New head coach Jim McElwain hasn’t wasted any time getting to know his new contingent.

While the Gators were warming up for their matchup against ECU in the Birmingham Bowl, Coach Mac braved the rain, wind and mud to find Gator fans tailgating around the Legion Field stadium.

McElwain is not coaching the team in any capacity of the bowl game, leaving those duties to previously named interim head coach DJ Durkin, so he had time to take with GatorNation.

Watch below for some highlights of Mac’s time tailgating and hear from him and fans as to why this was so important.