Shortly out of high school he covered prep and community sports for his hometown paper in Brevard Country, before moving to Gainesville, where he covered the Gators in the pros as well as prep sports for a few publications. A Telecommunications major at UF, Ryan now interns at Gator Country and ecstatic to showcase his talents for the publication. When not working on stories, Ryan enjoys playing basketball, music, as well as art. Follow Ryan at @_RyanRandall_

7 COMMENTS

  1. I’m sure Muschamp is a great guy ad a great coach. But, as he will be the first to tell you, you are what your record says you are. Right now he is 22-17, is 4-13 against ranked teams, and has a dismal record against Florida’s rivals, Miami, FSU, and Georgia. He may be a great coach, but his record says that he is a mediocre head coach. Guys like Elam can say anything they want, but just like the words said before the season and the words Muschamp now says when he continues to say Florida is a “very good” team, they don’t mean anything. Muschamp must win at Tennessee, if he doesn’t, his employment should be terminated at the appropriate time. If he does win, it doesn’t mean he should be retained, after all, Tennessee is not a good team, it should mean that he’ll get another chance to actually beat a ranked team to improve his dismal record against them. Sooner or later, words must translate into deeds. No reason to feel sorry for Muschamp or Roper, though, they’ll be crying all the way to the bank, thanks to Mr. Foley.

  2. Thanks for the comments, there are some interesting points. Agreed, all the endorsements in the world won’t do anything if WM doesn’t put a winning product on the field. However, this string of games coming up will really tell where Florida is as a program and what changes possibly need to be made. As you said Snow, Florida beating Tennessee, even on the road is looked at as an expected victory by many. What I think will impress the fan base as a whole will be at least getting two of the SEC East wins out the next four games after UT.

  3. Appreciate your work. Would like to view your art , I dabble at it. I believe in Muschamp just think he doesn’t know jack about quarterbacks. It’s like Muschamp is trying to tread water with a 6-4, 220 pound QB on his back. Poor dude just can do it.

  4. I agree you are what your record says you are, but injuries also must be a factor. What concern is of concern is QB play, critical dropprd passes ala Patten’s drop on 3rd down, we punt & Bama hits the TD pass on us. These games can come down to a few critcal plays and we are not making them. We have had 2 meaningful games & given up 4 one play touchdowns . We are also very lucky we are not 0-2 in SEC play. We got a lucky no call on the OT TD. So we are still alive in the east. UT played well on road at UGa. We will see Sat if we have made progress as a team. UT is replacing both lines, so it looks like a bellweather game for us.

  5. Swampie, it’s becoming less likely Driskel is the solution, however, he’s done well at Neyland, so maybe he’ll pull something out. Also, I’d like to see the art you have.

    GatorWilk1, injuries do factor somewhat, but if players aren’t being put in the right position then the talent will not be utilized to the best of their abilities. Drops hurt too, but there have been some schematic issues the past two years that do need to be fixed.