Verbal Attack Of Black Player By Florida Coach Went Too Far

 But I want you to tell me what you what was worse, Taylor’s  gesture, or the profanity laced  response by Florida coach  Jim McElwain, who got in his face and cussed (not cursed) a  kid out like a dog?  (video of both is posted below).

The video will clearly show that it was McElwain, who acted a fool.  Hell, that is probably how slave owners cussed out slaves during that wretched time.  Now, why would I invoke slavery in something like this?  Because that is how this makes me feel.  It is absolutely infuriating.

There is no doubt that this  was McElwain,  in his first year as coach at Florida, playing to Gator Nation. He was  trying to earn some cheap brownie points with Gator fans, and he used Taylor to do it.

Understand, I have no problem with a coach getting in a kid’s face in college, or in high school, for that matter.  But McElwain went too far. If he was going to go there, it should have been taken into the  locker room.  Of course, Gator Nation couldn’t see it if it occurred there.

To no one’s surprise, Taylor’s father, who happens to know a bit about big time football, saw through McElwain’s bullshit.  Fred Taylor, a Florida legend, and former NFL Pro-Bowl running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars, was not happy about the way his son was talked to.

“Yeah, I do think it was a little much,” said Taylor, talking with ESPN radio.  “History shows that the coaches that go and act that way, they’ll be a bigger mockery over time than the actual player will.  My son, he’ll forget about this.  He’s forgotten about it, so I don’t think it’s a big deal.”

That was the classy answer for public consumption by Taylor. I bet you he gave McElwain a call and told him something along these lines: “If you embarrass my son like that in public again I am gonna come down on the field and whip your ass.”

McElwain did apologize for his actions.  We can only hope they are sincere.  Meanwhile, Calvin Taylor handled the matter with grace. He stood  quietly while his coach acted a fool in his face.  He has moved forward from the incident, while continuing to perform at a high level on the field.

I don’t think there is ever a point in time where a coach, who earns millions,  can curse out a college athlete, who is  an amateur, and busts his ass year round.  Again, I have no problem with a coach getting in an athlete’s face, and sometimes even using profanity.  But there is a line, and there is no doubt that Jim McElwain crossed it.

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