UF spring game moves to night
The Florida Gators will play their annual Orange and Blue spring football game for the first time on Friday night — at 7 p.m. April 8 — instead of a Saturday afternoon, the school announced.
GAINESVILLE — The changes during the Jim Mc
Elwain era continue. The Florida Gators will play their annual Orange and Blue spring game for the first time on Friday night — at 7 p.m. April 8 — instead of a Saturday afternoon, the school announced.
The decision moves the game from the midday heat of early spring in Gainesville to the cooler evening hours under the lights of the Swamp. The change also could afford better television exposure.
The move is another by McElwain to increase his program’s exposure. The Gators’ four-win improvement in 2015 and continuing upgrades to facilities have raised the program’s profile since his arrival in December of 2014.
Admission to the spring game is free.
The format of the game remains to be seen.
McElwain originally planned to stage a scrimmage in 2015 due to a serious lack of depth on the offensive line.
He eventually opted to stage a game and split up the roster into two squads that will square off during four 12-minute quarters with a running clock, with the exception of the final two minutes of the second and fourth quarters.
UCF adds new football coach
UCF football coach Scott
Frost moved one step closer toward completing his assistant coaching staff with the hire of new defensive line coach Mike Dawson.
Dawson most recently worked under Chip Kelly as an assistant defensive line
coach for the Philadelphia Eagles. He, along with new offensive line coach Greg
Austin and defensive coordinator Erik Chinander, all built relationships while working together for the Eagles organization.
Dawson was promoted to assistant defensive line coach from defensive quality control specialist after Chinander left to coach linebackers at Oregon, where Frost was the Ducks’ offensive coordinator.
“There’s a lot of excite- ment around UCF right now, and it has been helping us attract some exceptional football coaches,” Frost said. “Mike Dawson comes to us with extensive NFL and college football experience. He also is very familiar with Chinander and his scheme that he is going to implement. Mike is a great addition to our staff and we look forward to working with him.”
Before joining the Knights, Dawson amassed nearly 20 years of coaching experience. His past experience included working as the special teams coach for Boston College from 2009-11 and working as the linebackers coach at Akron from 2006-08.
Dawson’s hiring signifies Frost is almost done completing his staff. UCF is looking to hire one additional coach.
The football staff was introduced by position at halftime of the Knights men’s basketball game against East Carolina Jan. 16, but not all of the job assignments have been finalized yet.
The quarterback, offensive line, defensive line and defensive coordinator coaching positions have been confirmed.
Troy Walters has not officially been named the receivers and offensive coordinator yet. The job titles for Sean Beckton, Travis Fisher and Ryan Held have also not been designated yet, although it’s believed Beckton will coach tight ends, Fisher will work with the secondary and Held will coach the running backs.
The school also confirmed
that Zach Duval is the new director of strength and con
ditioning and Andrew Strop would serve as the assistant director.