Will Muschamp comes back to Georgia — as a Gator
Will Muschamp may have barked as a Bulldog but he's all Gator now as the Florida coach.
A young, pretty girl sitting near the front of the room had a question for the Florida coach.
“Coach, I’m getting married soon and he’s a Georgia fan and …”
“That’s not my fault,” Will Muschamp said, playing to the crowd.
“My wedding is on the same day as the Florida-Georgia game,” she continued. “I was wondering: Can you guarantee Florida will win?”
Muschamp, the native of Rome, a long-time Georgia resident and former Bulldogs safety, smiled.
“I certainly can,” he said (and then he turned in my direction and alerted the crowd that this pronouncement almost certainly would be used in the local newspaper).
This should end any lingering debate about whether Will Muschamp has divided loyalties.
The annual meeting of the Atlanta Gator Club was held Thursday night. Atlantic Station was crawling with reptiles. More than 360 Florida fans crammed into a hotel ballroom, the largest turnout in years, to greet their new leader.
Muschamp was in Georgia, but the Atlanta Gator Club would protect him.
This was the safe room for Muschamp. But outside the walls, he’s same guy who was branded “traitor” or “Benedict Arnold” by some hard-line Bulldogs fans who believe once you’ve worn the “G” on your helmet, any career movement – especially to the mother of SEC rivals – is borderline sacrilegious. (Or over the border.)
“I’m loyal to who signs my checks,” Muschamp said earlier. “All of that other stuff, I don’t get into. In our
You might've thought you were lost walking in Atlantic Station.
profession you’re loyal to the people you work for. I’ll do the best job I can for the Gator nation.”
Go easy, folks. The man’s gotta earn a living, you know.
It may have been a shock in Athens when Muschamp, the official coach-in-waiting at Texas for Mack Brown and a possible unofficial coach-in-waiting for Georgia, was tabbed as Urban Meyer’s replacement at Florida.
But it shouldn’t have been. Yes, he lived in Rome up until age 5, and then he returned before his ninth-grade year. But during that period in between, orange blood ran through blue veins. He walked to Gators games as a kid. He watched Wilber Marshall. Even when he went to high school in Rome, he was a Florida fan.
Fact is, Muschamp might never have stepped foot on the Georgia campus if he hadn’t broken his leg while playing in high school.
“All of the big schools backed off,” he said.
His choices: Enroll at West Point or try to walk-on at Florida or Georgia.
“My dad was a school teacher,” he said. “The [cost of] in-state education was a factor.”
So if he didn’t break his leg or his father was a surgeon, he would’ve attended Florida?
“Hah — I’d rather not play what-if,” he said.
Muschamp waited 15 years for a head coaching job. So far, he wears it well.
The fact he was one of the nation’s best defensive coaches at Texas, LSU and Auburn doesn’t guarantee success. Even he acknowledges that he’s in a honeymoon period with Gators fans. (“Everybody has been great. But we haven’t played a game yet.”).
But if he doesn’t succeed, it won’t be for a lack of confidence. He brought in Charlie Weis to run his offense. Most new head coaches would balk at such a move, believing the former Notre Dame coach and New England and Kansas City offensive coordinator might be scheming behind his back for the top job.
“I have confidence in myself. I want the people I hire to have tremendous confidence in themselves,” he said.
Last month, Muschamp kicked his best player, cornerback Janoris Jenkins, off the team after his third arrest (and second in three months for marijuana). It was a stunning move at a program that had its share of legal issues between SEC and BCS championships under Meyer.
“I didn’t look at it as sending a message early,” Muschamp said. “I look at everything as an isolated situation. Each player will have to [act] right.”
He has learning the hard way of the demands of being a head coach and fielding endless advice from fans (“My email works, I can tell you that.”). But this feels like Utopia.
After the questions, he planned on flying back to Austin, Texas. His family hasn’t moved yet and his 5-year-old is graduating from kindergarten Friday. Then it will be back to Gainesville.
“As coaches, we move around so much,” he said. “Home is where the house is.”
That’s not in Georgia anymore.
By Jeff Schultz
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477 comments Add your comment
It Ain't Rocket Science
May 20th, 2011
8:24 am
One should be careful and not create bulletin board fodder if one is a player. A coach should know better, but as of yet, Mush hasn’t one a game as a head coach so possibly, he is not up on the things you do, when you are a head coach. The games are played on the field Mush.
Dean
May 20th, 2011
8:24 am
So it’s obvious that he’s better than Richt and the man has what, never been a head coach for a day. Boy, you guys sure are big on making huge assumptions. Character! What about all those arrest down in Gainesville, and it’s been suggested that alot of arrest have been covered up, something that is impossible to do in Georgia. Yeah, there is obviously so much more character amongst Florida players than UGA, keep drinking that Kool-Aid!
It Ain't Rocket Science
May 20th, 2011
8:25 am
one=won, hey it’s early yet, LOL.
Calling BS on that
May 20th, 2011
8:25 am
Say want you want about Richt but the man works for more than a paycheck and he’s much more respectable right off the bat.
Where did you come up with that absurb BS comment?
Mark, Mark---The Hair Lip Dog
May 20th, 2011
8:27 am
The greatest thing about being a dog fan is you all SUCK!! Gators win. Mark it down.
Beast from the East
May 20th, 2011
8:30 am
What do you guys expect him to say? That he hopes UGA beats HIS team? Is Richt deemed a traitor by Miami because he coached at FSU? Is he deemed a traitor at FSU because he now coaches at UGA? Your best coach ever (Dooley) played for Auburn, so I guess he’s a traitor, as well. His son is now the HC for UT, so he’s a traitor, too. Get over the UGA connection. He’s now the HC at UF, which as we all know is a much better gig than UGA. The truth hurts, doesn’t it?
Sarcasm
May 20th, 2011
8:30 am
To the guy who’s marrying a Gator on GA/FL weekend, turn in your Bulldog fan card IMMEDIATELY!
Beast from the East
May 20th, 2011
8:30 am
Larry,
UGA hired a former Cane who had never been a HC. What’s your point?
Larry
May 20th, 2011
8:31 am
So, the Gators hired a former GA player who has never been a head coach and then he hires as his OC a complete college failure (whom Brady made to look good in the NFL) and morbidly obese man whose utter, unabashed gluttony resulted in gastric bypass surgery to keep him from eating 4-5 double cheese whoppers.
Impressive.
Sarcasm
May 20th, 2011
8:32 am
And Beast, change your name after this season and stop living in the past.
FSUBrave
May 20th, 2011
8:33 am
Gosh, these croc fans are funny…31-7 and many more to come…–scalpem
Beast from the East
May 20th, 2011
8:35 am
Sarcasm,
I’m living in the past?
1980 vs 1996, 2006 & 2008. Who’s living in the past?
Dream on, “dream teamer”, dream on.
Paul H
May 20th, 2011
8:35 am
Can’t wait for him to be the first UF coach in 20 years to start losing to the Dawgs. It’s only a matter of time, seeing as how they lose to everyne else now.
DawginLex
May 20th, 2011
8:36 am
Tebow is in Denver Will.
Your QB is Brantley and Murphy is better.
My biggest concern is that you will actually figure that out.
I'm loyal to Texas who signed my coach-in- waiting checks
May 20th, 2011
8:36 am
`
Could Charlie Weis be the unofficial coach-in-waiting?
.
Beast from the East
May 20th, 2011
8:36 am
FSUBrave,
You, sir, have bragging rights and I accept the ribbing because ya’ll EARNED it on the field last year. Congratulations.
The Dawgs……they don’t understand bragging rights.
SOGADOG
May 20th, 2011
8:37 am
What self respecting Dawg fan plans a wedding on Ga Fla Saturday and marries a Fla fan? Big wussy.
Hatfieldgeoff
May 20th, 2011
8:37 am
Hey Dean,
Derrick went to University of Virginia.
Ole Dawg
May 20th, 2011
8:38 am
F Will (Bigmouth) Muschamp!!! How about actually coaching a game before you start spouting off? Guess that thrills your trailer park trash fans.
How about all of you sucking Gayturd fans get the hell out of our great state and go back to the Swamp if you love it so much? Oh… maybe no jobs in that cesspool state.
I am a child of the 1980’s and some of you have forgotten that you were on the receiving end of many butt kickings. My above attitude was true then and it’s true now! More importantly, Mr. Joe T is instilling this attitude into a group of players every day in Athens, GA and it will be unleashed on your butts in Jacksonville in the near future!
Beast from the East
May 20th, 2011
8:39 am
“What self respecting Dawg fan”
That’s an oxymoron.
GatorFan
May 20th, 2011
8:39 am
No surprise here. Georgia has trouble with Vandy. lol
Beast from the East
May 20th, 2011
8:40 am
What are all you “trolls” doing on a Gator blog anyway? LOL!
Brandon
May 20th, 2011
8:41 am
Who gets married the day of the GA-FL game? that is dumb
Dawg Gone
May 20th, 2011
8:42 am
Well well…I really think this is the year UGA starts padding the series lead. Go Dogs!
Grover Gaddis
May 20th, 2011
8:43 am
Easy for Will to make promises and guarentees about future events since the world is coming to an end tomorrow.
D Fence
May 20th, 2011
8:43 am
Muschump aint all that. Nice job overpaying for another Mike Shula. You Gators keep on talking, you’ve earned it. It’s gonna be sweet to turn the tide on this goober.
enz
May 20th, 2011
8:46 am
Do all the AJC’s photos now come from a $29 camera phone?
midtownguy
May 20th, 2011
8:48 am
Coaching is a profession, and like all professions the primary motivations are career advancement and pay. I get that. But deliberately insulting your alma mater just to play to the crowd is classless.
GTT
May 20th, 2011
8:49 am
It’s Head Ball Coach, not Ol’ Ball Coach. If you were really a Gator, Deep in Enemy Territory, you’d know that.
gatorboom
May 20th, 2011
8:50 am
Does it bother dawg fans that the next dawg that’s going to have a national championship ring is the one wearing orange and blue?
JB
May 20th, 2011
8:52 am
You would hope he learned some class while at Georgia. Saban has rubbed off on him. I know it’s red meat for the crowd. but in all fairness, I heard Richt Guarantee a win over Tech one time at a function.
I think, from what I’ve read, Florida has a few issues this year. New schemes on both sides of the ball won’t help. Brantley seems oversold. Do they have a PROVEN RB? I hear the OL is thin. Welcome to our world.
bamaguy
May 20th, 2011
8:52 am
And one dawg already has a national championship ring, Kirby Smart.
AltamahaDawg
May 20th, 2011
8:52 am
There was a lingering debate about his divided loyalty? Not really.
JB
May 20th, 2011
8:54 am
The only thing that will shut these Florida people up is sending them to the exits in the middle of the 3rd quarter. Until then, we march on and tip our hats.
JB
May 20th, 2011
8:59 am
bamaguy, if Kirby is ever allowed to speak, maybe he can tell us about it…….And for what it;s worth, I’m on record on this blog for over a year that if Richt slips, Kirby will be the man. I don’t think he’ll get the first call, but McGarity will go after the usual “Big Name” suspects, and then he’ll turn to Kirby. Georgia ( Adams) will NEVER set their sites on a big big hire and pay whatever it takes. Adams is a Educational politician and will never throw out 5 mil “to get our man”.
TP
May 20th, 2011
9:01 am
So the cost of in-state tuition was factor? He went to a prestigious private high school that costs more than most colleges.
Beast from the East
May 20th, 2011
9:01 am
JB,
Ever heard of Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey? How about Mike Gillislee? We’ll be fine at RB. QB and o-line? Those are surely question marks. Kind of like the Dawgs’ o-line, WR, RB and entire secondary. Forgot to mention the question marks at HC, OC and DC….LOL!
Gator Mike
May 20th, 2011
9:01 am
Another point for the DAWG Fans to consider is that Muschamp could be the head coach at UGA had Richt been relieved a year earlier and UGA offered the job to Muschamp. That would have made no difference to the Gator Nation, but now he is at UF and he has our backing. The FL-GA Game has now taken on another dimension, and Muschamp is going to take a lot of heat from either side no matter who wins. He is a rookie head coach, but so was Richet when he went from FSU to UGA.
Let the fun begin!
Go Gators!
Lowcountry Bulldawg
May 20th, 2011
9:02 am
Schultz writes the blog to incite the masses, drive hits to the blog. A blog about CMR and CMF in Dalton drives dittly poo. Muschamp says what he says because he has to. In his heart of heart s without the UGA he would not be in the position he is today. A successful husband, father and HC of an elite D1 program. So do not be mislead by his comments, what else are we to expect him to say to loyal Gator Nation?
AltamahaDawg
May 20th, 2011
9:03 am
Brandon I wondered that too. If that sweet thang was fan enough to actually go hear a coach speak in May, why would she purposely select Ga/Fla weekend for her wedding day? (I believe we can go ahead and assume her fiance’ is a some little twerp to agree to that). Great planning there. Halloween weddings are the new craze now?
It Ain't Rocket Science
May 20th, 2011
9:04 am
The fastest way to beat Florida is to wait until they are all on the sidelines before kick off. Yell, at the top of your lungs, “FREE BUFFET”, and Weis will flatten half his team rolling down the sidelines getting there. Talk about your pancake blocks.
Tard Dawg
May 20th, 2011
9:04 am
Big news story. Did you expect Muschamp to promise to give it his best shot against UGA? Of course he’s going to guarantee a win. Nonstory. Nice try AJC.
Whisky Breath
May 20th, 2011
9:05 am
Florida could hire a monkey and still beat Ga. However Ga will go ahead and put a “W” in the win column in August. A week before the game Buck will do the tough guy thing ” Bring it on” and life goes on.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
May 20th, 2011
9:06 am
Yeah the wedding bit? Hey I have missed family weddings b/c they scheduled them UGA/UT dates. Two weddings as a matter of fact. Family should be smart enough and know better than to schedule weddings in the Fall. At least schedule them on the cupcake dates or open dates.
Tech Tard
May 20th, 2011
9:06 am
Who in the world gets married on GA-Fl weekend?
No fall weddings dangit!!!
Man up and tell your girl NO now and save yourself future arguments.
I had 5 fall weddings to go to last fall. Terrible if you’re a man. They were all beautiful ceremonies and I only got caught once watching football!
Beast from the East
May 20th, 2011
9:06 am
AltahamaDawg,
My cousin got married about 15 years ago on a gameday against Kentucky. My dad, uncles, male cousins and myself were at the ballgame. Pretty sore subject to this day.
Pretty crazy to schedule it on the same day as the WLOCP.
Remember
May 20th, 2011
9:08 am
Wasn’t he fired from Great Southern Wood for fighting at a bar in Griffin and getting arrrested, or was that someone else?
Dawg Gone
May 20th, 2011
9:09 am
Beast from the East you have a HC that has never won a game who is running his mouth like he gets paid by the word, Your OC is one biscuit away from coronary arrest and a QB who completed what 4 for 14 in your spring game. Between transfers and dope smoking arrests your down what 5-6 players already and your talking crap? Keep talking your living breathing proof not just some Dog fans are delusional.
Beast from the East
May 20th, 2011
9:10 am
Dawg Gone,
It’s called bragging rights. I’ll be on here taking all the ribbing the next time my Gators post an “L” to the Dawgs. It’s all in good fun. If you can’t take it, then maybe you should start pulling for a winner. LOL!
Dawg Gone
May 20th, 2011
9:16 am
Beast from the East no I understand completely and you darn sure have the right…but I think your digging yourself a big hole…but here’s your shovel have at it ! LOL