Not sure that everyone understands how much football talent there is in the State of Florida.
Many of the better football players, and there are lots of them, don't want to leave the Sunshine State, weather being one of the reasons.
Anyone that follows recruiting close enough will see that there will always be those that leave, only so many scholarships are allowed at every university. Might also notice that many of those that do leave remain in the SEC and the deep South when possible.
Comes down to one on ones as we all know. From all I can find out about McElwain's efforts, just the fact that Muschamp is gone was reason enough for recruiting to show vast improvement.
Think what most of us know down this way is that what is happening in Florida happened at Georgia when Pruitt arrived after grantham left. Testament to that is check out the recruiting that had Georgia at one time ranked in the top two or three in the nation. Call it anything we want, Jeremy Pruitt started the movement to get top players back in Athens. Fact.
At the present time, same is going on with McElwain, recruiting his butt off and players all over the State of Florida are listening.
Has been said on this board that Pruitt will not be all that as defensive coordinator at Georgia. We will see, everyone has an opinion.
In my way of thinking, McElwain is going to make things tougher for outsiders to take as much of the top talent out of Florida as has been happening recently. Will he turn things around and be a very good coach at Florida, time will tell. Know this, Nick Saban hired him to coach in Tuscaloosa, did not fire him, McElwain made the decision to leave for a head coaching position.
While McElwain went to a university that does not play in a conference equal to the SEC, one fact is this . . . . he improved the program, coached it and got the respect of those that coached against him. That in my mind is one (1) of the reasons that Mike Bobo left Georgia, been around a long time, was used and abused quite frankly by someone that has no room to crow.
Slice it, dice it, comes down to leadership, will always come down to that word. Is UGA coming apart at the seams? Speaking for myself, don't see a pretty picture developing in Athens at this point. Some speak of getting the right hire at offensive coordinator, ok. Will be damn interesting to see who wants to come and work for Richt/McGarity. Some say there will be a long list wanting to move to Athens. Long list like the hiring of grantham?
Anyone believe that Richt/McGarity are going to allow anyone to enter the "gate" and not be told how things will be? Once inside the tent, looks and smells a lot different than the outside. Bet that.
As far as coaching competence, don't really have to say again the lack of that in Athens. Every mullet wrapper and media outlet has spoken to that "serious issue". What will change? Will be interesting to watch after the Belk Bowl, the bowl that continues our head coaches string of bowl participations, sure makes the resume look good.
One more thing. Anyone read the article a couple of months back where the coaches were rated in the SEC. If not, Google it.
Might want to take a look at this hire, soon.
www.alligatorarmy.com/2014/12/23/7443597...dinator-jim-mcelwain