Carousel Notes: Details on Jim McElwain to Florida Deal

((ht: various))

So, now that the University of Florida negotiated new head coach Jim McElwain's way out of Colorado State, the question is what did it take for that to happen.

The Gators obviously were balking at the $7.5 million buyout, which held up things after their contingent visited McElwain early in the week at his Fort Collins home.

According to reports, here's what it took to pry the man to Gainesville:

---$3 million, paid out over the next 6 years
---$2 million from McElwain himself
---$2 million (approx) for a game in Gainesville sometime in the next 5 years

According to GatorZone.com, McElwain will get $3.5 million per year to coach the Gators. Response thus far has been overwhelmingly positive in most circles and we agree, he's the best coach they could have found for THAT job.

Florida Athletic Director Jeremy Foley released a statement via the Football Team Twitter page:

Statement from athletics director Jeremy Foley on the hire: pic.twitter.com/PIZhJWQlEC
— GatorZone Football (@GatorZoneFB) December 4, 2014

The school also said McElwain's introductory press conference would likely take place on Saturday.

Breathe easy Gator fans, you did well. The bizarre courtship aside, this was the guy that you should be happy you got. There wasn't anything better out there. You were not going to get a "Big Name" guy. That guy doesn't exist. You got the best available.

Deal with it.

Morning Wrap: McElwain Still at Colorado State for Now--(Update: Deal Done)

UPDATE 10:15 a.m:

Per Chris Low of ESPN.com (@clowespn)--

The buyout issues have been resolved, and Florida is expected to announce Jim McElwain as its coach later today.
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) December 4, 2014

OSG Sports will have more on this story as the day and details progress...

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From Earlier this morning:

And the coaching carousel gets a bit more intense this Thursday morning as perhaps the most public rider on it continues to wait for his opportunity.

Throughout the day on Wednesday, we, along with media in Fort Collins, Colorado and all over the state of Florida kept tabs on Twitter, fully anticipating the Florida Gators announcing they were hiring Colorado State head coach Jim McElwain.

That has yet to happen.

It still and probably will happen at some point, but it appears both sides have hit a bit of an impasse. The impasse--the $7.5 million buyout in McElwain's deal that Florida cannot afford to pay and CSU to this point is unwilling to lower.

The Gators are already on the hook for Will Muschamp and his staff's buyouts. They don't want to pay that, plus the buyout plus the $3-4 million it will cost to hire McElwain.

And we don't blame them for that.

But for some reason, it appears Gators AD Jeremy Foley has already gone all-in on this. Granted, he will likely get his man at some point. But he doesn't have him yet.

Reports say Florida has registered a website for McElwain and there's still lots of speculating that he will appear on Sunday or Monday after the SEC Championship game, which is what we think and have said all along will happen.

But until then, the game...and the carousel continues.

In the meantime, KUSA-TV in Denver spent time talking to the man who hired McElwain at CSU, former AD Jack Graham:

Morning Wrap: Florida Makes Full On Blitz for Jim McElwain

((ht: coloradoan.com))

So, there's now no question who the University of Florida is targeting for their vacant head coaching job.

The Gators definitely want Colorado State coach Jim McElwain to come back to the SEC. And in case you were wondering how serious the courtship is....check out this photo of Gator AD Jeremy Foley at McElwain's home:

UF AD Jeremy Foley at the home of CSU Rams head coach Jim McElwain presumably discussing #Gators job @TFrei #Gators pic.twitter.com/tLc6IjXKSP
— John Leyba (@Presto89) December 3, 2014

Yes, it was taken at McElwain's home in Fort Collins, Colorado about an hour north of Denver where the Denver media and quite a few others spent their Tuesday night.

According to the Coloradoan Newspaper, the negotiating currently ongoing with Florida AD Jeremy Foley may involve McElwain's "Buyout" clause.

The paper says while the buyout as written in the coach's contract stands at $7.5 million, which is enough to scare most anyone off, it's not likely a school such as UF would actually have to pay that amount to hire McElwain away.

The buyout is apparently negotiable depending on the school that comes courting.

Read more from the Coloradoan.com RIGHT HERE

Our guess is this deal gets done by the end of the week. The Florida contingent has not exactly gone out of their way to hide their interest nor has McElwain.

Arguably, he's the best potential hire the Gators could make. A guy familiar with the SEC and from the Nick Saban coaching tree who has had success as a head coach.

Yes, Florida is a high pressure job and a major overhaul is needed. But the resources to do that are already in place.

Expect an announcement by Monday.

Though we could be wrong....

DEVELOPING: Coach Boom Gets Lowered At Florida

The only thought was: WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG, JEREMY FOLEY???!!!

What the entire world thought was going to happen after the Missouri fiasco finally happened after the South Carolina fiasco...

Here's the sheer, shocking end to the game that gifted the Gamecocks the win...
((HT: SDS/SEC Network))


Which led to this...
((HT: GoGamecocks))


And this postgame commentary...


Now, the next questions are twofold:

Does Jeremy Foley even survive this...???
And, as put forth by TBH: Would Muschamp like to be Auburn's defensive coordinator...???

Will Muschamp had proven himself to be a solid Number Two, but a Shaky Number One...

What happens with his resume next will be an interesting subplot to the shenanigans in Gainesville...

And the irony that the Ess-E-Cee Network is showing the Sakerlina-Florida game right now has not escaped the HQ...

Hey, Florida, we know someone who can fill the opening for a few weeks...

"The Fixer" for Florida's Problems...???

Early CFB Returns: TCU Survives, Muschamp May As Well...

((HT: ESPN/CBS))

It took a lot of patience by Gary Patterson and TCU to win in a hostile environment- one of the most hostile environments around in Morgantown.

But, if you hang around long enough, what TCU (in their very stylish whites) was able to pull off in a 31-30 win to stay at least #10.

Down 9 points in the fourth, the last-second field goal preserved the win.


The larger story came out of the Cocktail Party in Jacksonville where Florida head coach Will Muschamp may have, in fact, saved his job.

Georgia Defensive Coordinator Jeremy Pruitt fell on the sword postgame as his team gave up over 400 yards rushing on, almost, 60 carries.

The HQ has known Mark Richt to be one of the nicer guys around. He is officially nice enough to have a Georgia alum keep his job.
Here's how Georgia didn't show up for their rivalry game.


The last three games on the Gators schedule are fairly winnable for Muschamp so he and AD Jeremy Foley can, in fact, hang around...

Surprise: Will Muschamp Still Coaching at Florida for Now

It wasn't exactly a ringing vote of confidence, but it wasn't "We've decided to head in another direction" either.

University of Florida Athletic Director Jeremy Foley issued a statement Monday afternoon saying that among other things; "At the beginning of the season, we said we would evaluate the season as it played out. We will continue to do so. Our sole focus right now is supporting our coaching staff and players as they prepare for Georgia".

So, Gator fan, it appears that you will have Coach Will Muschamp around a little longer. With Florida off this week, many have speculated a move would be made now instead of waiting.

Particularly after the embarrassing 42-13 Homecoming loss this past Saturday to Missouri when the Gators managed to lose after giving up just slightly more than 100-yards of offense to the Tigers.

Nothing has gone right for Muschamp or the Gators, though they are still 3-3 on the season. Giving up touchdowns on punt returns, kick returns, interception returns and fumble returns in one game will generally anger the masses.

Which is exactly what happened in that game and led the crowd to start chanting for Coach Boom to be fired. All well and good, though the cast of characters that could replace may not excite the folks in Gainesville either.

Just saying'...

There's a Difference Between "Coach Boom!" And "Coach, Boom!"

((HT: Saturday Down South))

Missouri is making some kind of a point tonight in Gainesville in their blowout of the Gators on Homecoming!

The HQ doesn't quite know what it is- whether they REALLY need help with their offense as they go forward or Florida is just GAWD AWFUL!

It came to this, however, when a defensive touchdown sent people flooding out into the streets...


According to some of OSG's sources, Muschamp is going to be fired on Monday morning. Some folks might like to see Athletics Director Jeremy Foley to go after Muschamp as well.

But the other issue is Mizzou's offense...

Florida picked up 200 yards of offense in the third and fourth quarter when the game was out of hand, but the Tigers only had 119 yards of TOTAL offense- relying on a pick 6, a kickoff return, a punt return, a fumble recovery, a rushing score and 2 field goals...

So there's that...