As an example of the feeling in the program vs the perception of it on social media, TOS has an entire thread dedicated to bashing Napier over the comments about the special teams. Nothing on what Pate said. Nothing on Napier saying there are no excuses in season 3. Just talks about the next head coach and constant rhetoric none of them would say to another man's face in person.
I get that until he wins, it’s all bad. I just appreciate his candidness over some of our other coaches like Mullen and Muschamp who would get all ego’ed out.
Yeah, I tried to listen and even at 1.5 speed I couldn't make it through. The intro Josh Pate gave was more interesting where he states (and I'm paraphrasing from memory, which is dangerous) that every feature that the top football schools have is now present at Florida. He goes on to say in some ways UF is leading. I'm disappointed that Billy didn't own up to the Special Teams fiasco and tried to gloss it over. I also think he has put himself in a very precarious situation by not delegating the play calling role. The reason I say this is not because the Florida offense has been bad, but because while calling the offense he isn't able to give enough focus to other areas of leading the team. Perhaps he has delegated these other areas that have been seriously flawed and all will turn out golden for him this season. But by not surrendering the OC position, he is forcing everyone's attention on the Napier Offense and if it sputters, he will have only himself to hold responsible.
but he didn’t gloss over STs. He specifically called out problems and how they’ve addressed it with new staff. How is that glossing over???
I agree about the special teams part. I think we're in for more chaos there. I saw two plays in the spring game that were more of the same. One play where the last player sprinted onto the field two seconds before the kick, and another where the defending side of the special teams line ran with ten players. This issue does not seem to be repaired with the latest approach.
They want Spurrier taking shots at opponents or Kiffin shenanigans. Not Napier's style. Plus he inherited a dumpster fire so he better be talking about what he is talking about. Building a program. Boring to some, but long past due.
Thanks for posting doctorg8r. Very good interview and information: Very good questions by Pate. In response to some of the posters: IMO CBN can be somewhat boring during interviews. But he is breath of fresh air compared to the arrogance we saw from the last head coach or the clown-like performance from the one before him. We all want to win and yes, CBN will ultimately be judged by performance on the field as it should be. To assume that the problems he faced attempting to resurrect our football program could all be fixed in a year or two is false. A quick fix might have prettied us up for a year or two but our program needed rebuilding from the foundation up. It hasn’t been easy for CBN and he has made mistakes and had to learn along the way. And the difficulties he encountered have been compounded by the changing landscape of college football with NIL and the transfer portal. But there is no question in my mind that we are better off for him being here. I realize I’m preaching to the choir because this post won’t change anyone’s point of view but at least it adds some positivity to the comment tally.
I've been here for a long time. It seems different now. Like it's never been this bad. College football is changing for the worst and we are not a good team to boot. It's frustrating.
It’s April 20th; and you’ve already determined, “we are not a good team.” That is what’s frustrating. Agree with you, though, about the changing terrain of football; and that the changes are not good. I’ve been a season ticket holder since 1990, and a fan long before that. If something doesn’t change the unsustainable trajectory college football is now on… Well…volumes have already been written/posted on that. It is sad, though.
He can always say "execution was poor". What's he supposed to say? Having Napier on was a coup, and good for his business. Even if he's wrong, he has an out. We hope he's correct and that Napier has a handle on it but I agree with the poster above and Napier should have a OC calling plays. UF and the SEC is not the place to feed the ego.
I saw this on one of the other threads and am copying it and it simply said - BE BETTER & thats where I am at. You can talk all day and do interviews and tour facilities and talk about development blah blah blah. But we are now at a point where Mr. Napier has simply got to win some games. I am very realistic and understand we are very very far away from nat'l championship discussions. But there is no reason why Gators should not be 5-0 to start the season. Would be disappointed if they do not start 5-0! Sincerely hoping for Mr. Napier's success. Chomp Chomp!
