New Florida Gators head football coach Dan Mullen was introduced on Monday afternoon in Gainesville, and he had his first press conference of his new gig. Overall, it went pretty well — he talked about wanting to spread out defenses with his offense, working with ambassador Steve Spurrier, and — OH NO HE SAID CHAMPIONS OF LIFE.
WELP, Dan Mullen used the Butch Jones-esque term ‘Champions in Life’ in his introductory presser
Sound familiar?
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
“We have a great responsibility, as parents send their children to us not just to develop them as football players, but to help develop them as men,” Mullen said. “And I know Meghan [Mullen’s wife] is truly committed to helping develop all of these young men that come to the University of Florida and to become champions, not just in football, to become champions in life. To working as hard as they can every day to be the best that they can be both on and off the field.”
OK, so he said “champions in life,” but it’s pretty much the same thing.
I’m not trying to alarm anyone or make this a huge deal, but I just want to point out the hilarious irony here — the man who coined this God forsaken term was none other than former Tennessee head coach Butch Jones, who, when asked last season about his lack of championships as head coach, said his players were “Champions of Life.”
Twitter, of course, had a field day with his comments:
Jones was fired two weeks ago following the Vols’ 50-17 loss to Missouri. He compiled a 34-27 record as Tennessee’s head coach over five seasons. Yes, I am completely aware that Mullen to Florida is a smart and safe hire, and it makes a ton of sense after Florida missed on Chip Kelly and Scott Frost, but I can’t help but laugh and shake my head that Mullen used this term on his very first day.
We’ll see how it goes with Mullen at Florida this time around.
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