Florida basketball head coach Todd Golden spoke to the media on Friday ahead of the Gators’ matchup with Texas, but the larger focus was on the recent sexual harassment allegations made against assistant coach Taurean Green.
Golden, who is in the middle of a Title IX probe of his own, opened the press conference with a statement on the matter.
“I simply want to say that I support my staff and I would suggest people do not rush to judgment based off a headline,” Golden said according to 247Sports’ transcription of the presser. “For me, I am just frustrated and disappointed that a Title IX mechanism that is created to protect both sides during a situation like this — that confidentiality and privacy continues to be abused.
“So, as frustrating and as disappointing and as hard as it is to do, I am going to do what I think I need to do and continue to respect the process, as I have. As always, I will continue to respect and appreciate the support for my family and our program at this time.”
Although linked above, 247Sports’ transcription of these comments deserves to be cited again. Click here for the full script from Friday’s press conference.
Golden received some follow-ups directly related to the scandals, including a straight-forward, “Is there anything you or your staff as done to be ashamed of?” back-and-forth. Golden gave a one-word answer denying any wrongdoing
“I don’t like it, but perception is perception. It is not reality,” he said. “I am in this program every day. I see how our staff acts. I see how our players act. I am proud of what we’ve done since we got here. And that’s all I can do is keep my head up and keep working.”
The players don’t seem to be distracted by the sideshow. Golden said, “Our guys do a pretty good job of staying the course and working hard” before confirming Green would stay on the sidelines through the investigation.
Golden talks Arkansas, Missouri
Moving away from the uncomfortable conversation, Golden turned to basketball talk, starting with Florida’s sluggish pace in the first half over the past week. While he’s not “super concerned about a slow start,” the third-year Gators coach wants to avoid playing like they did before the break on Tuesday.
“I thought we played relatively well in the second half, but we had dug ourselves too big of a hole to climb out of it,” Golden said. “So for me, it’s about recapturing that intensity and that physicality. I think…
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