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NCAAF  > General NCAAF  > Will Muschamp, HC of the Florida Gators
September 18, 2011, 01:39 PM
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Friends, FN regulars, CFB fans, I post not to praise Will Muschamp, but to acknowledge him. Will was born in Rome, Georgia. He spent his formative years in Gainsevill, FL. The son of a school administrator, he returned to Rome, Georgia when his father accept the position of headmaster at the Darlington School. There, Will played football, basketball, baseball, and ran track. He graduate high school at Darlington and went on to attend the Univeristy of Georgia in Athens.

Will walked on to the football team at Georgia and won a position as safety. He played for Ray Goff's Dawgs from 1991 through 1994. As a player, he appeared in two Bowl games, the 1991 Independence Bowl in which UGA defeated Arkansas 24 - 15, and the 1992 Citrus Bowl in which the Dawgs beat tOSU 21 - 14. Sadly, UGA never defeated Florida during Muschamp's tenure, losing all four games by a combined score of 156 - 77. In addition, Muschamp played against Tennessee thrice. The Dawgs came up short each time, losing in 1992 by the score of 34 to 31, in 1993 by the score of 38 to 6, and in 1994, 41-23. Still while Muschamp played with the Dawgs, Georgia had 3 winning seasons including Will's senior season, during which he was elected defensive captain by his teammates.

After graduating with a Bachelor's degree in 1994, Will became a graduate assistant coach at Auburn University, where he worked under defensive coordinators Wayne Hall and Bill Oliver in 1995 and 1996. He earned a Master of Education degree while at Auburn. From there he went on to serve as defensive secondary coach, first for the University of West Georgia and then for Eastern Kentucky University. In 2000, Muschamp became Defensive Coordinator at Valdosta State University.

Muschamp's move to D1-A (FBS) was fortuitous. He became linebacker coach at LSU under Nick Saban (pre-indwelling) in 2001 and rose to the position of Defensive Coordinator one year later. Muschamp's defense for the 2003 BCS Champion LSU Tigers was atop the SEC in every defensive category.

After the 2004 season, Muschamp made the mistake of following Saban to the Miami Dolphins. He rectified that situation, parting ways with Saban (~time of the indwelling) in 2006 to become DC for the Auburn Tigers. Under Will's fierce tutelage, Auburn's D became badass, ranking 6th nationally in total defense, passing defense, and scoring defense among FBS teams.

In 2008, Muschamp joined Mack Brown's staff at UTx. Before the 2008 season was over, UTx named Muschamp heir apparent to Mack Brown with the expectation that Will would receive a 5-year contract as HC after Mack's retirement. Brown wasn't so interested in retirement and was under contract until 2016. Though Muschamp demurred from several intitutions expressed interest in his services as HC, the world of college football new he had to take the reigns somewhere else before Brown would retire.

With the exit of uber-successful head coach, Urban Myer in 2010, the University of Florida was the right school in the right place at the right time. In December 2010, Muschamp became the head coach of the Florida Gators. He quickly assembled a better-than-the-average-fat-space-slug coaching staff and immediately went to work. At the outset of the 2001 season, it seems to be working. Will's Gators are 3-0, ranked in the top 20, and convincingly defeated their first SEC opponent, Tennessee.

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September 18, 2011  01:41 PM ET
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QUOTE:
Originally posted 01:39 PM ET  09.18 by Tin Man

At the outset of the 2001 season

That should read, "At the outset of the 2011 season." I apologize for blemishing the otherwise well-proofed post.

September 18, 2011  01:42 PM ET
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The Tin Man honors his commitments.

Comment #3 has been removed
September 18, 2011  03:23 PM ET
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QUOTE:
Originally posted 01:39 PM ET  09.18 by Tin Man

the world of college football new

Should read, "the world of college football knew"

Dang. Cannot proof my own scribbling.

September 18, 2011  03:40 PM ET
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I thought I heard that he turned down appointments to both West Point and the Naval Academy during the game yesterday. Did you find that in your bio research?

September 18, 2011  03:40 PM ET
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QUOTE(#2):
Originally posted 01:42 PM ET  09.18 by Tin Man

The Tin Man honors his commitments.

And yes, you are a man of honor!

September 18, 2011  05:20 PM ET
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QUOTE(#5):
Originally posted 03:40 PM ET  09.18 by MountainGator

I thought I heard that he turned down appointments to both West Point and the Naval Academy during the game yesterday. Did you find that in your bio research?

Oh, OK. I thought it had something to do with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

September 19, 2011  08:18 AM ET
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You are a man of your word Tinny. Trust In Mus.

September 19, 2011  10:03 AM ET
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Nice post. You have my respect.

September 19, 2011  10:09 AM ET
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So if UF wins the SEC East this year can we call him "Will the Thrill". No active sports figure is using that one right now.

Comment #11 has been removed
September 19, 2011  12:13 PM ET
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Bumping over 40+ SPAM boards. 40+!!!! If you're reading this post, you MUSt join me in reporting this abuse. Only an avalanche of reports can spur FN into taking action.

Comment #13 has been removed
September 19, 2011  01:37 PM ET
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Bumping over the other Bumps.

I love what Muschamp is doing. Everything he does or says increases my agreement with his hire.

September 19, 2011  02:00 PM ET
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Google search bump

September 19, 2011  10:23 PM ET
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QUOTE(#13):
Originally posted 12:38 PM ET  09.19 by colonel

Didn't his Dad go with him and went to the Gators to talk about going there as maybe a walk on, I think so, or maybe I got it mixed up with someone else, I think it was him, waited with his Pops in Steve's office for over an hour, never showed, and went back home. Is this right, anyone know for sure??

I do believe they said something about that in the game.

September 19, 2011  10:24 PM ET
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Watching Mus is as much or more fun that watching the game I wish they would just put a box up in the corner of the screen during the Florida games and have a camera just trail Mus. He had me dying Saturday.

September 20, 2011  10:54 AM ET
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QUOTE(#17):
Originally posted 10:24 PM ET  09.19 by wildbill21475

Watching Mus is as much or more fun that watching the game I wish they would just put a box up in the corner of the screen during the Florida games and have a camera just trail Mus. He had me dying Saturday.

UF is going to create a network for just that. They plan to show the Muschamp boys Little League games and when they are at PE class

September 20, 2011  12:34 PM ET
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QUOTE(#18):
Originally posted 10:54 AM ET  09.20 by BS&B:TrustInO-6

UF is going to create a network for just that. They plan to show the Muschamp boys Little League games and when they are at PE class

Well, then we can kiss aTm goodbye before they even join, huh?

 
September 20, 2011  12:43 PM ET
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Entrepreneurial opportunity - MusCam online. A dedicated camera stays on Muschamp the entire game. It feeds a special Webcast.

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