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The Roanoke Times (Virginia)
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida coach Jim McElwain can handle the heat, the hate and even the harassment.
He gets paid to deal with it. But he would like his players, coaches and all their families, including his own, to be left alone.
McElwain said Monday that Florida players and families have received death threats amid the team's struggles. McElwain acknowledged the allegation while responding to a question about whether the team deserves credit for staying competitive despite missing more than 20 scholarship players because of injuries and suspensions.
"There's a lot of hate in this world and a lot of anger and yet [there's] freedom to show it," McElwain said. "The hard part is obviously when the threats against your own players, death threats to your families, the ill will that's brought upon out there."
McElwain declined to say whether he personally received death threats. He added that he has not contacted police.
The university's athletic department released a statement hours later saying officials met with McElwain and that the coach "offered no additional details."
McElwain is 22-11 in three seasons in Gainesville. The Gators (3-3, 3-2 SEC) face third-ranked Georgia (7-0, 4-0) on Saturday.
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