GAINESVILLE, FL – Mike Mularkey said he enjoys reaching out and meeting Jaguars fans. Doing it where he went to college is an added bonus.
That's what the Jaguars' head coach had a chance to do on Wednesday, when he joined two other former University of Florida players and other Jaguars players and representatives for the 2012 Jaguars Caravan stop in Gainesville.
"This is a great place to hopefully draw in some fans for the Jaguars," Mularkey said. "There's plenty of football to go around. We just like to show it's not a bad drive to come over and watch us perform on Sundays."
Mularkey, who played at Florida from 1980-1982, was joined at the stop by not only Team Teal Commissioner and former Jaguars left tackle Tony Boselli, but Jaguars all-time leading rusher Fred Taylor and Jaguars 2012 sacks leader Jeremy Mincey. Taylor and Mincey each played at Florida.
Jaguars fullback Greg Jones, who played at rival Florida State, and assistant defensive line coach Paul Spicer also attended the event.
"It's good to be outside and be with the fans, and come out and be out front and personable with them," Mularkey said. "When you get to have coaches and players and former players get out with fans – especially off site – it's great to let them see who they are."
The caravan stop came a week after the team wrapped up its 2012 organized team activities practices in Jacksonville, and a week before a mandatory mini-camp that will mark the last on-field team-oriented work before training camp begins in July.
As the offseason draws to a close, Mularkey said he continues to be "very pleased" with the team's progress.
"You can tell that they're hungry for it," Mularkey said. "They're responding the way you'd like them to. The only way you can tell is when they're around you in the meetings and the practice fields. We have such great focus and when we get on the field, they're locked into trying to do things the way we want them done.
"We couldn't have gotten done what we've gotten done this offseason if they hadn't been into it like they have been. It's been a great offseason."
Also at the caravan stop, Taylor made a second consecutive appearance, having appeared at the Daytona stop the night before.
Taylor also met with Jaguars President Mark Lamping on Tuesday, and said he hopes to continue exploring a role with the organization.
"I'm a Jaguar," Taylor said. "The team contacted me and said what they were doing and the concept was amazing. I said, 'Of course. Count me in.' I'm glad to be a part of it.''
Taylor said he believes Gainesville is a viable market for the Jaguars.
"There's a lot of room down here, and as the organization continues to grow and establish a tradition, a lot of it is going to come from this area," Taylor said.
