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Gators deal with fallout of Muschamp firing

 
Florida's offensive coordinator Kurt Roper, left, says the assistants have tried to treat this like a normal game week despite the likelihood of losing their jobs along with Will Muschamp.  (AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)
Florida's offensive coordinator Kurt Roper, left, says the assistants have tried to treat this like a normal game week despite the likelihood of losing their jobs along with Will Muschamp. (AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)
Published Nov. 19, 2014

GAINESVILLE — There are homes to sell, resumes and videotapes to be passed along to prospective employers, maybe a few favors to call in. There are new schools to find and places to live — if and when a new job is located.

But first there are two more weeks to pretend that everything is still normal.

In the aftermath of Florida's decision to fire coach Will Muschamp effective at the end of the Nov. 29 game at Florida State, there are players and assistant coaches left behind to deal with the uncertainty while trying to go about their everyday lives.

"Like coach said, it's going to be the same," senior linebacker Mike Taylor said. "We won't change. We'll go out there, we'll work. I'll cherish my last couple weeks here. They'll cherish their last couple weeks here. We'll all cherish and enjoy this time because things will be a lot different next year."

Muschamp and his staff insist they'll do everything possible to see to it that the players are prepared to play in the season's final two games. Like any other week, they all keep saying.

"I told the football team, you're not going to see anything different," Muschamp said. "We're going to coach these guys hard. They deserve that, the University of Florida deserves that. I'm totally invested for two weeks to be the coach at Florida and that's what we're trying to do. Not going to do anything different."

"You know, to be honest with you, it hasn't really been any different because we've got a game at the end of the week," Florida offensive coordinator Kurt Roper said Tuesday. "That's what happens. You go in and obviously we had a couple meetings that were telling us what the situation was. Those aren't easy. Then after that they say, 'Saturday you've got to be ready to go.' So we've been in the room just like normal trying to figure out a plan to put together to win a football game and be prepared."

The Gators are preparing for Saturday's home finale against Eastern Kentucky — but outside of that, everything is different. The underclassmen have no idea who'll coach this team next season. If the Gators make it to a bowl game, Muschamp will not be their coach. And the coaches have to find that balance between their obligation to the Gators and self-preservation for themselves and their families.

"You take calls when the calls come," Roper said. "The No. 1 priority is to be prepared. We have two more weeks to focus. I've never been through this. I think it gets harder a little bit as you go. It's getting harder rather than easier because it's just human nature. We want to go out there Saturday and have a plan, and not look like we didn't have a plan. We're working hard to prepare these guys and help them win a football game."

Entering last week's game, the Gators talked incessantly about wanting to take back the Swamp after less than spectacular results of late. Florida has lost six of its past eight home games. With the seniors and Muschamp set to play in their final game at Florida Field, Saturday's urgency to win has taken on new meaning.

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"I feel like I have to win," senior right guard Trenton Brown said. "All of us feel like we have to win to send all our seniors out of our last home game with a win and to send Champ out with a win. It's like his senior night, too. It is what it is. Coach is a great guy, great man, great husband, great father. I'm sure he'll end up with a job somewhere."

Contact Antonya English at aenglish@tampabay.com or (813) 226-3389). Follow @TBTimes_Gators.