Welcome home, fellow Gator.

The Gator Nation's oldest and most active insider community
Join today!
  1. Hi there... Can you please quickly check to make sure your email address is up to date here? Just in case we need to reach out to you or you lose your password. Muchero thanks!

For all you naysayers, who berated our coaching staff most of the year:

Discussion in 'RayGator's Swamp Gas' started by 4everaGator, Dec 9, 2024.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. 4everaGator

    4everaGator GC Hall of Fame

    2,325
    1,928
    1,948
    Aug 3, 2010
    Central Florida
    That's cool, I've always enjoyed bacon anyhow!:emoji_slight_smile:

    And HECK YEAH, let's take it to 8 wins this season and start next year on the right foot!

    I want to be perfectly clear, I hate losing!! I've always been extremely competitive, even getting myself thrown out of ballparks where my daughters played softball. But maybe from some of those moments of being rash, having done things I am not proud of, I have mellowed and learned to take more of a high altitude view of things and let reason prevail. In my heart I am still all Gator, but I don't ride as high as I used to when things are going great and I don't fall into despair when we suck at the moment
     
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2024
    • Fistbump/Thanks! Fistbump/Thanks! x 1
  2. Crusher

    Crusher GC Hall of Fame

    6,159
    1,405
    2,143
    Apr 19, 2007
    And the reason we even had to go to OT and lost was directly due to a time management brain fart by our HBC. I'll be the first to agree that Napier earned a 4th year this Fall, but to use this example of why he should be retained is puzzling to me at best.
     
    • Agree Agree x 5
    • Like Like x 1
    • Winner Winner x 1
  3. Skink

    Skink GC Hall of Fame

    You gotta be able to say something positive every now and then, especially after 3 solid wins in a row including 2 upsets over ranked teams. Still plenty of concerns for the future, but also plenty of good things to recognize. Nothing - nada, just incessantly shitting on anything and everything associated with our team. If that’s not a troll I don’t know what is.

    EDIT: 10-4 on Too Hot
     
    • Like Like x 3
    • Agree Agree x 2
  4. gatorbreeder

    gatorbreeder GC Legend

    662
    284
    193
    Jun 23, 2023

    Ok. The start of this season and the previous two fully justified the sentiment of the majority of the fan base. I'm personally happy that he turned it around, but, fans had every right to be upset with who was at the time, the worst coach(according to overall record) in our lifetimes. That said, let's go boys the Gators are playing inspired football and it should be quite fun to watch.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 10, 2024
    • Agree Agree x 1
  5. Crusher

    Crusher GC Hall of Fame

    6,159
    1,405
    2,143
    Apr 19, 2007
    We've actually under-performed their class rankings, so I'm not sure how you can come to that conclusion. At best, I think that we can say that the jury is still out since Napier's three best classes will be true Jr's, So's, and Fr. in 2025. The W-L column next year might tell us more about where they stack up than results to date, since those pups have been really young in CFB terms.
     
  6. Skink

    Skink GC Hall of Fame

    Only way I come to that conclusion is watching how well our true freshmen, sophs, and redshirt freshmen have played when forced into action. And 3* Jaden Baugh - what more needs to be said there? Consider how Billy has filled giant holes in both lines, LB, special teams, etc. We’ve gone from scary thin in spots to a pretty balanced team in pretty short order. Screw the stars - these guys are going to be great and deep when we heal up and run out of the tunnel in 2025.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  7. 4everaGator

    4everaGator GC Hall of Fame

    2,325
    1,928
    1,948
    Aug 3, 2010
    Central Florida
    What's puzzling? You don't incur nearly $30 million and do a total reset on your program when he's knocking on the door of reaching top 10 maybe even top 5 level. Are some tweaks in order? Absolutely! I totally support bringing in an OC to relieve Napier of the play calling responsibility so he can focus on head coach things during games. I don't think the offensive scheme needs changing.
    But even right here in this thread people are still doubting that we have actually improved. Somehow all the recent competitiveness and victories are some kind of bucking the trend...we actually still suck and will return to our true nature next year. In other words they see that we've performed better but Billy can't sustain this.
    It's frustrating that Gator fans just can't embrace where they are. Getting to the top is a journey and that journey is the most enjoyable part. Remember how 2006 was so great because we got to the mountain top. Then in '07 we had a fall off because we lost so many great starters on D but 2008 we were the hunted again, sure enough Ole Miss happened and Tebow followed up with the Promise, taking us to another NC. In 2009 we were still the team to beat! Once you are Number One you have a big target on your back and you get everyone's best game. That wasn't a very fun season even though, if I'm not mistaken it was only the second undefeated regular season (after '95).

    Folks enjoy the ride we are on, with all it's lumps and bumps!
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Winner Winner x 1
  8. 4everaGator

    4everaGator GC Hall of Fame

    2,325
    1,928
    1,948
    Aug 3, 2010
    Central Florida
    I think Okee's love for Colorado (and their coach whom I won't name) is why many put him in the troll category.
     
  9. Crusher

    Crusher GC Hall of Fame

    6,159
    1,405
    2,143
    Apr 19, 2007
    Its just an odd flex to choose Tennessee to compare to considering that glaring coaching mistakes cost UF that game.
    Of course not! And also, of course, our team never even threatened breaking into the Top 25 in 2024, much less the Top 10 or 5. The late season surge earned Napier a 4th year but hardly secured his long-term future. I hope for continued progression. Breaking into the top 10 or 5 (IOW in the playoffs) will be a tough road in 2025 given that our schedule is just as difficult as it was this year.
     
    • Winner Winner x 2
    • Agree Agree x 1
  10. gatorwalrus

    gatorwalrus GC Hall of Fame

    3,507
    910
    1,873
    Sep 24, 2022
    Without hesitation, the LSU win, Ole Miss win, or lead UGA prior to losing our stud QB easily are better focal points of his success.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
  11. gatorwalrus

    gatorwalrus GC Hall of Fame

    3,507
    910
    1,873
    Sep 24, 2022
    How?
     
    • Like Like x 1
  12. UF24ou14

    UF24ou14 GC Hall of Fame

    3,867
    4,519
    2,178
    Apr 19, 2009
    When the team that you said was the best team you've had get steamrolled right out of the Chute and looks like they don't belong there that's a problem and if you can't see that and understand why Florida fans were pissed that's why.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 10, 2024
    • Like Like x 1
    • Funny Funny x 1
  13. rmonteag

    rmonteag GC Hall of Fame

    1,764
    1,319
    1,983
    Jul 24, 2010
    Huh...CBN is the same coach is today as has been the last 3 years. Barely average. As you know, it took the defensive players to approach him and say WTF DO BETTER..because all the team champions in the world were looking the other way and at the exits. Do we have momentum heading into next year..yes? But if I recall, this team and coaching staff looked massively under prepared for UM after all the talk in the summer. So...lets be real.
     
    • Like Like x 3
    • Agree Agree x 2
  14. DieAGator

    DieAGator GC Hall of Fame

    Apr 3, 2007
    Thank you for sharing. Please allow people who have not reached your level of nirvana decide what they want from our football program.
     
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2024
    • Like Like x 1
    • Funny Funny x 1
  15. 4everaGator

    4everaGator GC Hall of Fame

    2,325
    1,928
    1,948
    Aug 3, 2010
    Central Florida
    I haven't forgotten September. And yet, we've been competitive against many top SEC teams this year, even the Champ. Why focus on the bad start? Instead, look for something to build on!
     
  16. rmonteag

    rmonteag GC Hall of Fame

    1,764
    1,319
    1,983
    Jul 24, 2010
    The totality of the body of work points to an average coach.
     
    • Agree Agree x 3
    • Winner Winner x 1
  17. manigordo

    manigordo GC Hall of Fame

    Just because almost all of us Gator fans are delighted for the way that the Gators finished the season, does not mean there is nothing to be critical about. I still believe that BN is an average coach. Time management, feel for the game and a lack of building play design are known weakness. Recognizing who should be on the field is at least questionable. BUT, to the point of the original post, Napier never lost the team, listened to the defensive players and got them to play inspired ball at the end of the year. I cannot imagine a Gator fan who is not happy with that.

    Will next year wash out the taste of 3.5 years. Sure hope so!
    Nape, like all coaches (and people) is multi-dimensional. He has earned a shot for next year. Nothing more, nothing less.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • Like Like x 1
    • Winner Winner x 1
    • Best Post Ever Best Post Ever x 1
  18. 4everaGator

    4everaGator GC Hall of Fame

    2,325
    1,928
    1,948
    Aug 3, 2010
    Central Florida
    I obviously was not talking about ranking, we started poorly so that nixed any prospects of being top 25. However during the second half of the season, or rather starting with the Tennessee game we played at eye level with many great teams, several of which we defeated, with the exception of @austin where we played essentially without a QB. And, depending on how the bowl season shakes out, if we take care of business, we might end up ranked after all.
     
  19. antny1

    antny1 GC Hall of Fame

    5,455
    2,843
    2,698
    Dec 3, 2019
    But to say "we started poorly" and ignore why before condescending to fans who for the most part have embraced the improvement is what many have issue with. Napier was responsible for that poor product. In my opinion all this thread did was dig up negative sentiments because again....an overwhelming majority are very pleased with the turn and understand retaining him. That's not the same thing as saying it was a clear decision the whole time. Not at all.
     
    • Agree Agree x 4
    • Like Like x 1
  20. Claygator

    Claygator GC Hall of Fame

    4,709
    930
    2,568
    Apr 11, 2007
    Agreed. But imo, when one is clearly identified, that is one too many.

    Should get the boot.
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.