When No. 14 Florida squares off against Georgia this Saturday in Jacksonville, fans will see a reuniting of both coaches from each of the opposing sidelines.
Florida head coach Jim McElwain spent four seasons at Alabama as its offensive coordinator from 2008-11, during a span when Georgia head coach Kirby Smart served as the Crimson Tide’s defensive coordinator. Both McElwain and Smart joined Nick Saban’s staff in 2008, but Smart spent seven years at Alabama before joining the Bulldogs this offseason.
Gators offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, who followed after McElwain as Alabama’s offensive coordinator from 2012-13 as McElwain accepted a head-coaching gig with Colorado State, also knows Smart quite well from their two years together.
It’s safe to say both coaching staffs now in the Florida-Georgia rivalry have some familiarity with one another.
"I didn't know anything about him before I got there, and yet he was one of the first guys to welcome me in the door, which tells you what kind of guy he is,” McElwain said of Smart. “When you work together like that in an environment like that, you get to know each other pretty well. You know, our wives know each other. I mean, you know, it becomes a family.
“We sat next to each other in the staff room for four years and obviously spent time together, and as did Nuss,” McElwain continued. “You know, his ability to see the game and put a plan together is really, really good. Not only that but he’s got a great family. Got a wife and some great kids, and he’s a lot of fun to be around. I’m happy for him to have this opportunity especially at a place that means so much to him, you know, how he played there. I mean, you get a chance to grow up and do that, that’s pretty awesome - and well deserved and long overdue.”
Smart, a UGA alum, was highly regarded as one of the best defensive coordinators in the nation during his time at Alabama. This season, he’s taken over for a program that Mark Richt previously led for 15 seasons, but the Bulldogs are off to a 4-3 (2-3 SEC) start in Smart’s first year.
McElwain always knew Smart would eventually be a head coach at a big-time program.
"Yeah, there's no doubt about it,” McElwain said. “He had a bunch of opportunities along the way, obviously, and yet I think he did a great job of being patient and, you know, taking the one that, you know, he had his eyes on.”
------
* Status of key injured defensive Gators uncertain for Georgia game
* 2016 Midseason Review: Grading Florida's depth chart on offense
* 2016 Midseason Review: Grading Florida's defense and special teams
* Midseason Superlatives: Reviewing Florida after first half of 2016
* 10 biggest surprises through the first half of Florida's 2016 season
* Biggest disappointments for Florida through one half of 2016
* A closer look at the Jim McElwain era after 20 games
------
TABOR, WILSON SNUBBED
The Jim Thorpe Award released its semifinalist watch list Monday, and Florida cornerbacks Quincy Wilson and Jalen “Teez” Tabor – arguably two of the best corners in the country this season – were surprisingly left off while 16 others made the cut.
Oddly enough, according to the Thorpe Award, a finalist does not have to be on the semifinalist list.
"Yeah, I don't know who makes those lists, but I'll put those two up against anybody in the country, as anybody else will,” McElwain said. “I don't know that's an end-all, other than an initial list, but the way these two guys play, talk about being proud of what you put on film. These guys are proud of what they put on film, and it shows.”
Redshirt senior safety Marcus Maye, who was also left off of the semifinalist list, was also surprised to hear the news of Tabor and Wilson’s snubs.
“I guess you guys see it for yourselves,” Maye said. “Jalen and Quincy, those two, you look at any other cornerback in college football, there’s not many out there just like those guys.”
FRESNO STATE CONSIDERING NUSSMEIER?
After Fresno State fired Tim DeRuyter, it was reported Sunday that Nussmeier was one of a couple names under consideration by the school for the head coaching vacancy there. Nussmeier served as Fresno State’s offensive coordinator in 2008.
“I think it’s great,” said McElwain, who also served as Fresno State’s offensive coordinator in 2007. “I’m a firm believer in, someone gave me an opportunity, and I’ll do anything I can to help them in any way that I can. I do know this. We’ve got a bunch of great candidates. That’s what makes our coaching staff so good is guys who are thought of in that vein. As time goes on, that’s something that they know I’ll help them in any way I can.”
Added quarterback Luke Del Rio: “Yeah. I think he’s earned every bit of it. You know, I know from personal experiences what it’s like to have to move, you know, with different coaching jobs, and he played in the NFL. So he’s sacrificed a lot and I’m really proud and happy for him.”
QUOTABLES FROM MCELWAIN’S MONDAY PRESS CONFERENCE
--McElwain on UGA quarterback Jacob Eason: “This guy, in my opinion, he’s the future of the SEC. He’s that good. His ability to push the ball down the field is something that is very impressive. The learning curve, is natural for anybody at that position. And yet, he can hurt you in a hurry.”
--On potentially shortening the running back rotation: “You know, it’ll be – those guys will get their carries. Hopefully we’ll go with the hot hand in the fourth.”
--On whether penalties, which have plagued Florida’s offense this season, were discussed during the bye week: “Yeah, it was addressed pretty point-on. But it gets back to the unforced errors. That's the thing that bothers you more than anything and the concentration then to overcome when you do make an error, you know, to me as you go through no matter what you do, you're not always going to be perfect. It's what you learn from the failures and not make them over and over again and make that failure become something that you can't overcome.”
--On the state of the offense: “We’re nowhere near where we’re going to be, and yet, we’re getting some parts that are actually staring to step up and realize how good they can be.”
--On freshman right tackle Jawaan Taylor and his blocking at the second level: “He still makes a lot of, you know, kind of scratch your head a little bit. The guy hasn't played a ton, either. At the same time, his energy can be infectious and when you see it is when he gets out in that open field."
------
Thank you for reading this Inside the Gators article. To discuss it, please visit the Alligator Alley Forum.
