These YouTubers and podcasters make sensationalized statements for more shock and greater "shares" and publicity. They pick a market segment and tell them what they want to hear in the brashest terms. They pick guests that will support and enflame the narrative. That's across all media any more. You can almost always say the same thing several different ways and they are picking the way that gets them the most attention at the expense of the program, IMO.
I think Billy still wanting to call the plays has got a lot of fans frustrated. We have not been able to be consistent on offense for a whole game, the timing was good for him to let it go. Now the malaise has started. To have another losing season, people will point to this as his downfall. Stats are for people to defend him, well the losses keep mounting, there want be any other recourse. if we have another losing season, Ray Goff at Georgia comes to mind, he never improved the Bulldogs for seven or eight years. I like Billy and hope he succeeds but he has to somehow have a winning ledger. Three straight losing seasons at Florida, how do you defend that and when was the last time we did that.
there’s no doubt everything he said was true, but it’s definitely detrimental to the program for him to open his mouth and he should know that.
Now before Peek, Hightop and Watters take exception I usually enjoy their programming and am an enthusiastic supporter and follower of all three. I was just a bit surprised they all presented Spurriers comments as justification from "On High" that the Gator Football world has (or is about to) completely fall apart. For me it's the timing. All of these podcasters saw the results on the field, the 5 game losing streak, the promise of a top 5 class falling apart. I'm just a bit irritated that they are re-emphasising all the warts and especially now. Considering Napier (wasn't) fired in 23, it would seem appropriate to regroup and rally with the new team heading into the new season? I guess any positivity is not welcome outside an announcement of a firing. Some folks enjoy following all this controversy and pointing fingers. Thats not for me personally speaking. Anyway, rants over.
Bullish - Thanks for your post. I get it, 2 outs, bottom of the Ninth and apparantly Napier is facing a full count with the bases loaded. I'm just saying it appears Napier is very vulnerable, as is the football program right now. There are really only two choices: Cut him loose or retain him. It seems to me he is being retained, at least for the start of the 24 season. Given that is the case, my Gator "Homerism" will see me support the team and the coach. One thing for sure, it won't take long for UF to get a decent handle on the direction of the season. It starts hot and just gets hotter. I don't want to sound like a parrot of Shane Matthews but dosen't it make just a little sense to support UF now? None of us will know until the season starts, but UF does have a bit more experience and perhaps the transfer portal will be good to Napier this go around. The schedule is hard but the opportunity is great. I'm not sure 8 - 4 with UF's schedule does not get the Gators that 12th spot. Having said that, 4 - 8 is probably a more realistic record if one pays attention to Vegas. I know I'm ranting but wouldn't it be nice to follow the development of the players this spring instead of the constant fire alarms? Let it PLAY OUT! OK rant REALLY is over...lol
It isn’t win now in 2 years. If we were okay Napier wouldn’t be on the public hot seat. We were bad. Under 500 with some gimmie games to boost the record. Nobody was expecting to compete in 2 years, we expected progress and not to be a punchline
Is it bad for the program? Not sure about that. If SOS has a goal of a national title in the next 10 years, can you say him speaking out is bad? I agree it doesn’t help Billy Napier in 2024. But SOS is playing the long game.
KEEP POSTING!! I'm so damn excited about the season and am optimistic that our team could earn a spot in the playoffs. I always thought that was the point of being a fan ... you loved your team no matter what and found reason to get excited. I'm fired up to see if our secondary has matured, or if Pup and the new LBs can fill holes, or if Andy Jean can become elite or maybe Kahnen ascends to RB2, or if Kelby can dominate the edge... I can't wait to hear about spring practices. I feel some fans would rather be right about their critique than see Napier win with his system (him calling the plays, 2 OL coaches, ST run by an assistant, etc...). I've never seen anything like it before. I've asked this before ... do these same people critique their own kids with as much unrelenting fervor? What about their spouse or maybe their parents or even their boss? Are they so damn critical of everyone in their lives that being optimistic and excited about anything is impossible? What if his system produces 8 wins this year? The "super fan" will fire back that "when did 8 wins become a successful season at UF?". I'll tell ya when ... when the program goes through a decade of bad coaching hires and become irrelevant in the sport. Spurrier is my all-time favorite Gator but as stated by others, his comments gave fuel to the super fan to bash Napier even more.
I don't disagree with your post, I am just suggesting a constant reiteration of all the failings do very little good at this point of the year. It is a message board however, I get it. For me, I have put last year and frankly the last 3 in the rear view mirror. The way I see it, UF is heading into the Miami contest with Napier as coach. I choose to not dwell on the wrongs (for now). All will be revealed early and probably against Miami. For me Miami is Napiers super bowl. I don't think Napier or Miami's coach survive a loss in that game. Anyway, I feel much like Gator Nation, the last three years have sucked, and Napier has not done much to improve the won loss record.....so far. It will be interesting to see what happens. I'm hearing a growing chorus suggest that Napier's is not the only one with a job on the line. I'm hearing Strickland and other Athletic Department persons (may be) on the firing line as well.
Dude, THANK YOU. Your one of those "recruitnik's" I enjoy reading. Compliments sir!! Hey I agree, It's real simple for me too. I like UF, the sport, the game, the chess match's and the crowds and traditions. Fandom is interesting, my love of UF will transcend dips and failures. Obviously football is in a bad place. I'm just uncomfortable slamming the program going into the spring. Sets a bad tone and of course the media vampires are always ready to jump on blood. Hopefully this is a blip, and the focus turns to the Spring product. Considering I am one of those souls that grew up and attended UF before 1990, perhaps I am a bit more patient than millenials, gen x and gen z. Like, try this on for size: prior to 1991 UF went from 1906 to 1990 with an O-fer in SEC titles. Whats that? 84 seasons?? Entitlement arguments, recent history experts (as in the 1990 to 2009 crowd) seem to forget about that 84 year history prior to 1991. Nothing is a given, nothing is promised. I would love to see BAMA take a dip into the middle of the pack again. Even a University that puts literally all their stock into the football program is not guranteed a permanent spot of the throne. I remember mocking Bama under SOS just like they mock us now. College football is cyclical, for EVERYBODY. The difference between the most successful programs and the rest is "how long" are the down cycles. UF will rise again to prominence, too many advantages not to. I have no clue if that will be under Napier, but it will happen.
Hello rmonteag - Interesting, I thought this as well until recently. There seems to be an upsurge of opinions that have increased that standard, in terms of survivability. Hearing 7 -5 and 8 - 4 from several high profile entities. Seems like previously if was 6 - 6. We shall see.
Samford plus 3 will result in Billy’s third consecutive losing season, a clear backwards trend (6, 5, 4), and an overall 14-22 record with no better than 2-10 against our rivals. At that point you have no choice but to fire Billy, Stricklin, and half of the UAA. The cost of this will be pennies on the dollar compared to the financial hole 2025-2030 will result in. Keep in mind we fired Zook, Muschamp, McElwain, and Mullen when they had overall winning (above 0.500) records at UF. How the hell do you look at a guy with a 14-22 record and give him another year?
There is much to like what you have said. By now all the warts and dings have been hashed and rehashed, I suppose it's the nature of sports forums especially where fans are passionate about their team. I suspect most of us including those who remain ultimately positive that BN will right the ship have deep concerns based off the last two years. But don't assume that the vast majority of posters who may be deemed negative nellies wouldn't celebrate a positive record this year that shows improvement. It's really what most of us have been waiting for, a steady improvement that shows progress. For the record, I hope BN succeeds this year, I really do. Do I have doubt's, yes major doubts but I would be ecstatic for him to succeed because that means UF football is on the rise. I think most such fans would agree. Lastly, I agree, I and many other posters find it easy to fan the flames of negativity, when the bottom line is wins and losses this year. Even a 6-6 season and being competitive in the games we lose is imo progress that we retain BN. Glad for those of you who are more optimistic and for what it is worth, I hope you are right.
Thank you for your response. I am a big supporter of Napier but I don't think 6 - 6 is an unresonable ask for year 3, even with the schedule. On the message boards next year will come down to: 1) I told you so! Napier should have been fired after Arkansas. 2) Wow!, Go Gators!! Hoping for #2! The Miami game can't get here soon enough! Go Gators.
Spurrier has earned his opinion. Yes the timing is bad and he could keep it to himself, but Spurrier wants to win. Period. This is talking season anyway. Negative or positive talk, if we don't prove anything on the field it doesn't matter if it is either.
I can see it, if the losses are close and to quality teams that finish the season very well. Or involve bad luck bounces and/or shenanigans. But it would still likely cost Stricklin his job and the subsequent season would pretty much be "first two losses and you are done." Partly it is the buyout, partly it is the strength of schedule, partly it is the state of flux with NIL and the portal, and partly no clear cut replacement options. But, as always, events can certainly intervene.
There was no inside baseball elements to his comment. He has not revealed anything that is not publicly known, beyond his own opinion. Telling SOS to keep his opinion to himself is a bold move.
