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Get unlimited access to all of our breaking news, in-depth coverage and bonus content- exclusively for subscribers. Starting at just 99¢ for 8 weeks. VIEW ALL OFFERS Already a Paid Subscriber? I have a login for digital access I need to create a login for digital access X Welcome to myPalmBeachPost.com This subscriber-only site gives you exclusive access to breaking news, in-depth coverage, exclusive interactives and bonus content. You can read free articles of your choice a month that are only available on myPalmBeachPost.com. Already a Paid Subscriber? I have a login for digital access I need to create a login for digital access CONTINUE TO YOUR 1 ST FREE ARTICLE Guiding the Gators Navigating through the ups and downs of Florida football's first season under new coach Jim McElwain. By Anthony Chiang Palm Beach Post Staff Writer After posting an 11-13 record over the past two seasons, the Florida Gators are 10-2 and champions of the SEC East for the first time since 2009. Florida players celebrate after their home win over Vanderbilt on Nov. 7. (Rob Foldy/Getty Images) They have a date Saturday afternoon with No. 2 Alabama, the SEC West champions, in the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta. The success comes as a surprise after Florida was picked to finish fifth in the East at SEC Media Days in July. Gators fans can say their program has climbed back, but in first-year coach Jim McElwain’s opinion, this is just the beginning of a never-ending journey. New Florida head coach Jim McElwain speaks during an introductory press conference on Dec. 6, 2014, in Gainesville. (Rob Foldy/Getty Images) But the Montana native mixes in a noticeable aura of confidence with that modesty. The approach has proven successful, as McElwain has righted a stumbling program in his first season at the helm. McElwain made his expectations clear from the start, raising a bar that had been going in the wrong direction for the past few years. “I believe I can win with my dog Claire-a-bell,” McElwain said confidently during his introductory news conference. Coach Jim McElwain gives instructions to his team during the Gators' game against Kentucky. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images) “There are good players here. It’s our responsibility to get that going.” McElwain took responsibility immediately as he and his staff worked hard to save a 2015 recruiting class that was ranked by 247 Sports as the worst in the Southeastern Conference and 84th nationally — behind schools such as Florida Atlantic and South Florida — in the midst of the coaching change. But a wave of February commitments from five-star offensive lineman Martez Ivey, five-star defensive end Cece Jefferson, four-star running backs Jordan Cronkrite and Jordan Scarlett, and three-star wide receiver Antonio Callaway saved Florida’s recruiting class. When it was done , 247 Sports ranked the Gators’ 2015 class 21st nationally. Freshman Jordan Cronkrite celebrates after scoring a touchdown against South Carolina on Nov. 14. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) “I think our guys worked their tails off getting out there and getting to as many places as we could,” McElwain said on signing day. It doesn’t hurt that each of those late signees has been good enough to contribute as a freshman this season. Setting the tone (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack) After spring and fall practice periods that were highlighted by a quarterback battle between Will Grier and Treon Harris, the Gators began the season without a full-time starting signal-caller. Instead, Florida used its first two games against overmatched non-conference opponents New Mexico State and East Carolina in the Swamp as auditions for the job. Treon Harris and Will Grier prep for New Mexico State on Sept. 5. (Rob Foldy/Getty Images) Both quarterbacks shined in the opener against the Aggies on Sept. 5, combining to throw for 381 yards and four touchdowns in a 61-13 win to open the McElwain era. The Gators used a similar strategy against the Pirates, but it wasn’t as effective. Florida was sloppy in its second game of the season on Sept. 12. After committing one penalty in the opener, the Gators finished with 12 penalties in an underwhelming 31-24 win over East Carolina. “Guys, that was embarrassing. We didn’t deserve to win the ball game,” an angry McElwain said afterward. “Our lack of playing with discipline and understanding how to play the game crept up and it was embarrassing.” But McElwain’s postgame press conference rant was overshadowed by his sideline rant involving running back Kelvin Taylor during the game. The first-year Gators coach went off on the ex-Glades Day star after he was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct for a throat-slash gesture to celebrate a touchdown. One thing was clear, McElwain was not going to tolerate undisciplined penalties from a team that averaged the second highest number of penalty yards per game in the SEC in 2014 (59.2) and in 2010 (57.3). “Very upset,” cornerback Jalen Tabor said of McElwain’s demeanor after the game. “He felt like we could have done a lot better. We made the game a lot harder than we needed to make it.” But the week didn’t end without a controversy, as video of McElwain’s confrontation with Taylor went viral — with the coach using explicit language and challenging Taylor’s manhood. McElwain showed regret for the extent of his tirade when addressing the media a few days after the game. “I don’t feel good about it,” he said. “As you know, this is a very public job. This is a public thing that we do. I understand that I have a long ways to go and I make mistakes.” Jim McElwain speaks during the SEC Media Days on July 13. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) It didn’t stop McElwain from demoting Taylor on the team’s Week 3 depth chart for Florida’s road game against Kentucky. Taylor was behind freshmen Jordan Scarlett and Jordan Cronkrite. It was McElwain’s way of sending a very clear message to his players — undisciplined play will not be tolerated. “He told us right away that he wasn’t going to allow us to beat ourselves because we could be that good if we don’t beat ourselves,” safety Marcus Maye said. The Gators followed up their sloppy performance against East Carolina with a 14-9 road win over Kentucky to open conference play. The victory extended Florida’s winning streak against Kentucky to 29. Will Grier dives for the pylon -- and a touchdown -- against Kentucky at Commonwealth Stadium on Sept. 19. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images) But the win over the Wildcats will be remembered for something else. It marked the first game of the season that the Gators stuck with one quarterback, as Grier played the entire game and Harris watched from the sideline. It was the first indication that Grier had won the quarterback competition. Despite that, McElwain refused to name the redshirt freshman as the full-time starter. McElwain takes in the action during Florida's win over East Carolina. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) “Oh, I don’t know,” McElwain said. “We’ll still look at it. We just kind of felt like the way the game was going, he was kind of getting into a rhythm there. Treon’s still in the picture.” McElwain loves to breed competition within his team. It’s a tactic he uses to keep players sharp during midweek practices and trap games. It’s a tactic he uses to rid the team of undisciplined play. Quarterback Will Grier runs for a touchdown during the Gators' early-season win over New Mexico State. (Rob Foldy/Getty Images) QB Treon Harris scrambles for yardage against East Carolina on Sept. 12. (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) Kelvin Taylor rushes for a touchdown against East Carolina. (AP Photo/John Raoux) McElwain takes in the action during Florida's win over East Carolina. (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) Starting to believe (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) Despite the 3-0 start, the Gators knew they had not been tested yet. A three-game stretch against Tennessee, Ole Miss and Missouri would serve as a better indicator of the team — and McElwain’s approach. Florida aced the test, winning all three games to improve to 6-0 and jumping all the way to No. 8 in the AP poll. The Gators found themselves in the top 10 for the first time since 2013. “After that Tennessee game, after Ole Miss,” said Tabor of when he started believing Florida’s success was legitimate. “Those two, we really were like, 'OK we really have something.' ” Those two wins stood out for a reason. Both victories showed qualities the Gators had been lacking in recent years. Florida showed resiliency against the Volunteers on Sept. 26. After falling behind 27-14 with 10:19 left in the contest, the Gators scored 14 unanswered points to win 28-27. It marked the Gators’ second-largest fourth-quarter comeback since 1966. The dramatic win was capped off by an incredible 63-yard touchdown pass from Grier to Callaway with 1:26 left on the clock. Grier and Callaway’s memorable connection came on 4th-and-14 on a play called “Train Right, Jill, Big Ben In.” “It just shows what Coach Mac preaches about,” wide receiver Brandon Powell said. “Every day, the last practice before we go to game day, we practice situations. We always practice that same play and it paid off in the game.” Florida got the statement win it had been looking for over then-No. 3 Ole Miss on Oct. 3. Despite 21 players suffering from what McElwain called a “48-hour bug” leading up to the game, Florida dominated the Rebels 38-10 in the Swamp. On top of all that, the Gators had found a starting quarterback who could win games with his arm. Grier was fantastic against the Rebels, completing 24 of 29 passes for 271 yards and four touchdowns. Through six games, Florida’s offense was averaging 32 points per contest. It hadn’t taken long for the unit to find a rhythm under McElwain and new offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier. “We’re starting to click more,” Grier said after the win over Ole Miss. “It’s starting to come together for us. We’re doing a better job of preparing and the guys around me, we’re all kind of elevating as a team and really doing a good job.” McElwain stews on the sideline during the Gators' game against Mississippi on Oct. 3. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough) Florida's Antonio Callaway races down the sideline for the winning touchdown against Tennessee on Sept. 26. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) Gator Antonio Riles celebrates with fans after defeating Mississippi on Oct. 3. (Rob Foldy/Getty Images) Running back Kelvin Taylor is lifted into the air after scoring a touchdown on the road against Missouri on Oct. 10. (Ed Zurga/Getty Images) Facing adversity (Matt Stamey/The Gainesville Sun via AP) But a major setback was on the way — one that shook the Gators and the entire college football landscape. (Daniel Brenner/The Columbia Daily Tribune via AP) On Oct. 12, the NCAA suspended Grier for one calendar year due to a violation of the NCAA’s policy for performance-enhancing drugs. The news broke just as Florida was preparing for a huge road game against then-No. 6 LSU. “I took an over-the-counter supplement that had something in it,” an emotional Grier said the day his suspension became public. “I did not check with the medical staff before taking it. I really hope that people can learn from my mistake. I’m really sorry to everyone.” (Daniel Brenner/The Columbia Daily Tribune via AP) The suspension ended Grier’s promising season after just six games. He completed 65.8 percent of his passes for 1,204 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. Florida and Grier appealed the decision, but the NCAA decided not to reduce the suspension. Will Grier celebrates a touchdown against Kentucky on Sept. 19. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images) If that wasn’t enough of a distraction, freshman defensive back Deiondre Porter was suspended indefinitely after being arrested just two days after the Grier news broke. Porter was booked into the Alachua County Jail after being charged with four felonies and a misdemeanor for aggravated assault stemming from an incident in which he allegedly fired a gun at his pregnant girlfriend. He has not returned to the team. Quarterback Treon Harris scrambles in an attempt to throw against LSU during the Gators' loss at Tiger Stadium on Oct. 17. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images) Suddenly without their starting quarterback and facing a team with Heisman frontrunner Leonard Fournette — in Death Valley, no less — the Gators suffered their first defeat, 35-28, on Oct. 17. Leonard Fournette runs for a first down past Marcus Maye of the Gators. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images) The wild week ended with a loss, but it was an encouraging one, as Harris threw for 271 yards and two touchdowns in Grier’s place and the Gators battled back from a 28-14 halftime deficit to tie the game in the third quarter. “They came prepared and we played hard against a really good football team,” McElwain said. “There could have been a lot of reasons for everybody, 'Oh, these guys will fall apart,' but no, we didn’t. And I didn’t expect we would.” Winning ugly (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) What would be the Gators’ response to their first loss of the season? How would the offense grow with Harris as the starting quarterback? Those were the questions. After the bye week, the Gators provided some answers, crushing rival Georgia 27-3 on Oct. 31. But there were warning signs hidden within the win. Harris completed just 42 percent of his passes and threw for 155 yards. Austin Hardin missed his fourth consecutive field goal. Florida committed its first turnover since the Sept. 26 game against Tennessee. “That was painful to say the least,” McElwain said after the victory over Georgia. “I apologize for that.” Jim McElwain paces on the sidelines during the Gators' 20-14 overtime victory over Florida Atlantic. (AP Photo/John Raoux) But that was the brand of football Florida would continue to play as it got to the bottom of its schedule. The Gators won, but the wins were ugly. Over a three-game stretch against Vanderbilt, South Carolina and Florida Atlantic — teams with a combined 10-26 record — Florida outscored its opponents just 53-35. The Gators defense kept the team’s shiny record intact. “We are on a championship run,” McElwain said. “Sometimes there are games like this. And champions figure out ways to win. You know what? These guys are the SEC East champs. They figured out a way to win.” But Florida couldn’t figure out a way to get past the first winning team it had faced since Georgia. The Gators’ offensive and kicking struggles — which in late October actually drove McElwain to hold open tryouts on campus — were exposed in a disappointing 27-2 home loss to Florida State in the regular-season finale last Saturday. Treon Harris tries to fight off Florida State defender Jalen Ramsey during the Gators' humbling loss at home to the Seminoles. (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) Florida’s offense totaled 262 yards and Harris finished 19 of 38 for 134 yards and no touchdowns. Hardin missed both of his field-goal attempts. “We’ve got to stay together as a team and a family and, you know, get a little bit better next week,” McElwain said. Jim McElwain celebrates Florida's 28-27 win over Tennessee on Sept. 26 with the Gator Chomp. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/TNS) “We’re playing in this thing called the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta that’s an unbelievable event and it’s something our guys deserve.” Kelvin Taylor rushes for short yardage against Georgia on Oct. 31 in Jacksonville. (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) Treon Harris uncorks a long throw during Florida's home tilt against Vanderbilt on Nov. 7. (Rob Foldy/Getty Images) Kicker Austin Hardin has made just 5-of-13 field-goal attempts for the Gators so far this season, including 4-of-10 from under 40 yards. (Rob Foldy/Getty Images) Jim McElwain celebrates Florida's 28-27 win over Tennessee on Sept. 26 with the Gator Chomp. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/TNS) Downward, but dogged (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) But the Gators didn’t get much better. Florida’s offensive struggles continued in the conference championship, totaling a season-low 180 yards in a 29-15 loss to Alabama . It was ugly. The Gators offense totaled three yards during the second and third quarters combined. “There are a lot of disappointed guys in that locker room, and it was good to see,” McElwain said. “As you go through life, you got ups, you got downs. I don’t think there were a lot of people around the country that thought we would be playing in this football game, and they never backed down.” Despite the loss, Florida earned a trip to a New Year’s Day bowl game. The Gators will take on Michigan in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando on Jan. 1. “I know for our guys having the opportunity to play against such a storied program with great tradition, it should be a lot of fun, and I’m really looking forward to it,” McElwain said. “This is one of those bowls our guys really deserved to go to for what they’ve gone through this season.” Call it a milepost on a never-ending journey. Quarterback Treon Harris went just 9 of 24 for 165 yards against Alabama , throwing one touchdown and one interception. (Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) Alabama's Damien Harris and Keith Holcombe block a Johnny Townsend punt for a safety in the first quarter of the SEC Championship game on Saturday. (Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) TOP Cox Media Group Visitor Agreement Privacy Policy Ad Choices Subscribe mypalmbeachpost.com Enterprise Feedback Management Survey Software