GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- While Florida gets ready to play Georgia this week, all of the focus in the media has been on comments made by coach Jim McElwain Monday that he has received death threats.

McElwain addressed the issue briefly earlier today on an SEC teleconference call but didn't really expand much. He took a different tack on Wednesday evening when meeting with local reporters.

"It’s just something that came up and obviously was on my mind. It doesn’t make it right," McElwain said. "It doesn’t make it right to air that laundry."

The comments obviously painted the Florida fanbase with a broad stroke, creating a lot of unwanted negativity around the program.

It certainly didn't make it any easier to recruit at a time when there's already a lot working against the Gators as the offense continues to struggle, questions at quarterback remain and the fanbase is on edge as the season teeters on the brink.

McElwain was pretty pointed that he messed up.

"I speak to our guys all the time and the people within our organization about shutting out the noise and not letting the clutter get to you," McElwain said. "And obviously, you guys know me well, sometimes things are on your mind and I go ahead and speak.

"It doesn’t make it right, and yet at the same time it’s letting one or two get into you and not recognize how great our fan base is obviously and the people associated with this program that are here for you to help in any way. And you know what? I’ve been doing this a long time and obviously allowing the clutter to get to you is not what it’s all about."

There remain bigger-picture questions that came to light with the incident, though.

Florida's statement Monday in the wake of the comments certainly raised more than a few eyebrows. The administration met with McElwain and made it clear in their statement that McElwain "provided no additional details."

McElwain was asked about the meeting and the statement itself and questioned it.

"I don't really quite understand what even the statement was," he said.

The third-year coach said he visited with athletics director Scott Stricklin and executive associate athletics director for internal affairs Laird Veatch, calling them "really good and supportive" in the meeting.

Stricklin has not spoken out on the issue, with the lone comment from the UF administration the Monday night statement from spokesman Steve McClain.

In any case, there doesn't appear to be any imminent threat to McElwain, his players, his coaches or their families.

"Obviously, I understand that's the news," McElwain said. "It goes with the territory. You know what? It’s hard to leave sometimes. You know how much I care about this program, these players. Obviously, everything that goes in 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."

Now McElwain has to turn the focus back to Georgia and finding a way to avoid slipping below .500.

If he hopes to right the ship and patch up any potential holes in relationships with the people that matter within the administration, it all starts there. After putting this whole death threats mess in the rearview mirror.

"Obviously, our guys are aware of it, we’ve talked about it," McElwain said. "We’re ready to go play Georgia and move forward. The people have been great. That’s very comforting."

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