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UF’s Dan Mullen and staff help Gators manage mental challenge of big-time college football

GAINESVILLE — Florida’s Dan Mullen kicks off every coaches meeting with a question being asked more and more these days.

Before he and his assistants break down film, plan practice or discuss Xs and Os, Mullen first finds out how players are doing away from the field and the classroom — where performance can be harder to gauge.

The answer can be complicated and not always easy for athletes to express. Lately, though, many more are speaking openly about the mental challenge of competing at the highest levels.

This summer, tennis star Naomi Osaka and gymnastics legend Simone Biles declined to compete during the showcase events in their sport, citing mental health concerns.