So UF got an interview with Jason Marshall's father tonight. Here are the highlights:
It’s been about a couple of months now but the younger Marshall took a virtual tour of the Gator program from his home because of the shutdown of everything due to COVID-19. Mr. Marshall happened to be working from home at the time, so he doesn’t know too much about the tour.
“He told me it was good, but I didn’t ask him any details or nothing like that,” he said in a late Wednesday night conversation on the phone.
Mr. Marshall does know that his son has visited Gainesville and the Florida campus “at least two times”, and also said that he had the opportunity to take a trip as well. He said it’s the only program he’s visited so far.
“Just once. It was good I can’t compare it to any other campuses because I haven’t been to any, but it was pretty good,” he said about the lone visit.
“The surrounding area was good as far as the actual city. Everything was pretty much in close proximity. The facilities were good, the weight room facilities, and the academic hall. The locker rooms and stadium was good. Again I can’t compare it to any other one so I can’t say it was good compared to such and such.”
When asked what he thought might stand out about Florida, Mr. Marshall certainly had one thing in mind. Florida head coach Dan Mullen and his staff have made sure to point out that the program is part of the only Top 10 public academic institution and Top 10 football program in the country for each of the last two seasons.
Mr. Marshall was quite clear that the decision will be the younger Marshall’s to make, but he did rattle off some reasons for an eventual decision.
“There are quite a few things to try and narrow it down to a couple, but obviously the distance from home plays a part,” he said. “The ease and convenience of traveling to wherever he goes plays a big part. The weather plays a part. Obviously the coaching staff. The ability to compete for a position and play. There are quite a few things. It isn’t something we talk about that often, but if it comes up and we think about it, we will discuss it.”
Marshall announced a Top 5 of Florida, Alabama, LSU, Miami, and Oregon last week after it was thought that he previously narrowed things down to Florida and Alabama. Regardless, things will be up to the younger Marshall and he tries to steer clear.
“I leave it up to Jason,” he said about talking to the college coaches. “Whatever his feelings are for the coaching staff or the school, it’s up to him. We just support him. At the end of the day he’s the one that has to go, not us.”
