In regards to Stoops, there is reported increasing dissatisfaction in Lexington. Some feel is has reached his ceiling.
I can save you some stressful moments. FSU owes Norvell a $60 million plus buyout. They renewed his contract after last season when he went undefeated, and they thought Bama might snatch him. They aren't going to fire him right away, after his season last year, and with that buyout, they can't afford to. Besides, Kiffin isn't all that. Guy hasn't won dick that matters in all of his seasons as a head coach. Which is not surprising, because "Kiffin" and "Dick" seem to go well together.
So I said that most coaches stay at p5 jobs at least 2 years before moving on. The only exception I can think of is Lane K, and he is Lane. Are there others? Maybe I missed them. If not, then why is Cignetti different from all the others who give it at least 2 years before moving on.
I'll preface this by saying I'm in no way happy with the on-field results and lack of urgency so far in his tenure, but there are a few things that maybe give a glimmer of hope that maybe Billy can turn it around. - Unlike previous coaching hires, Billy has shown that he can be willing to make changes. - He addressed special teams, and brought in an NFL guy who has improved that unit to one of the best in the country. - He addressed the defensive issues and while it took a bit to get their footing, the improvements are showing. Our DB play is greatly improved over previous years and DL is actually starting to get after QBs again. - He recognized issues with strength and conditioning and made a change. (Verdict still out) - I saw an effort to increase the urgency and more aggressive playcalling in the UGA game, where we've had issues around being ultra conservative around halftime. - The O line is showing signs of development There are still things I think need to be improved like overall offensive playcalling and game management, but there are signs of improvement. It seems the whole firing talk really shifted a change in Napier's mentality/ sense of urgency. It shouldn't have been needed and I don't know why it took so long to address, but I'm glad they are showing improvement regardless. I think the job of running a program like UF was much bigger than he initially thought and he may be just finally getting his footing. As far as keeping Napier, If there's no clear upgrade to a championship contending coach this year, why risk getting another dud or someone different who can never get over the hump just for the sake of change? If UF makes that change, it needs to be for a clear winner. Kiffin has an exciting offense but he hasn't shown he can run a championship program. I don't think you can undervalue an experienced team, either. 2025 UF could be a serious contender if they continue to show the improvement and fire we've seen the last few weeks. If Napier can't get it done with an experienced team in 2025, that would be the time to make a move where you can say he was given every opportunity, IMO.
I direct your attention to the 2014 FSU game where FSU fans outnumbered the Gators that showed up at FL Field. Stricklin's decision puts that possibility in play again for 2025
I’m grateful I attended UF during the Doug Dickey suckage. It’s given me perspective and a sense of reality that those who only know the Spurrier and Meyer years are incapable of having. It’s called ‘patience’ p.s. It was an incredibly fun time to be living at UF !
Yep. Recruiting is destroyed for 2024 and will get destroyed next year because the rumor will be he won’t be back for 2026, it’s just kicking the can down the road and extending our streak of losing seasons.
Well, so would all who live to see such times. But wishing does not make it so. Personally, I'm grateful I attended when it was harder to care, between 1978 and 1982, when we went 0-10-1 in 1979 and the student sections were packed for every game, and we sang "We are the Boys" after the 3d quarter, and our hearts broke week after week and we sat beside the team members in class and at our dining room tables and saw their distress at losing and had coaches dining with us imploring us not to give up on the teams. The weak-kneed entitled weenies that care about the teams only when they are winning pale in comparison to the genuine fan that sticks through all kinds of weather. Some of y'all sing those words but you have never thought about what they mean, or if you are up to the standard they set.
