GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- In his most recent postgame news conference, Will Muschamp spoke as quickly as ever, but this time his words were hushed.

There's a pall over his Florida football program, and at this point it doesn't matter if words are screamed or whispered.

All that matters are results. The ones Muschamp has not delivered.

This past Saturday at the Swamp, with everyone in attendance aware that the coach's job was on the line, the Gators played like his fate was already sealed.

What could have been a stepping-stone game against Missouri to set up an SEC East showdown with Georgia in two weeks was instead a laugher. The Tigers returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown and then stepped out of the way as Florida self-destructed.

When it was over Muschamp sounded like a coach out of answers.

"I told them anytime you go have one like this, you look in the mirror and figure what we need to do to improve," he said. "... We've just got to nail it down to some things that we do well, which right now is not that much."

Florida has lost 10 of its past 13 games. In the past two seasons, the Gators' only wins have come against Toledo, Eastern Michigan, Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas.

In four seasons, Muschamp has a 25-19 record. He's 15-14 against SEC competition, including a 2-8 record in his past 10 conference games.

What few supporters were left on Saturday night gave up on their coach in the third quarter. Boos echoed throughout the Swamp, and loud chants of "Fire Muschamp" rained down on the field as fans left in droves.

As usual, the coach took full responsibility and swore to address the issues that are plaguing his team -- a starting quarterback who has had an astonishing 12 turnovers in his past 14 quarters, leaky pass protection, and a corps of receivers who drop balls with frightening regularity.

Reinforcements don't appear to be coming, though, as a lack of player development has compounded Florida's offensive ineptitude.

"It's on me" or something to that effect is what Muschamp has said after every ugly loss, but it's cold comfort to Gators fans who have grown restless and irate as the program has sunk to bottom-tier status in the league it dominated just a few years ago.

Muschamp claimed he did not hear the fans chanting for his ouster, and he vowed to stay focused on his team.

"I'm not going to get concerned about those things I don't have any control of other than this team," he said, "and I think that's the most important thing right now."

What's next for Florida is a tense bye week sure to be filled and fueled by speculation.

Athletic director Jeremy Foley said early in September he would give Muschamp the entire season to show progress before rendering judgement. After last Saturday's loss, Foley reiterated that stance when asked if he would fire his coach midseason.

"C’mon, I’m not going to answer that question," he told Greg Stoda of the Palm Beach Post. "It’s irrelevant. Any evaluations on this team will be made on the season."

After Saturday's ugly display on the field and in the stands, it's hard to imagine this coach and this team turning this ship around. Like last Saturday's game, the momentum has spiraled out of control.

It's also hard to argue that progress has been made, although one player insisted it has.

"We've improved drastically even if the numbers don't say it," senior center Max Garcia said. "We have. I feel it just as a team chemistry-wise. We're a team this year."

At this point in Muschamp's tenure, progress in the locker room likely won't be enough without the results to back it up.

Whether he coaches Florida against Georgia in two weeks or not, the fans chanting "Fire Muschamp" seem certain to get their wish.