HOOVER, Ala. — The rookie head coach strolled into the second-floor ballroom at The Wynfrey Hotel like he”d been there before.
He hadn”t — at least not in front of this microphone, not while addressing a media contingent in the hundreds.
“Great to be here,” Will Muschamp said. “Great to be back in the Southeastern Conference and at the University of Florida.”
Moments like that one, captured in front of the laptops and pens and digital tape recorders and a Gators helmet near the podium, convinced Muschamp to go from coach-in-waiting at the University of Texas to coach-right-now.
Sporting a dark suit that resembled the wardrobe of characters from “Men in Black” — minus the sunglasses — Muschamp flashed his SEC charm one moment, telling a reporter he knew from one of his conference stops as a former player at the University of Georgia and as an assistant coach at Auburn and Louisiana State he looked like he lost weight.
Minutes later, Muschamp became noticeably irritated when he fielded consecutive questions about the potential loss of running back Jeff Demps, who was granted permission to run this summer with U.S. Track and Field.
“He”s in Italy,” Muschamp said, looking to his right. “When I deal with people, I like to deal eyeball-to-eyeball, talk to them face-to-face.” He stared directly at the reporter who asked the question, never losing his focus. “That”s been hard to do with some of the traveling he”s been doing. I ain”t never been to Italy.”
The room started to roar, slowly getting louder and louder. Muschamp maintained his stone-faced stare. Like any good coach, he can turn it off and on. He likely picked up traits like that in 16 years as an assistant coach for greats like Mack Brown and Nick Saban.
When asked what it”s like to be a Georgia guy coaching Florida, his response was swift: “I”m a Florida guy.”
Later, when asked if things were going in the right direction coming off an 8-5 season, which is not up to the standards of Gator Nation, he replied, “Yeah, they”ve told me.”
While the 2010 Gators won the Outback Bowl, giving former coach Urban Meyer Meyer a 5-1 mark in bowl games, the final record disappointed players and fans.
“It was frustrating at times,” receiver Deonte Thompson said. “We”re used to scoring 40, 50 points a game, and now we”re struggling to get 21. But we hung in there together as a team and we got through it.”
Now, Muschamp is on board to help. Florida opens its season on Sept. 3 when it plays host to Florida Atlantic. The players suggested the program needed a fresh start, and Muschamp has obliged. Thompson recalled Muschamp getting out on the field, running and working out with players. Defensive end William Green said Muschamp has stressed doing things “The Florida Way”, and has preached about the importance of playing hard and running to the ball.
“You”ve seen him on highlights at Texas, chest bumping players,” Florida quarterback John Brantley said. “Great intensity, and he”s brought that to the team. We needed that, that giddy up.”
Perhaps one of Muschamp”s early strengths is he knows his weakness.
He knows defenses and special teams. That”s why he hired Charlie Weis to handle the offense.
“Don”t try and be something you”re not,” Muschamp said, speaking about pitfalls first-year coaches must avoid to be successful. The same is true with following Meyer, who led the Gators to national championships during the 2006 and 2008 seasons.
“They did some things we”re going to continue to do,” Muschamp said. “There were some things that were very good at Florida. Why change ”em if they”re working?”
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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