Florida Gators Football

The Chip Kelly-to-Florida rumors may soon have fire to go with all that smoke.

Mark Long of the Associated Press reported Kelly met with Florida officials Sunday to discuss the vacancy and appears to be the favorite for the job. Athletic director Scott Stricklin and five other members of the Florida staff reportedly flew to New Hampshire to woo the former Oregon and NFL head coach.

"We continue to have very productive conversations related to our football team," Stricklin told reporters. "We've got a process we're going through. There will probably be some more productive conversations in the days ahead. Lot of interest in the job."

Kelly, 53, last coached the San Francisco 49ers during the 2016 season. He went 2-14 in his lone campaign in San Francisco and was 28-35 in four seasons as an NFL head coach, three coming with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles run began with consecutive 10-6 campaigns before falling apart in 2015 amid internal tussles regarding personnel control, among other things.

Kelly became known as one of football's foremost offensive innovators at Oregon, where he went 46-7 in four seasons. The Ducks won three conference championships, played in a then-BCS bowl game in each season and went to the national championship game in 2010. They finished in the AP Top Five each of his last three years.

Florida is looking to replace Jim McElwain, who was fired midway through a disappointing 2017 campaign. McElwain went 22-12 during his two-plus seasons but struggled to revamp one of the country's worst offenses. Florida finished outside the top 100 in offense during McElwain's entire tenure. 

The Gators have by and large struggled to find offensive success since Urban Meyer left the program following the 2010 season.

Kelly at the very least has the resume and pedigree as an offensive innovator to make him a worthwhile gamble, even if college football has caught up with some of the advances he helped spearhead.

Former Oregon, Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly has been linked to the Florida Gators' head coaching gig. He didn't confirm those rumors when SportsCenter's Kevin Negandhi asked about his interest in the job Sunday morning, however.

"I really enjoy what I'm doing now," Kelly said. "I think Florida is an outstanding program and has had so much success there with Urban [Meyer], Steve Spurrier. I think whoever gets that job will be really lucky."

You can see the exchange below: 

Is Chip Kelly in line to be the next coach of Florida Gators Football?

Here's what he had to say. pic.twitter.com/EhEEmD6IbA

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 19, 2017

Kelly, 53, is serving as an ESPN analyst. During his time at Oregon, he led the Ducks to a 46-7 record in four years and a trip to the 2011 BCS National Championship Game, losing to Auburn.

His high-paced, spread-option offense and emphasis on sports science were highly influential in the college game and eventually earned NFL attention. In three seasons in Philadelphia and one in San Francisco, Kelly went 28-35, only reaching the postseason in his first year with the Eagles.

Florida, meanwhile, is seeking a new head coach after firing Jim McElwain this season. The Gators have limped out to a 4-6 start and haven't come close to replicating the successes they had under Spurrier (national title in 1996) and Meyer (national titles in 2006 and '08).

According to John Taylor of NBC Sports, UCF's Scott Frost and Mississippi State's Dan Mullen are also candidates for the job. And on Wednesday, Spurrier suggested the next Florida lead man is currently coaching.

"The [next UF] coach is with his team now," said Spurrier, who has been an ambassador for the school since 2016 (h/t FootballScoop). "The coach we're going to hire is probably, I would almost 100 percent say is coaching his team today, this weekend, and through the end of the season, and maybe through the bowl game."

Spurrier clarified that he wasn't pushing for the program to hire a particular coach, such as Frost or interim head coach Randy Shannon, however: 

But Kelly reportedly is in play for Florida.

Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports reported last week the school has already begun a "thorough vetting of Kelly." Certainly, Kelly's high-octane offense would provide a jolt to a Florida program that has lacked the dynamic offensive attacks that made Spurrier's and Meyer's Gators famous.

As Florida searches for a replacement for former head football coach Jim McElwain, the program has begun doing research on noteworthy candidates, including Chip Kelly.

According to Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports, a "thorough vetting" has begun on Kelly, including calls to NFL executives as well as background on any NCAA issues at Oregon.

Kelly last coached the San Francisco 49ers and was fired after a 2-14 season. This came after posting a 26-21 record in three years with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Of course, the 53-year-old is best known for his time at Oregon, where he went 46-7 over four seasons from 2009-12. He earned wins at the Rose Bowl and Fiesta Bowl as well as a narrow loss in the BCS Championship Game following the 2010 season.

However, there are a few off-field obstacles considering Kelly was given a show-cause penalty for failing to monitor recruiting violations with the Ducks. 

Considering he will be five years removed from the college game by the time he is hired, there is certainly risk involved in this potential move.

On the other hand, the Gators could be desperate for anyone to help after a 3-6 start to the 2017 season.

Thamel also lists UCF coach Scott Frost and Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen as possible top candidates for the Florida job.

The Florida Gators' decision to change quarterbacks for Saturday's game against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium is reportedly not sitting well with Feleipe Franks.      

During the ESPN telecast of the Florida-Missouri game (via Mark Long of the Associated Press), the sideline reporter said Franks told Gators interim head coach Randy Shannon he was better than Malik Zaire.

This has been a notable week for the Florida football program. The school named Shannon the interim head coach after it parted ways with Jim McElwain on Sunday, one day after a 42-7 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs. 

Shannon announced Thursday that Zaire, a graduate transfer from Notre Dame, would make his first start for the Gators against Missouri. 

Franks started six of Florida's seven games in 2017, and the redshirt freshman has 830 passing yards and as many interceptions as touchdowns (four) this season. The Gators offense entered Saturday's game tied for 112th out of 130 FBS programs in scoring with 21.3 points per game. 

Zaire appeared in two games this season before starting against Missouri. He went 9-of-17 for 106 yards in the season opener against the Michigan Wolverines. His last start was on Sept. 12, 2015, when Notre Dame played Virginia and won 34-27.  

Florida interim head coach Randy Shannon announced on Thursday that transfer quarterback Malik Zaire would be the team's starting quarterback at Missouri, according to Will Pantages of FloridaGators.com.

"This is his opportunity to get this team where it needs to be and not to be satisfied just because he's the starter," Shannon noted. "Today is an opportunity for him to run the offense and understand the expectations that we have for him. This is not a time for him to feel comfortable and feel like he's made it. We want him to keep grinding and understand that competition is very good."

Zaire transferred from Notre Dame this offseason and has served as the backup to Feleipe Franks, appearing in relief against Michigan and Georgia. For the season, he's 12-of-23 for 142 yards. 

Franks—who lost the starting job to Luke Del Rio in September before Del Rio broke his collarbone, offering Franks a second crack at the starting gig—will serve as his backup.

At Notre Dame, Zaire threw for 816 yards and six touchdowns, though his time with the Fighting Irish was marred by a broken ankle that cut his 2015 season short and his demotion in the 2016 season after DeShone Kizer took over as the team's starter that year.

With the Gators limping to a 3-4 start this season and firing Jim McElwain, however, Zaire has the opportunity to inject a bit of life into a Florida season that has been quickly derailed. While the team's hopes of winning an SEC title are dashed, the opportunity to reverse course and qualify for a bowl game is still within its grasp.  

Leading the Gators to one now falls on Zaire's shoulders.

After parts of three seasons as head football coach of the Florida Gators, Jim McElwain and the program parted ways Sunday.

Florida confirmed the news in a release Sunday after Doug Samuels of FootballScoop.com first reported word of McElwain's departure.

"We want to thank Coach McElwain for his efforts in leading the Gator football program," Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin said in the release. "We are confident Coach [Randy] Shannon will provide the proper guidance to the players and rest of staff during this time and we will begin a national search for the next head coach."

Shannon, who guided Miami to a 28-22 record from 2007 to 2010, was promoted as UF's defensive coordinator in January. He was the Gators' associate head coach since 2015.

Talk of McElwain and Florida parting ways began Saturday after the Gators were dominated by the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs in a 42-7 loss.

That dropped Florida to 3-4 on the season after the Gators lost just four games in each of the previous two seasons under McElwain.

According to ESPN.com's Edward Aschoff and Mark Schlabach, sources said Florida administrators were discussing whether they could fire McElwain without having to pay his $12.8 million buyout.

Florida hired McElwain prior to the 2015 seasons after three years as head coach at Colorado State.

McElwain went 22-16 in his three campaigns with the Rams, including a 10-2 mark in 2014. He matched those 10 wins in 2015, as Florida went 10-4 and was ranked as high as No. 8 in the AP Top 25 poll.

The Gators fell off slightly to 9-4 in 2016, but they closed the season on a high note with a win over the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Outback Bowl.

Offense was a major issue for Florida throughout McElwain's tenure, as it ranked 100th in scoring offense in 2015 (23.2 points per game) and 107th in 2016 (23.9 points per game).

Defense was its saving grace, though, as the Gators ranked 11th in scoring defense in 2015 (18.3 points per game) and sixth in 2016 (16.8 points per game).

The offense has remained stagnant in 2017, as evidenced by being tied for 109th (21.3 points per game), while the defense has regressed as well, ranking 66th (26.0 points per game).

Although Florida has made a bowl in every season since 1991 with exception of 2013, major success has been difficult to come by since Urban Meyer's departure in 2010.

The Gators' last national title came at the conclusion of the 2008 campaign, and it has won double-digit games just twice over the past eight seasons.

McElwain went 22-12 in his tenure at Florida, and he owns a career record of 44-28 as a major collegiate head coach.

The University of Florida and head football coach Jim McElwain are reportedly negotiating a contract buyout. 

On Saturday, sports lawyer Darren Heitner reported McElwain's agent, Jimmy Sexton, and the Gators are "working hard" to make it happen, but the two sides remain "miles apart."     

Yahoo Sports' Pat Forde also reported an immediate coaching change is in the cards.

However, Florida released a statement denying it was in talks with the coach over a buyout. 

Edward Aschoff and Mark Schlabach of ESPN reported Florida administrators believe there is enough cause to justify firing McElwain without having to pay his buyout. The report indicated defensive coordinator Randy Shannon would be the interim coach if McElwain is fired.

McElwain said during a press conference Monday that Florida players were being threatened and the coaching staff was receiving death threats because of the team's struggles this season:

"I think it's a pretty good kind of lesson for the way things are. There's a lot of hate in this world and a lot of anger. And yet, it's freedom to show it. The hard part is, obviously, when the threats against your own players, death threats to your families, you know, the ill will that's brought upon out there. And yet, I think it's really one of those deals that really is a pretty good testament to what's going on out there nationally. A lot of angry people. In this business, we're the ones that you take the shots at. And that's the way it is."

The school's athletic department issued a statement to Brian Stultz of SEC Country after McElwain's comments.

"The University Athletic Association takes the safety of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and families very seriously," the statement read. "Our administration met with Coach McElwain this afternoon, and he offered no additional details."

McElwain told reporters Wednesday he didn't "understand" what Florida's statement was and that his visit with athletic director Scott Stricklin and assistant athletic director Laird Veatch was "really good and supportive."

Florida extended McElwain's contract by one year in June, with his deal running through 2023. Ryan Young of SEC Country noted the full value of McElwain's deal is $26,917,800. 

After three seasons as head coach at Colorado State, McElwain took over the Gators in 2015. The 55-year-old has a 22-11 record with Florida and is 3-3 this season (3-2 in conference play) heading into Saturday's SEC East matchup against the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs at EverBank Field.  

Florida Gators head coach Jim McElwain told reporters on Monday that he and his family have received death threats during the team's 3-3 start to the 2017 season, according to Edgar Thompson of the Orlando Sentinel. 

"Lot of angry people out there," he noted, per Mark Long of the Associated Press.

OnlyGators.com provided McElwain's full comments on the matter:

McElwain didn't further address the death threats beyond those comments, according to Ian Cohen of the Orlando Sentinel. 

While the Gators are perhaps underachieving this season, McElwain led the team to a 19-8 record in his first two seasons and won the SEC East title in each campaign. The team is also 1-1 in bowl games during his tenure, including last year's Outback Bowl win.

The Gators are currently on a two-game losing streak after defeats against LSU and Texas A&M by a combined three points, though McElwain believes the team will turn things around.

"We’ve just got to finish," he noted, per Ryan Young of SEC Country. "We had two opportunities to finish and we didn’t, and that’s what these young guys have to figure out."

The death of music legend Tom Petty left fans across the country heartbroken this past week, especially in Petty's hometown of Gainesville, Florida.

In the second half of Florida's game versus LSU on Saturday, Gators fans paid tribute to Petty by singing along to "I Won't Back Down," one of Petty's hits off his debut solo album, Full Moon Fever, released in 1989.

This was Florida's first game since Petty died Monday at the age of 66 after going into cardiac arrest.

[Twitter]

The Florida Gators set a new FBS record by scoring points in their 366th straight game when kicker Eddy Pineiro converted a 25-yard field goal in the second quarter of Saturday's showdown with the LSU Tigers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

According to ESPN Stats & Info, the Michigan Wolverines owned the previous record at 365 straight games without getting blanked from 1984 to 2014:

Despite making history, Florida's offense hasn't been particularly sharp this season.

Specifically, the Gators managed at least 30 points in one of their first four games—a 38-24 win over Vanderbilt on Sept. 30—and have struggled to flash consistency through the air.

During their 3-1 start, the Gators averaged 212.8 passing yards per game, a mark that ranked 79th nationally. All told, Florida's 109 points over that stretch placed it 100th nationally, tied with 1-4 Rutgers.

Underwhelming numbers notwithstanding, the Gators have positioned themselves atop the SEC East standings early and should be in contention for a return trip to the conference title game in Atlanta.