JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – When Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin made the announcement that Jim McElwain was out and that the Gators would have a new head football coach, he cautioned fans not to buy into rumors.
Stricklin has been sticking with his approach to keep the coaching search private and not leak information about the candidates. Despite rumors that Chip Kelly was the choice and that all that remained was to get Kelly's signature on the contract to make him the next head coach, Stricklin posted this on Twitter:
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Today’s advice (which is pretty much the same as yesterday’s advice, and the day before that, and the day before that …) pic.twitter.com/b38FSr79S1
— Scott Stricklin (@ScottStricklin) November 15, 2017
On Monday, Stricklin posted a Mark Twain quote, seemingly in response to coaching rumors:
— Scott Stricklin (@ScottStricklin) November 13, 2017
During the media conference Stricklin held announcing McElwain's departure, he stated that he would not be hiring a coach who was currently employed during the regular season. That would suggest that if the Gators don't make a hire in the next week, they would speak to UCF head coach Scott Frost and other currently employed candidates, like Iowa State's Matt Campbell, Memphis' Mike Norvel and Mississippi State's Dan Mullen.
Stricklin isn't the only person who has taken to twitter to set the record straight. After rumors surfaced that Steve Spurrier was being involved in the process, the Head Ball Coach twetted this denial:
I am not recommending anyone for the job. We all have complete confidence that Scott Stricklin will make the best choice for our school - and we will support his decision 100 percent. https://t.co/GREyvfIfFW
— Coach Steve Spurrier (@SteveSpurrierUF) November 15, 2017