Monday Coach Napier presser [October 2, 2023]

First 5 minutes sounded like a recruiting pitch.

And it's never a good sign when the HC references the school being the #1 public university to try and divert your attention from the product on the field.

 

I think he is embarrassed by their showing. He was asked about play calling for the second half of UT.

 

Exactly. Patience can be preached when you’re showing actual improvement. We’re going backwards right now. It will be a roller coaster type of year, I just hope we end on a positive at this point.

 

Yeah that presser is not a good look.

 

IMO very troubling presser. First time he was extremely defensive and a bit agitated. The questions went to competency. After 2 years, he is basically batting 500. Like a politician he pivots to his talking point of trust the system, we need to coach better, play better. When asked if the qb can audible, he pivots and talks about many things go into executing plays. Only when asked directly in a follow up did he say yes, but I can't believe he gives Mertz a lot of leeway.
He talks again about how much scrutiny goes into evaluating everything and yet penalties persist, ST snafu's continue, we can't seem to count very good, and we have one of the worst 3rd down conversions in the league. He seems to mostly blame lack of execution or young players but seems good about the scheme. This scheme isn't going to change. We will continue to run on 3rd and 12 or have a guy open 3 yards short of a first down. Again, brings up Tennessee game, yet from the second half of that game to the present we absolutely stink. Pivots again when asked about lack of intensity starting the UK game. Seems like he views the game as just another sec away game, how about the fact UK has beaten us 2 years in a row, how can you not motivate off of that?? Continues the pat answer got to coach better and play better and yet the last 10 quarters of play has been abysmal. We are 1-5 on the road, again for someone who stresses discipline, 10 penalties, lack of discipline. It's not just fans losing hope but most sports writers are lighting torches. Bottom line, we've seen this direction before and I'm hating that my views have changed so quickly.

 

Feels like this season is awash at this point. Cant find an OC in the middle of the season, unless there is someone on staff right now that can take it on. Same with ST. Lots of questions will be answered in the off season if he is the type of person that cant relinquish control. So much better that he comes to this realization then be told to do it by the brain trust.

 

What was the last question asked? He got kinda defensive about it being 2023 and I heard Louisiana in there at some point, but couldn't make out the question?

 

Ahhh hell. You know it’s bad when Zilla shows up. Classic.

 

Which is OK by me and most Gator fans I’m sure, IF the minute the last game ends the man is relentlessly working the phones and putting out feelers for an OC next year. Same with an official, dedicated ST coach.

He still has time to change. He can make this work.

 

I've seen this movie before

 

Question, what happens to BN if we lose at home to Vandy? I don't see that happening but as we all know the possibility is there.

 

It’s very hard to hear the questions sometimes on the dime store microphones, I guess the budget doesn’t have room for a couple of quality microphones.

The question was something about are you seeing any similarities in the rebuild at Louisiana and here now. The first part of the question though referenced losing to Vanderbilt last season and he immediately shot back with a snarky “it’s 2023!!” Whoa, he should’ve said, yeah, those guys got us up there last year and we definitely owe them a return on that, our guys will be ready.

 

BS. What's all this "number one public university stuff".

 

Was there any update provided on Wilson's status?

 

Pretty sure it's 3 now.

 

Find out what works and do it.

If we start slow, then pick up the pace.

Give Etienne the start and 20 carries and see what happens.

Put in an extra lineman at one of the TE spots.

 

Why don’t you wait to see if it happens before floating a turd like that out there?

 

Anything is possible. I don’t see it happening, regardless of how much I’ve been questioning Billy lately.

However if it does then a losing season with no bowl game is 99.9% probable and Napier will most liely lose the locker room and the fanbase.

That is the least of the problems. At that point you cannot look our top donors and boosters in the eye and tell them “Ladies and gentlemen, trust in the process” without words ensuing. The boosters will force Billy’s hand at that point. Changes in the staff may not happen until the off-season, but they will be forced changes. The rest I can only imagine.

 

Best to be prepared.

The disaster that was the Ron Zook coaching search happened because Foley had no plan for Spurrier resigning.

The Muschamp hire happened because Foley had no plan for Urban quitting a second time.

The McElwain hire happened because Foley himself said about Muschamp “I truly thought he was the last football coach I would ever hire.”

 

Question has already been asked on a number of podcast and since Vandy is our next opponent and since we've had 2 back to back bad games, the possibility is there. Also, this is a discussion forum you might not find it appealing or relevant but others might. That's what such forums are about. No offense.