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Florida Gators Football: Jim McElwain Addresses Oregon Ducks Rumors

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The Florida Gators football team could lose its head coach to the Oregon Ducks. Jim McElwain addressed those rumors directly.

The Florida Gators football team received an unnecessary distraction in the form of the Oregon Ducks firing head coach Mark Helfrich. It may seem as though the Gators and Ducks are unrelated, but Oregon now has a head coaching vacancy.

Mere days before the 2016 SEC Championship Game, reports surfaced that one of the favored candidates for the job is Gators head coach Jim McElwain.

Dan Wolken of USA TODAY Sports reported that there are whispers that McElwain could leave Florida for Oregon. McElwain, who played college football in the Pacific Northwest, has the offensive track record to fit the Ducks’ football identity.

According to Tom Fornelli of CBS Sports, McElwain addressed the rumors and denied the validity of reports stating that he’ll be leaving for Oregon.

That’s simple enough.

It’s still entirely possible that McElwain’s plans could change and he could leave Gainesville for Eugene. It’s clear that he doesn’t plan on leaving Florida before Saturday, however, and that’s what truly matters.

McElwain’s focus is on winning the SEC Championship Game, which is exactly where it should be.

Oregon is an appealing job opportunity, but McElwain is already the head coach for one of the most revered programs in the country. The source of the belief that he could leave appears to reside in the theory the Gators’ fans have been unappreciative of his efforts.

Regardless of what the future holds, McElwain will be with Florida against Alabama.

A win in Atlanta would put all of the talk to rest.

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