Gators Hoping Davis Hire Will Bring Continuity
By Jenna Sweeney
SouthernPigskin.com
Follow us at Twitter.com/SouthernPigskin. Become a fan at the SouthernPigskin.com Facebook Page
This is not the first time that Will Muschamp and Tim Davis will be a part of the same staff. Davis and Muschamp worked together on the Dolphins’ coaching staff in 2005.For the past three years, the Florida Gators have been in a constant state of change. Starting with Dan Mullen’s departure in 2009, the Gators have endured an enormous amount of instability. Recently, former offensive coordinator Charlie Weis left the Gators after just one year. Monday, Florida announced that offensive line coach Frank Verducci is leaving the program to “pursue other interests.” Will Muschamp has already hired Tim Davis to replace him.
During his career, Davis has worked at Utah, Alabama, Idaho State, USC, and Arizona. This is not the first time that Will Muschamp and Tim Davis will be a part of the same staff. Davis and Muschamp worked together on the Dolphins’ coaching staff in 2005. According to Muschamp, their time in Miami as colleagues is one of the reasons that he is so confident in Davis’ ability to be a successful offensive line coach for the Gators.
“He was a guy that brought energy and passion to the job every day,” Muschamp said. “He is going to bring toughness. I thought he did a great job with our offensive line [with the Dolphins]. Everywhere he has been and he’s coached they have been able to run the football and create the play-actions off it, be able to spread the field, understand the protections and do what you’ve got to do to be able to keep the quarterback upright.”
“You look at some of the guys he has worked for and you talk about Barry Alvarez, you talk about Nick Saban, you talk about Pete Carroll. You talk about those guys and what they have accomplished. He knows what it takes to be successful.”
Davis’ energy was not the only thing that sold Muschamp on his potential as a coach. Continuity has been a big problem for the Gators in the past three years and Muschamp knows that better than anyone.
“There is going to be a lot of continuity,’’ Muschamp said. “This guy brings juice. He does a great job of relating to people and he’s totally committed to being a Gator. That’s important to me.”
With so much uncertainty surrounding the program lately, Muschamp is obviously seeking to build a more stable environment. Muschamp’s ability as a coach and recruiter is one of the reasons that Davis wanted to join him at Florida.
“He’s got to where he is by being a great competitor, No. 1, and a great recruiter and great football coach,’’ Davis said about Muschamp. “He’ll be in the SEC as long as he wants to be there. He has a personal note to his ability to deal with people. That’s a huge positive thing to have because he can reach out to athletes and alumni and coaches around him. That’s real rare.”
If Muschamp is right, and hiring Davis provides the Gators with more continuity, then the Gators will benefit immensely.
SouthernPigskin.com is the leading name in southern college football coverage. We love the sport in general, but have a special place in our heart for the ACC, SEC and Southern Conference. No college football website on the internet is more frequently updated. Check us out—you will feel our passion for the game. Born and Raised.