Symbolism with food: McElwain teaches life lessons via PB&J sandwich

Published Nov. 19, 2015 4:57 p.m. ET

foxsports

A college football coach looks for any and all means of inspiration to galvanize his players. This is truly applicable in the realm of the sport -- as well as in terms of life.

Florida head coach Jim McElwain has a penchant for making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for his players. Meticulous in his craft, there's a method to his unique madness, as he told the media on Wednesday.

"Here's one of the things you gotta realize," said McElwain. "Where a lot of these guys are from, they don't eat. I'm not kidding you. And the opportunity I have to be able to impart a PB&J sandwich on their life, that's a good deal."

Beyond that, McElwain enjoys spending one-on-one time with his players. Learning from his mother, he always spreads the peanut butter to the corners of every piece of bread -- and will not cut the corners off.

"There's a little symbolism in that," said McElwain. Be the best you can be. It doesn't matter what you're doing. If you make a PB&J sandwich, get it to the edges. Why cut corners?"