Florida coach Jim McElwain says his and other coaches' families have received death threats

With his team off to a 3-3 start, Florida coach Jim McElwain said that fans are upset about the season and are showing by reacting in a threatening way.

He said that he and other coaches have received death threats aimed at them and their families.

"A pretty good kind of lesson for the way things are,'' McElwain said during his weekly news conference. "There's a lot of hate in this world and a lot of anger, and yet it's freedom to show it. The hard part is obviously when the threats are against your own players, the death threats to your families, the ill will that is brought upon out there. I think it's really one of those deals that really is a pretty good testament of what's going on out there nationally.

"A lot of angry people, and in this business, we're the ones you take the shots at and that's the way it is."

The Gators, who have won the SEC East in back-to-back seasons, are 3-2 in conference and play undefeated and No. 3-ranked Georgia at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Jacksonville.

"It is what it is,'' McElwain said. "It's when it's directed toward your players, when it's directed toward families, wives, that kind of thing. at the same time, they know what they signed up for as well. That's part of the business."

Florida released a statement later Monday night saying it spoke with McElwain but added he provided "no additional details."

Here is a statement from UF about Jim McElwain’s statement that he, his teammates and their families have received death threats. #Gatorspic.twitter.com/hsLW78SGfQ
— Nick de la Torre (@NickdelaTorreGC) October 23, 2017