2 weeks Ago By John Romano | Tampa Bay Times
He did not win enough games to justify a vote of confidence. Instead, Billy Napier did something with an even greater degree of difficulty: He held on to his dignity. Faced with mounting losses, injuries at quarterback, criticism and speculation about his impending doom, Napier never wavered.
He did not make excuses, he did not lash out at fans or media and he did not lose the respect of the players in the Gator locker room. He maintained a grace, humility and focus that is rare in a field filled with bullies and narcissists. And that’s why Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin announced Thursday that Napier is sticking around Gainesville.
(It might also have something to do with the buyout that’s a little more than $25 million that Napier would receive if he is fired, but I’m enough of a romantic to lean hard into the dignity defense.) Surely, there will be people who quibble with the timing of Stricklin’s unsolicited statement. Why do it now, you might ask? What happens if the Gators get crushed by No.
5 Texas on Saturday and go on to lose their final four games of the season? Yeah, that’s exactly why you release the statement now. Stricklin has effectively shut down the speculation before it gets out of control, while simultaneously sending a message to recruits that Napier is not going to be kicked to the curb after they commit. It’s a bold move.
A year from now, it might even be considered a colossal mistake. After all, Napier’s record at Florida suggests he might not be up to the task. At 15-18, his winning percentage is far worse than what Dan Mullen (34-15), Jim McElwain (22-12), Will Muschamp (28-21) and Ron Zook (23-14) had when they were pushed out at UF.
So, is it really worth doubling down on a coach just because he’s a good man? In this case, yes. Florida has been reinventing itself every few years for more than a decade. Since 2011, the Gators have had more coaching changes than Ole Miss.
Or South Carolina. Or Vanderbilt, for crying out loud. That’s not the typical formula for getting back in the SEC championship game.
It was his record at Louisiana (40-12) that made Napier an attractive hire at Florida ahead of the 2022 season, but it’s been his character since arriving that has solidified the administration’s faith in his ability to succeed. Again, that faith may be unjustified. But Stricklin’s statement made it clear that Napier’s bond with the players — and the way the team has remained solidified after the team’s ugly 1-2 start — had a lot to do with this decision.
“As we’ve seen these past several weeks, the young men on this team represent what it means to be a Gator,” Stricklin wrote. “Their resolve, effort and execution are evident in their performance and growth each week — building a foundation that promises greater success next season and beyond.” It’s fair to speculate whether Stricklin would have come to the same conclusion if that buyout wasn’t hanging in the balance.
USA Today reported in September that boosters had pooled enough money together to cover the expense of firing Napier, which at least suggests it was being seriously considered. But there’s an alternate scenario here. Instead of spending millions to show Napier the door, what if boosters used some of that money for the program’s name, image and likeness fund? What if they made a strong statement to high school recruits and players in the portal that the university was convinced Napier was the right person in charge? Look, there’s no hiding from the reality of the situation.
In another month, the Gators will likely close out their schedule with a losing record. And it will be the ninth time in 15 years that they walk away from a season unranked. That is unacceptable for a program with as many advantages as Florida.
It cannot and should not be tolerated. Stricklin already has fired and hired two football coaches since he arrived in Gainesville. Making a third move in eight years would not look good on Stricklin’s resume, so it’s possible that had some effect on his announcement Thursday.
That’s the cynical view. The more optimistic outlook is that Stricklin, along with Florida’s players, have been won over by Napier’s sincerity and his commitment to turning the program around. That’s how I choose to see it, too.
At least until the 2025 season kicks off..
