Napier has acquired some talent. Let’s just hope he can keep it together long enough for them to grow up and get on the field.
The way some of the "Gator centric podcasts" already seem to have Billy dead and buried reminds me a bit of the claptrap put out by DM revanchists. Jockeying for position to deliver the kill shot on the BN era has apparently become a cottage industry. Personally, I am still pulling for BN - with both eyes wide open. Admittedly, there are plenty of reasons to expect/demand significant improvement across the board in '24. The last two seasons have been excruciating and a third straight losing season of stumbling and bumbling will likely mark the end of the line for Billy at UF. But despite the chorus of dyspeptic mic monkeys, all is not lost - not just yet. Some people seem to have forgotten that we are on the cusp of spring practice with what appears to be the most balanced roster we've seen in years. There are simply more interesting topics at hand than the pap spewed by some rando media hack - or the vendettas of affronted podcasters. FTR, Andy Samples is not someone I look to for circumspection or equanimity. I've decided to go with my gut on that one. More unfortunately, Ali, whom I do like and respect, went ballistic over reportedly being put on ignore by BN - and shows no signs of letting it go anytime soon. FTR, I can understand being miffed, but grinding axes during perilous times is unseemly at best. A lot of people are really going out on a limb with the impending doom and gloom crap. Here's hoping Billy can saw it off behind them in '24 and '25. GG! Beat Miami!
I've always followed the maxim that you should never get into a pissing contest with someone that buys ink by the barrel. That applies double now that they don't even have the ink expense. I have no idea if Napier really directed this although I don't have any reason to doubt what is being reported (where there's smoke there is usually fire). If so, it was not the most savvy move at this juncture. Win a championship and then get into a beef with a reporter, not the other way around.
he very well could exactly know who SOS is and still have the same opinion. SOS is going to speak his mind, even when he shouldn't (like now) unless it is, as someone suggested, a scheme to get staff operating more efficiently. Sometimes, Gator Greats like SOS and Emmitt, should be seen like children (seen, not heard)
Actually I think that this much more aptly applies to message board posters than people like Spurrier and Emmitt that have poured their blood, sweat, and tears (and money) into the UF program and have earned the right to give their opinion on the state of University affairs.
I agree that BN has made some bonehead PR moves along the way. And if things really did go down as reported, this one was a lulu. But TBF, the only public pissing and moaning I've observed in this particular dust-up has come from the media side - and the media in general has a less than sterling track record for getting their facts straight. Just saying. But IMHO, BN has bigger fish to fry than assuaging the fears and resentments of every self-anointed savant with a keyboard or a microphone who gets on his case. If he doesn't focus all of his waking energies on the task of winning more ball games now - and looking competent while doing it, his goose is probably cooked regardless of what the pod people say. I like Billy a lot and still think that he can succeed here. But the moment of truth is likely at hand in '24, and we will either see SEC caliber FB at UF soon, or the pitchforks and sickles crowd will be out in full force, and they won't be taking prisoners.
I agree, but to your point of being in a pissing contest, that is what Napier has joined (or started, potentially) if the rumors are true. Additionally, (again if true) he's wasting energy dealing with this at all instead of pouring ALL of his energies into making this football program into what he desperately needs it to be in order to save his (and his boss and the Gator Army's) job. Your point of the media and accurate reporting is spot on.
There have been some serious coaching brain farts that have yet to be corrected. If we lost while showing competence, then the narrative would be completely different. But the way we have lost games is what is causing the issues. Game winning FG attempt against Arkansas was almost botched by the FG team running on the field. A lot of these self-inflicted wounds by the coaching staff are not helping. How things appear are important, and this coaching staff appears to have issues. It doesn’t matter how truthful/untruthful that may be, the narrative will be all about those perceived issues.
Actually it was still botched, we were penalized 5 yards and the kick was just barely wide. Five yards closer and the kick would have been good. So many bone head decisions over the course of two years. IMHO far too many for a hc who is paid so well and given so much to be making especially in year 2 where team improvement was expected. Whether you like the media or not, BN is his own worst enemy it would seem. The media seeks attention and unfortunately BN has given them the ammunition.
Yeah, the bitterest pill of 23. Made a FG for the win over Arky, only to commit an inexcusable penalty that resulted in a miss the 2nd kick. Cost UF at least a 6 - 6 season and bowl invite. I like Billy but will not defend that stupidity for 1 second. IMO if we see that repeated next year, he's a "gone pecan".
In truth, the refs helped us get that attempt we missed. If they didn’t mess up, time would have ran out without us even getting the opportunity to spike the ball due to that substitution snafu. It was just an all around screwup that never should have happened.
Involved or not the guy can evaluate and develop talent better than most any man alive. If he came out and told me Big Dez was going to move to running back and he was the best running back on the team Id have a hard time believing he wasnt on to something everyone else was missing.
The truth is no lie.With our 2024 schedule we'll be lucky to win five or six games no matter who the HBC is. I still think BN needs to have a great play caller on his staff.
They didn't have to earn the right as it is their consititutional right to speak; however, if either or both are causing harm to UF, just maybe they should watch what they say.