FLORIDA GATORS

FLORIDA GATORS

McElwain regrets citing death threats

GAINESVILLE, FLA.

Calling his actions uncharacteristic, Florida coach Jim McElwain said Wednesday he was wrong to bring up death threats that “happened in the past.”

McElwain provided some insight into the threats while expressing remorse for the firestorm he caused and all those it affected.

“It’s just something that came up and obviously was on my mind,” he said following practice. “It doesn’t make it right. It doesn’t make it right to air that laundry.”

McElwain said Monday that Florida players and families received death threats amid the team’s struggles. He did not contact police and declined to say whether he personally received threats.

“It goes with the territory,” McElwain said two days later. “You know what? It’s hard to leave (it alone) sometimes. You know how much I care about this program, these players. Obviously, everything that goes with it. But ultimately allowing one or two — and who even knows who it was, right? You don’t know. It’s anonymous. So that is what it is, and I’m confident we’re all right.”

The university’s athletic department released a statement Monday night saying administrators met with McElwain and that the coach “offered no additional details.”

It was a strange situation since McElwain seemingly declined to share details about a serious allegation with his bosses.

McElwain questioned the statement Wednesday, saying, “I don’t really quite understand what even the statement was.” He said he visited with athletic director Scott Stricklin and assistant Laird Veatch on Monday, and “they were really good and supportive.”

Florida (3-3, 3-2 SEC) plays third-ranked Georgia (7-0, 4-0) on Saturday in nearby Jacksonville.

TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS

Kelly, Ignont out for drug-related charges

KNOXVILLE, TENN.

Tennessee running back John Kelly and linebacker Will Ignont have been suspended for the Volunteers’ Saturday game with Kentucky after they were cited on misdemeanor drug-related charges this week.

“Members of our football team have a responsibility to represent the University of Tennessee in a first-class manner,” Tennessee coach Butch Jones said Wednesday in a statement. “I met with John and Will, and they understand their actions were unacceptable.”

Knoxville police say they stopped a car that had a headlight out Tuesday at about 10:46 p.m. Police said they searched the vehicle with Kelly’s consent after smelling marijuana, and that 4.6 grams of marijuana and a glass pipe were found in the console.

BYU COUGARS

Two players released for alcohol offenses

PROVO, UTAH

BYU football coach Kalani Sitake says two players cited for alcohol-related offenses over the weekend were released from the team several weeks ago.

Sitake said at a news conference that linebacker Francis Bernard had asked to be released several weeks ago and that was granted.

Bernard had been suspended for violating BYU’s honor code and was arrested Saturday on suspicion of DUI, driving without a valid license or proper registration.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports that safety Marvin Hifo was with Bernard and cited for having an open container of alcohol in the vehicle.

Sitake says Hifo quit the school and team several weeks ago after an injury. Sitake didn’t offer further details.

Associated Press