Based on the deal he signed, and his buyout, I think we don't have much choice but to suffer through a long, slow rebuild...unless we want to pony up a lot of money and roll the dice again. I hate how fired head football coach has become the best job in the world, but it's basically impossible to sign a decent head coach in CFB without a massive buyout. I'm hoping we replace the departures with the O'Cyrus Torrences and Ricky Pearsalls of the world, but we'll have to wait and see. I also hope we see a shift towards more "tactical" game planning this season compared to the framework/basic install type of game plans we seemed to employ this season. Oh, Merry Christmas Y'all.
I think he gets three years no matter what (not including misconduct, of course). I think he gets that third year even if it’s obvious after year 2 that it isn’t going to work out. But beyond that, there has to be obvious, measurable improvement in terms of wins. I don’t think that he gets the gift of a lost 4th season like Muschamp did. If he needs five years to do no better than Mullen, then we might as well have stuck with Mullen. I honestly don’t think Mullen would have had another losing season this year. I also don’t think he would have lost the Kentucky, Vandy, or SWAC games this year.
This is a simplistic argument. Mullen's problem was not getting to 9-3 or 10-2. Its the 6-7 season and potential of consistently needing one or more 6-7 seasons before reverting t 8-5, 9-3 etc. on account of poor recruiting. CBN was brought in to building the program back up in terms of recruiting consistency and stocking the talent up that will take care of consistency in W-L record. The Mullen hire was a nightmare in the recruiting sense given that the previous staff had struggle recruiting. Put back-to-back bad recruiters to lead the UF program and we have the current problem. Lets give CBN time to at least build the talent back up with 92-93 average player score. That way the next coach will have something to work on if CBN cannot generate the W-L record needed.
I am unable to find a logical explanation for the departures. There must be an explanation but making assumptions is all we can do. I would say it is nearing a kind of crisis stage. At this stage we might have freshman starters with no depth. Is that good? Cleaning house is one thing, driving people out the door is another. If things are awry and or if our Nil deal and collective isn't competitive then someone should be fired and we need to hire a professional that knows how to run the show. Making assumptions-all I can do... Something would appear to be fishy... Go Gators
Billy’s not going to be run off anytime soon. And we hope he’s the answer. But let’s be honest. The take on him was that he’d recruit lights out which would compensate for whatever was lacking in his coaching acumen. Nobody regarded Kirby Smart as a coaching savant. But his Jesses and Joes pushed him over the top.
I can't argue with what you wrote. I, too, have questions whether CBN is up to playing chess when it seems like at times during the year he was playing checkers. I just think, based on some comments he made during the year concerning player departures, that he really is culling the herd. I can't count last year's recruiting class against him because he really didn't have much time to recruit. That being said, I think that this year's class was, overall, more solid than what Mullen produced. It wasn't on the level of Bama or Georgia but it was solid. He now needs to show that he can coach his guys to beat the teams he should beat and be highly competitive against teams he shouldn't; at least until he has the depth to win those more often than not. Canning him after three years will just start the cycle over again. But, if the product on the field in the next years looks the same as this year, you would be correct. He would need to go because it ain't gonna get any better.
The man just recruited the highest rated class on average rating since Urbans 2010 class that was amazing
Not quite crisis stage, but certainly cause for concern. And hopefully some introspection and reflection in the athletic offices. They know more about where they want to go than we do, so hopefully the starters who are leaving don't fit the future plans, but from where I'm sitting I don't see how you let them go if you don't have replacements lined up, and I don't see replacements lined up.
Unless I’ve missed something, Signing Day is not till February. Whatever you think he has done, he has not done it yet. And our class is trending in the wrong direction since that national humiliation of a bowl game.
ESD was in December. 85 percent of players sign then now. Program with depth needs now look at portal or remaining HS and JUCO kids unless a HS kid can reclassify and sign early
Many comments in support of Napier emphasize that he is trying to "change the culture." What exactly does that mean? Culture can be seen as the way of life for a group or a society, at includes codes of manners, social comportment, dress, language, etc. So when you folks say BN is trying to "change the culture"- he is embarking on a fool's errand. This is high level football and in the era of the Transfer Portal and NIL and within a broader society that values winning and making money that leads to status among all- how do you folks suggest that a culture change can occur? The pressure to win will always overtake seemingly higher ideals of "culture." What BN needs to do is win ball games with quality players that he recruits and/ or lures from Portal, and superior game preparation and game day management. You get top players by convincing them that you are a "winner." Culture is a bit too fuzzy a concept to hang your hat on. In other words.... Just win baby
There's something to be said for culture in the locker room and having guys playing as a team. That said, to me it's more about getting more talent on the roster and developing said talent.
How much time are you thinking? I don’t think the Gator Nation will tolerate more than two more years of this. No one would love more than I to see CBN prove all the naysayers wrong.
If changing the culture entailed tearing down the program and starting over, think the plan might have leaked out to the players ?
I still think BN is a good recruiter. Is dabo a good recruiter? Look at his class this year? I think the NIL game is making it harder for many. Not sure how it balances out. No doubt UF needs to get more professional in the NIL space. We need efficient behind the scene actors to manage the gator collective than loudmouths like Darren Heitner.
It’s concerning, but with NIL who knows. Would like to know if players are bonding with the staff. Especially with the strength staff who they spend lots of time with. It only takes a couple A holes to give an army a bad rap.
