The many faces of Will Muschamp

Keep Calm and Muschamp On

Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE

No matter the level or the sport, coaches of all shapes, sizes and walks of life develop a personality as they grow into their respective position.

Some coaches, for example, garner the respect of assistants, players and fans through an almost otherworldly stoicism in face of a constant din from those same assistants, players and fans.

The Florida Gators' second-year man, Will Muschamp, is not one of those coaches.

However, through his obvious passion for winning, his players and for Gator Nation as a whole, the UF fan base has in turn endeared themselves to their sometimes outlandish Coach Boom.

Thus, as the team takes a shot at a trip to Atlanta as the potential SEC East champions, we take a look at the many, many faces of coach Will Muschamp.

The calm before the storm for Coach Boom

Don McPeak-US PRESSWIRE

Notice the distinct lack of sweat along the brow.

Jot down the fact that his arms are crossed comfortably.

Finally, record the pensive eyes and the lips pursed in gentle concentration.

Here we have a man far more calm, more cool, than we will have at any other point over the next three hours.

Here we have Will Muschamp at his most serene, surveying the battlefield, calm before the storm erupts.

Sit back, relax, and hunker down, Coach ...

Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

... the battle is just beginning.

Early on in football games, Muschamp tends to take long surveys of the field, allowing his trusted and highly capable assistants to work themselves into the football game.

It will be later on that Coach Boom takes a bit more of a hands-on approach to the Gators' victories.

There are plenty of referees and players that are happy to steer clear of Muschamp as long as possible, no question about that.

Muschamp's patented 'Was that the same mistake again?' face

Rob Foldy-US PRESSWIRE

By all accounts and measures, the 2012 Florida Gators have exceeded any and all expectations put together by fans and media before the season began.

That said, the team is still trotting a true sophomore and first-year starter in Jeff Driskel out there at quarterback and Muschamp and his staff patched together the offensive line like a quilt before the season began.

The Gators have had to make second half comebacks in order to win multiple times already this season. One of the first ways Coach Boom starts to work himself into games is by having to deal with silly mistakes and penalties early on.

Muschamp is nothing if not a teacher

Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

After spending years learning how to lead and teach as current Alabama coach Nick Saban's defensive coordinator, Muschamp now has the opportunity to show his Florida Gators players how to win and how to win the right way.

Rarely has Muschamp steered his players in the wrong direction this season. Like wildlife experts, we can see here that Coach Boom is beginning to work up a bit of a sweat. Studying this mammal's behavior, this has proven one of the truest indicators yet of the 'boom' about to be laid down.

Referees are smart to keep their distance

Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE

A little black mamba action from our Coach here indicates that while Muschamp has not exactly blown his top (oh, never fear, Gators fans, that is coming, promise), the man is exactly happy with a call made on the field.

Offensive coordinator Brent Pease makes his play calls and adjustment from the coaching box high above the field. Thus, Muschamp, already the team's leader, must take on ever more responsibility at ground level. This can start to get stressful, to say the least, for the man.

Still no refs in sight

Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

It's happening!

Like Dr. Jekyll and and Mr. Hyde or Bruce Banner and the Hulk, Muschamp has worked himself into full-on 'stare' mode. This iteration of the Florida Gators head coach is far better known as Coach Boom.

Just stay out of this dude's way, referees.

And boom goes the dynamite!

Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

We could have sworn that we told those refs to stay out of Coach Boom's way, did we not?

Whatever the case, you've got to love that stare, Gator Nation.

Coach Boom's ticked off for greatness

Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

When Boom gets going, that stare could scare off a real life tiger, let alone a few punks out of LSU, Mizzou or Auburn. Yes, for those counting there are now three SEC schools with the same mascot, not quite like wearing the same dress to a party, but pretty weak nonetheless.

Thus far, his intensity has driven the Gators to heights enjoyed by former coaches Steve Spurrier (love him) and Urban Meyer (hate him) but in a time frame far earlier than most anyone expected.

That said, it would suck to be one of his players on the bad end of that stare, wouldn't it?

Boom calmly to his players: "Try harder, okee dokee?"

Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

Not all of Boom's wrath is directed at the game's officials.

Remember how it would suck to be a player at the wrong end of a Muschamp Stare?

Well, since we can't head on down to the sidelines with a tape recorder in hands, we're just going to assume that he was instructing his players on how better to eat gumdrops and enjoy rainbows, okee dokee?

Muschamp expects the best and earns it from his players

Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE

Yes, he gets in his guys' faces. Yes, he is demanding of his assistants and of the referees. At the end of the day, however, when you get to celebrate in front of more than 90,000 screaming members of Gator Nation in one of the most historic college football stadiums in the nation, everything was worth it.

Will Muschamp pours everything he has into each and every practice, film session and Saturday afternoon. With such an exhaustive effort, he expects his players and his assistants to provide the same.

This team is one entity, one unit, tied inexorably to a city, a school and a (Gator) Nation. We have all been able to celebrate the efforts of Coach Boom ...

Muschamp's favorite face: His Gator Chompin' look

Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

... and when it is all said and done, hopefully we will all be Gator Chompin' in the faces of Georgia fans, all the way to Atlanta, and beyond.