Since the Jim McElwain debacle and our fascinating article by the most attractive writer here at SU, Florida has been in limbo. Gator fans have since collectively decided that the 2017 season matters very little in the shadow of the new head coaching search. We ran down who we thought would be considered by the Gator AD, and it appears that they may have made a decision.

The 2010 AP Coach of the Year, a man with a 46-7 collegiate coaching record, Chip Kelly appears to be the selection by the UF staff. How accurate is this assertion? Well, it’s on twitter, which can be both good and bad. However, we’re all going to owe GatorsCenter a big hand when, as they reported, Chip Kelly is unveiled as the new Gator HC on Thursday, for a purported 6yr/4.5m contract settled at 11am this morning. Why Thursday you might ask? To avoid upstaging the College Football Playoff ranking show that ESPN hosts every Tuesday night. This is all conjecture, but if it’s true, what does this mean for the Gators?

Well, firstly, it means that UF fans are getting a offensively dynamic head coach who led Oregon to a football resurgence in the late 2000s before leaving to the NFL. The current ESPN analyst took the Ducks to 4 straight 10+ win seasons before experiencing a mediocre NFL career with the Eagles and 49ers. His offensive style, featuring a wide-open air raid attack, utilizing speed as a primary weapon, was far ahead of its time. Now the norm, the spread offense is being utilized by SEC teams more and more. Florida has had a difficult time generating offense, but Kelly never has. During his time at Oregon, the Ducks led the country in PPG in 2010, and as the Georgia/Auburn game this past week showcased, the SEC offense of choice is a spread utilizing iso and counter concepts: something Kelly has no problem with.

It also makes a statement, if Kelly truly is the Gator selection, that they have no problem with controversy. Kelly, during his time at Oregon, was involved in NCAA infractions that concluded with 3 years probation and a reduction in scholarships. The coach, who has voiced that recruiting is not his favorite extra-curricular activity, received these infractions for reportedly paying a 7-7 coach to steer recruits toward Oregon. But again, they just got rid of Jimmy Mac…Chip Kelly is pretty tame personality-wise when you put him next to the Gators prior coach.

Regardless of what happens, as of now, the Gators remain coach-less. Chip Kelly, a man with NFL experience and a displayed college repertoire, makes him a fantastic option for both Florida and Tennessee. Every year we get to talk about the coaching carousel, so gear up: this is just the beginning.