So we've become a 'fixer upper"

[CaribGator]

That is one way to look at it. Nice neighborhood, other nice places, just need to invest in this beauty to fit in with the others..

http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/109588/jim-mcelwain-undertakes-fixer-upper-at-uf

 

[Okeechobee Joe]

"McElwain wants a much higher standard, which is why he made a concerted effort to bolster Florida's foundation. He was very vocal early about major facility upgrades at a school grossly behind most of the SEC in that department. And while athletic director Jeremy Foley stood by the shape of the facilities back in November, he's coming around to the fact that Florida needs some remodeling"

If you want to be at the top of the SEC then you've got to look like you belong at the top. Remember, McElwain has been at Alabama. He knows how they don't back down from spending the money on facilities.

 

[NavetG8r]

Pretty good read.

 

[Gator Fever]

Maybe we will do something like this until the pieces are really in place.

We may not have a true fullback to put in the backfield but we can line up and run the power right at them. Flip the tackle over and put the tight end on the backside to get the bigger lineman on the front side. Line up under center and run true power football.

 

[GatorJ]

Excellent find

 

[bradgator2]

Good read.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

We've been a fixer upper since Creyer broke the program and Foley didn't want to keep up with the Joneses.

 

[78]

Is it coincidence that the decision to upgrade facilities came only after McElwain was hired and in what appeared to be a hasty manner (the O'Dome upgrade summarily postponed as a result)? I have to wonder. McElwain commands an air of respect about him that Muschamp never did, and I think Foley listens.

 

[maheo30]

Good read

 

[rogdochar]

It was not just the weight of Mac, but the added weight of 4-6 years of so-so UF football.

 

[Okeechobee Joe]

Ben Hill Griffin paid for it. Spurrier turned it into a showplace. Meyer did some upgrades, but didn't take care of the foundation. Muschamp punched the walls in. Now McElwain has to fix the place up.

 

[TN G8tr]

Joe, that's a great way to put. This was a great read.

 

[aka]

We'll be fine.

 

[Alagator]

That article was written by Edward Aschoff. Isn't he the guy that started at The Gainesville Sun before being hired by ESPN? Seems like he's always been pretty good.

 

[deuce]

Nothing that a little lipstick and mascara can't fix...

 

[rogdochar]

Ben Hill Griffin paid for it. Spurrier turned it into a showplace. Meyer did some upgrades, but didn't take care of the foundation. Muschamp punched the walls in. Now McElwain has to fix the place up.

... by plastering the other teams.

 

[Go Gata]

"McElwain wants a much higher standard, which is why he made a concerted effort to bolster Florida's foundation. He was very vocal early about major facility upgrades at a school grossly behind most of the SEC in that department. And while athletic director Jeremy Foley stood by the shape of the facilities back in November, he's coming around to the fact that Florida needs some remodeling"

If you want to be at the top of the SEC then you've got to look like you belong at the top. Remember, McElwain has been at Alabama. He knows how they don't back down from spending the money on facilities.

Agreed. The Saban-way is a tried and true method and I have no problem with mimicking that, at least in the short run. Once Coach rights the ship, he can install his McElwin-way.

 

[Okeechobee Joe]

Agreed. The Saban-way is a tried and true method and I have no problem with mimicking that, at least in the short run. Once Coach rights the ship, he can install his McElwin-way.

It's not so much the Saban way. The recruiting wars have become so competitive that your program can not just stand on its name or its tradition only. You have to spend the money. Most all of the SEC schools have upgraded their facilities. I mentioned Alabama because McElwain has been at that school. But you could say it's not just the Saban way, but its the Tennessee way, the LSU way, the Georgia way, the Ole Miss way. If you are going to compete you can't put your head in the sand and say we don't need an indoor facility because of the weather in Florida. McElawain has been around. He knows you have to build these facilities to be competitive. Foley should have realized this sooner.

 

[alcoholica]

It's not so much the Saban way. The recruiting wars have become so competitive that your program can not just stand on its name or its tradition only. You have to spend the money. Most all of the SEC schools have upgraded their facilities. I mentioned Alabama because McElwain has been at that school. But you could say it's not just the Saban way, but its the Tennessee way, the LSU way, the Georgia way, the Ole Miss way. If you are going to compete you can't put your head in the sand and say we don't need an indoor facility because of the weather in Florida. McElawain has been around. He knows you have to build these facilities to be competitive. Foley should have realized this sooner.

That's not really the Saban way. The Saban way refers more to the support staff and all the QC coaches. Not sure what other SEC schools are doing, but I doubt they have the level of Bama

 

[CaribGator]

The facilities upgrade/arms race is prevalent in the SEC, but it is happening across the country. The support staff is what has been separating bama from others. Macdaddy is hammering away at both problems at this fixer upper.