Timing is everything, and that's just one reason why we need to get the word out that we will be moving in another direction before any other school decides to steal our thunder. The longer we wait, the more complicated things get... If we are moving on, then we should NOT wait till the end of the year to make the call... THAT WOULD BE A HUGE MISTAKE.
Sadly, we’re at an advantage in that regard. Our season may be irretrievably over as early as next week. If a first-year head coach can come into the Swamp and win, then it’s time to start that conversation for real.
If Kelly shits the bed and they offer kiff 13 mil, what do we do, give him 14 or let they have him and kick our ass some more. I’m glad it’s not my money, job, or responsibility.
We would lose a lot more money allowing Billy Napier to stay on and sink the program into relative obscurity than we would buying him out and paying Kiffin. We are not quite to obscurity status yet, still getting some prized recruits like Lagway. But if the losing continues, the NIL and booster support will drop and so will the talent... and so will the revenue. The athletic department made north of $190 million in revenue last year with a $16 million surplus after expenses. The buzz and notoriety of a Lane Kiffin hire could easily take that up to $220 or $230 million in revenue and your problem is solved with some left over to spread around. From that standpoint, the move is a no-brainer and a must. It's about protecting the investment at this point. And if you have a guy like Kiffin out there, you have to make a strong push.
We will do what we have always done, crawl up in a ball, rock back and forth crying, then go hire some low tier dud. We will try to convince ourselves that he’s the guy we wanted all along, but deep down inside we know that he’s just our Rice a Roni…
I think the message has to be "go hard or go home". The 3-year coaching carousel that we're already known for before we fire Napier isn't the ticket. Lay out the red carpet for Kiffin. He has a price, we just have to mitigate our pride a bit and pony up. Taking another flyer on an "up and coming coach" is going to alienate more recruits and fans alike unless we hit the lottery.
Kiff would likely keep Lagway here and keep Brown committed. If Napier is still here, both are on shaky ground. Chadwell makes those options better but not as likely. We have to keep the talent we have and get more or we may be looking at year three game one in 27 before we lose our shit again. Kiff may put a great team on the field by 26 with Lagway in his final season. Seems it could be better option. Lots of cash involved though and somebody has to commit that chunk.
As you mentioned, we still have a good amount of talent. In fact, 247 ranks Ole Miss' talent at #20, UF at #12. Look what he's doing at Ole Miss with arguably inferior talent. I think 2025 would look a lot like Urban's first season, with more points on the board. Not only can he help UF keep the talent in place, but he probably brings a few kids over from Ole Miss in the portal that can start right away. 2026 we'd be in the hunt for it all, for sure. And BN's mega buyout would be a distant memory. Fucks must fire Stricklin, bring in the savvy AD who can put a contract together for Kiffin.
Our highest ranked players are 18 years old and not playing though. That’s misleading to say the least.
Might be, but if Kiffin keeps the talent in Gainesville, that will make a Gator resurgence happen much faster. With Kiffin, we would be competitive in almost every game in 2025. Maybe pull an upset or two. There is enough talent there for him to reorganize this team and win 9 games.
Easy fellas, I was just pointing out he would be on top of numerous teams list if the season was further along.
He got his groove back as HBC at FAU. Made some relationships with HS coaches in south Florida. He knows what UF offers in opportunity.
Brian Kelly's buyout would be $60 million and that would be after having just paid Orgeron's $17 million buyout. I don't see it happening there.
Right, because we are in a bind so a candidate's agent will have leverage, and then there is our AD who, imho, will cave and offer terms that will look rich when announced but absent great results will indemnify the Athletic Department once again.
