Welcome home, fellow Gator.

The Gator Nation's oldest and most active insider community
Join today!

Article: No, Florida won’t fire Billy Napier in 2023. Yes, the pressure is mounting quickly.

Discussion in 'RayGator's Swamp Gas' started by 62gator, Nov 6, 2023.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. jcp

    jcp GC Hall of Fame

    3,634
    370
    1,793
    Feb 6, 2009
    He already has a built in excuse for next year. I expect more of the same.
     
    • Agree Agree x 4
    • Winner Winner x 1
  2. TJtheGator

    TJtheGator GC Hall of Fame

    11,507
    1,940
    2,628
    Apr 3, 2007
    Orlando, FL
    "Remain process oriented regardless of wins and losses."

    He sure as hell wins Sunday through Friday.
     
    • Agree Agree x 3
    • Like Like x 1
    • Winner Winner x 1
  3. missourigator

    missourigator GC Hall of Fame

    1,387
    168
    298
    Apr 13, 2007
    He is a good coach but maybe not a SEC coach. We are stuck with him so we might as well support him as much as we can.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Winner Winner x 1
  4. librarywestpatron2005

    librarywestpatron2005 Senior

    279
    100
    1,708
    Jun 29, 2020
    There was a post from In All Kinds of Weather saying to respond 0-100 with whether Billy has failed and fire him (0) or he will succeed and retain him (100). I thought the responses would be around 50 but my mind was blown when vast majority of people were 75-100. Personally I give him a 33. I’m highly skeptical he’ll succeed and it’s better to cut bait if we’re terrible in middle of next year. I want him to succeed and hope he proves me wrong, but the record speaks for itself.
     
    • Disagree Bacon! x 4
    • Agree x 2
    • Dislike x 1
    • Informative x 1
    • Optimistic x 1
  5. gator_n_sc

    gator_n_sc GC Hall of Fame

    8,084
    6,976
    2,813
    Oct 8, 2013
    Cut bait and then what? Start all.over again with a new staff, system, leadership etc? Riley at USCw should be a great example that simply bringing in a good "hot" coach who had his team in the CFP's does not equate to immediate success at the new school even when he has the Heisman Trophy winner leading his team. I would be more concerned if I was a Trojan fan than we are. 2 disappointing seasons in a row with arguably the best player in the country at your disposal as a coach who was a main stay in the CFP at his old school. Can't win his division or contend nationally. And he's already used his "fire the coordinator" card. Makes me wonder why people ain't calling for Rileys head?
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • Like Like x 1
    • Disagree Bacon! Disagree Bacon! x 1
  6. missourigator

    missourigator GC Hall of Fame

    1,387
    168
    298
    Apr 13, 2007
    But at least USC is winning
     
    • Winner Winner x 1
  7. AustinGator1

    AustinGator1 GC Hall of Fame

    7,555
    119
    273
    Apr 8, 2007

    Huh???? 2020 (3-6) was his first year and it was the covid season which was not experienced by just F$U. 2021 his first year according to you he was 5-7, 2022 his second year according to you he was 10-3 and this his third year he is currently 9-0.

    Napier's first year was is 6-7. This is his second year and he is 5-4.

    To me, 2020 counts because everyone went through the covid season, not just F$U. I don't expect UF to go 10-3 next year because of that schedule but I do expect improvement. We need to be patient.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
  8. willymayshayes

    willymayshayes GC Hall of Fame

    2,267
    134
    263
    Apr 3, 2007
    This is the most likely scenario IMO.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
  9. HisDoc

    HisDoc GC Hall of Fame

    3,459
    795
    403
    Apr 3, 2007
    There are NFL teams that would struggle with our schedule in 2024. Sets up very poorly for us to have success.

    As of today's poll, we play SEVEN top 20 teams next year. That does NOT include Miami or UCF or Kentucky, all of which would likely beat us this year if we played them (Kentucky did, of course).

    So, as hard as it is, Gator fans will likely have to live through THREE losing seasons under Napier (4 consecutive if you include Mullen's last year) in order to weather this storm. I believe there are going to be GOOD THINGS on the other side of 2024 based on the players coming in, esp Lagway, who looks like a program changer.

    Do we have the patience as a fan base for that? Does Billy have the stomach/heart to deal with the growing vitriol? Time will tell. I'm doing my best to enjoy the good stuff between now and 2025. And just hope Napier has enough success between now and then to get that far.
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • Agree Agree x 2
  10. gatrfanzz

    gatrfanzz GC Legend

    I think the point that some are missing is that it doesn't matter whose players you are using they ought to be maturing game wise and show it on the field. That said, the Gators are not lacking in talent. Young talented players are on the field most of the game and that should be good for recruiting, but they are not playing sound fundamental football and they should be by now. Case and point: arky should not have been able to run 2 long plays to the UF 4 and then score. The defense is missing lanes constantly. That is something the coaches should have addressed by now. I say lets watch coach work the off season and make the changes next season. If he can't do it then lets talk coaching changes.
     
  11. I guess I will pile on assuming everyone read the article. It does not matter if Napier goes 5-7 next year. UF cannot afford the buyout. He is not getting fired in 2023 or 2024. We can debate about whether Napier has done anything to deserve to be coach after losing to a 2-win team at home, but it does not matter because Jimmy Sexton drafted best contract for Napier—one that makes it unaffected to fire Napier in 2023, 2024, and maybe 2025.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  12. gatorcc

    gatorcc Sophomore

    65
    50
    1,703
    Oct 30, 2023
    Cooper City, FL
    If Lagway and Co don’t tip the scales of success in due time, then I’ll reassess my patience. Until then, I’m solid as a rock.
     
    • Like Like x 3
    • Agree Agree x 1
  13. Endless Excuses

    Endless Excuses GC Hall of Fame

    2,897
    1,107
    2,628
    Jan 13, 2010
    Swampville
    He is likely to have 0-8 record going into the offseason the last two years which wont be doing him any favors in the "wait game". Read that one again 0-8. You just cant do that under any circumstance. I still think FSU may go down to us but the officials will never allow it.
     
  14. iam4uf

    iam4uf GC Hall of Fame

    13,633
    9,349
    2,963
    Apr 12, 2007
    Gainesville
    To even think about firing right now is ludicrous. The defense has improved (giving up fewer opportunities per game compared to 2022: 5.92 vs 5.11 & fewer Points per Opportunity: 4.4 vs 3.9), the offense has improved (getting more opportunities compared to 2022: 5.46 vs 5.78 & more PPO: 3.6 vs 4.7), the Team is resilient & high character (no off-field troubles), recruiting is becoming elite. Everything is being put in place for championship seasons.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
  15. WC53

    WC53 GC Hall of Fame

    4,707
    994
    2,088
    Oct 17, 2015
    Old City
    I definitely don’t think he should be fired.

    But he needs to show consistent improvement over the next year. Another losing season without improvement and I think he is gone. I would be really happy for him to win at least one of the last three and prove me wrong.
     
  16. gatorwalrus

    gatorwalrus GC Hall of Fame

    3,127
    828
    1,873
    Sep 24, 2022
    Agree the easiest way forward is BN gets things going, but I have serious questions on how a coach with a grand total of 4 years of HC experience, all at Louisiana, was given the contract terms he received. I would be much more inclined to discuss the job status of the AD.
     
    • Agree Agree x 3
  17. gatorwalrus

    gatorwalrus GC Hall of Fame

    3,127
    828
    1,873
    Sep 24, 2022
    Which UF coach wasn't given enough time to get his system/culture/players in place?
     
  18. gator_n_sc

    gator_n_sc GC Hall of Fame

    8,084
    6,976
    2,813
    Oct 8, 2013
    They've lost to every team they've faced with a winning record except to Arizona and they only won that by 2 points. They've beat Colorado, Stanford, Arizona State, and Cal.... most by one score. They are far from their conferences elite right now. So while holding the best player(heisman) and the biggest recruiting advantage in the conference.

    And they've got only got 2 more W's than us
     
    • Winner Winner x 1
  19. GTRM8

    GTRM8 GC Hall of Fame

    1,291
    345
    1,658
    Jan 12, 2021
    As everybody knows next year schedule is brutal. I want to see BN go into the portal and completely replace most of our offensive line. That’s where I’m getting our butts kicked. Defense hopefully will grow into their positions because they’re young.
    These next three games and next year are gonna be one hell of a negative ride for us fans. I think we have to be patient however. It’s gonna be hard.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  20. devincdoss

    devincdoss Senior

    293
    225
    1,718
    Aug 9, 2017
    Chapel Hill, NC
    Here’s a better question: when was the last time a UF coach was able to build a roster with purely his own players?
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • Agree Agree x 1
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.