WOLVERINES

Florida coach Jim McElwain: We're going to 'beat the heck out of Michigan'

Florida head coach Jim McElwain had a message for students on campus this past weekend

Nick Baumgardner
Detroit Free Press
Florida football coach Jim McElwain, left, and Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh talk before the Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1, 2016, in Orlando.

Those preseason pep rallies can be interesting. 

During a gathering with students at Florida on Sunday, Gators coach Jim McElwain couldn't help himself from making one final passing comment about the team's upcoming game against Michigan on Sept. 2 in Texas. 

McElwain told students at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium to get their season tickets. Why? 

“We’re headed to Dallas here in a couple weeks to go beat the heck out of Michigan,” McElwain said. “And then come back to you guys, thanks.”

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A major deal? Not really. But if Jim Harbaugh's looking for bulletin board material, he's got two pieces of it now. 

Earlier this off-season, Florida running back Mark Thompson took to Twitter to explain how the Gators were going to "beat the brakes" off Michigan when the season opens in Texas. 

Michigan, as of right now, is a 3 1/2-point favorite over the Gators for the opener. Florida will be without seven suspended players, including elite receiver Antonio Callaway. 

Harbaugh and McElwain have met on the field once: Michigan beat the Gators 41-7 in the 2016 Citrus Bowl. 

Contact Nick Baumgardner: nbaumgardn@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickbaumgardner.

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