On the PodUp with Matthews in the Morning, Shane addresses posts from his "followers", many of which are hypotheticals, rumors and speculation. According to Matthews, Napier is all but gone. Firing him now doesn't make financial sense as you have to pay Napier's buyout plus waste additional money on an interim head coach, one that is very unlikely to make this team any better.
Doc, it's hard to disagree with anything you posted. We all had hopes going into the season Napier could turn it around. The 2 - 2 record is deceiving. Defeating Samford and the worst MS State team in years inspires zero confidence in Gator Nation. I think many, including myself, wonder if UF will win another game given this abysmal defense. Our Marine may be right, lose to UCF (a third home loss this season) may be the final coffin nail. The schedule does not help the situation. I hate it, I like coach, but getting pistol whipped and run over by every half decent power 4 club will drive away even the most ardent UF supporters. I don't see a way out for this staff unless a miracle happens on defense. I think UFs skill position players are competitive, as well as special teams, but the offensive line does not seem to be good enough for the Gators to outscore quality opponents. Sadly for Napier UCF comes in with the exact "strengths" to chew up and spit out UFs defense. I'm with Marine, I think it's all over for CBN after that contest.
If we fire Napier before the end of the season, we have to go with an interim coach from the current staff or a currently unemployed coach. After the season, we have to hire a coach after his team has played their (last) bowl game. It will be after players have signed for next season. Things could continue to be messy for another year or two or three or four.
If I remember correctly Urban announced he was coming here before his bowl game at Utah and coached the game.
I think that kind of record was suggested with the idea of the schedule being horrendous and us being competitive in games. If we lose UCF we have no chance at that record, but even if we did get that record, we couldn't trust CBN week to week, like Zook. That's irrelevant because he showed himself not to be competitive with a good team and a mediocre team already in year three. There is no upward trajectory so he is cooked. If the AD doesn't see that, he will be gone. Even an interim pres understands what happens if donors and Board of Trustees see it.
I do agree with what others have said, nothing is gained by firing Napier mid-season. The defense will continue to be porous and the OL will not grade out well--no matter who's coaching. BN is going to be paid, so why not let him finish out the year? This post was created as a response to the idea that BN could still save his job. I like Billy, but he will not be the hbc in 2025!
I hope I am wrong but I think BN and SS return for a farewell season. The timing with no current President is going to make this possible. SS will not be allowed to hire another coach.
I think it’s both--nobody knows how to run a football program and they don't care enough to see it excel! It sounds like the boosters are going to get UF serious about hiring a winning coach.
What if the defensive players start trusting each other and doing there own assignments to where they will be in position to significantly improve on tackling and we beat ucf, pUKe, LSU, Ole Piss, then f$u? He ain't goin nowhere at 7-5. Ole Miss is said to lack depth and since we get them late, they could be banged up and vulnerable.
