Fans flock to hear Muschamp at Gator Gatherings
Author: Unknown Publication Date: Friday June 03, 2011
As 13-year-old Devin Coriell stood in line to meet UF head football coach Will Muschamp, a football helmet dangling in the youngster’s hand, he used the word of the evening to describe his impressions of Florida’s new coach.
“I like him. He’s positive,” Coriell said.
Standing nearby, Coriell’s grandfather, Louis Martin (BSBA ’72), shared his grandson’s positive outlook.
“You can tell he’s really excited,” Martin said of Muschamp. “With all that excitement, we’ve definitely got a shot. It’s a new day in Florida football.”
Coriell and Martin weren’t alone. Many of the 350 Gators who turned out to hear Muschamp speak to the Capital Area Gator Club® were all smiles after listening to the coach talk for more than an hour about his players, his staff and his approach. The visit to Tallahassee was one of nine Gator Gatherings Muschamp has attended with Gator Clubs® this spring.
Steve Fregger (BCE ’56) said many things impressed him about the coach’s talk, including not only his positive energy, but also his ability to name all his staff and players without even having notes in his hand. But Carlos Alvarez (BA ’72), UF’s newest member of the College Football Hall of Fame, said it was Muschamp’s talk of the “Xs and Os” that blew him away.
“I like what he was talking about with schemes,” Alvarez said. “That’s the most impressive talk I’ve heard from any college football coach. To me, it just showed the incredible knowledge he has of the game.”
Overall, Muschamp left the hall at the Leon County Fairgrounds buzzing with hope for the season. And that positivity, Muschamp told the crowd, is the best way Gators can support their team.
“Be positive, be positive, be positive,” he said. “Don’t worry about whatever anybody else says … There are so many positives in what we’re trying to do.”
Read more about the Gator Gathering, including Muschamp’s comments
Make plans to attend the final Gator Gathering on Sept. 2 in Gainesville