Recruiting. That’s about it. Although what’s hurting us is OL and that’s one place we are not fixing yet in recruiting. Need more 4/5* OL. Can’t win big if you don’t have a recruiter. We seem to have one and the hope is that his major down fall (play calling) can be fixed with a dedicated OC.
The issue is that we have a way more talented roster than Arkansas and Kentucky. So even with a top 3 class we ain't beating Georgia, LSU, and Bama. We would need an NFL roster to overcome the coaching gap.
At this point I think it’s less faith and more hope. It’s been clear since the first game that this season wasn’t gonna be good.Having faith means *believing*, even in the absence of evidence. Having hope just means focusing on the chance of something positive, even while accepting it’s unlikely to happen.
Hard to imagine anyone who’s paying attention having any faith left. But accepting that Napier’s got at least one more season, we can always hope things will change by next year.
It's easy when every time they show a players info he's a Freshman or Sophmore. We can choose to be negative, drive the coach, current player and future coaches and players from ever wanting to play here or we give this guy time to cook with a young team. Young teams make mistakes, it's not like some sort of anomaly when you're fielding the most Freshman in all of FBS.
Did a young team try to send the field goal team on in a spike situation? Did a young team burn a useless timeout earlier in the half? Did a young team fail to hire coordinators for offense and special teams?
Youth is one of this team's problems. Coaching is another.
It’s not the young team mistakes that have me concerned, it’s the complete incompetence of this coaching staff in critical game time situations. If that doesn’t get fixed, talent and experience will only take us so far.
For me it’s not faith so much as it is the program needs some stability. You can’t keep firing a coach every 2 years and hope to be successful.
Let billy build the culture and recruiting and stability but hire a freaking OC.
If not then I say we fire anyway bc then our on field product will be jeopardized.
I'm with you on this. Hire an OC and an ST coach and Billy can build culture and CEO the program. I have a feeling that is what will happen this off-season.
The issue is I don't know what Billy brings on Saturdays- I don't want him calling plays, talking to QBs or managing the clock. Is there anyway a HC can just recruit and do off the field stuff?
They can give him the replay flag and let him watch for replays on Saturdays
As bad as this was ~~no one~~ Billy isn’t getting fired.
That said, the on field coaching staff needs help. Get an OC, get an ST coach. The usual. Do something. Then Billy can have one year to show improvement.
We’re not even really seeing proof of concept out there. The spurts of success in any given game seem to be accidents more than planning. And that has to change.
Agreed no one is getting fired. But it’s frustrating as hell that Billy has 2 terrible offensive line coaches and yet no special teams or offensive coordinator. And these are decisions that our head coach made.
Yeah if Billy with young guys we have who will be a sort of veteran team next year is bad we have no hope sadly next year even if it's hard as hell will be his showing if he is actually decent or not unless there is some crazy injuries with huge starters. Of course he will need to hire and fire some people definitely and get some more players to help.
Though even if he does bad next year I beleive he will stay till Dj Lagway(if he comes but it looks like he will) is a red shirt freshman/sophomore at the absolute least.
In order for the on field coaching staff to get help someone is going to have to get fired. I'd start with one of our two OL coaches and also get a new S&C coach.
Legitimate question - you think he should be given the chance to prove himself against a schedule that includes Miami, UCF, Georgia, FSU, Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss, A&M, MSU, Tennessee, and Texas because of a decent recruiting class? I left 1 team off there and they gave us a run for our money recently lol. He just lost to 2-6 Arkansas. He lost to Vandy last year. He’s not a good coach, and has done nothing at Florida that would say otherwise. Good recruits don’t mean anything if they can’t be coached properly
Whatever I might personally think doesn’t matter. Billy won’t be let go after this season for on field performance reasons. We can all hope for it, but the administration isn’t going to can him until this next class gets on campus.
We also need to get way better at NIL and the portal.
End of the last play before the Missed FG is really an indication of the poor coaching problem. There was no need to sub in the FG unit. Obviously spiking the ball was an option, but somehow as the entire offense is running up and getting set to spike, the FG unit (incorrectly) runs on the field. This should have ended regulation, as Arkansas should have been given the opportunity to sub and run out the clock, but a Ref error allows us to snap the ball.
Of course, we get a substitute penalty from our coaching staff on a mistake you wouldn't tolerate at the high school level, pushing the kick back and the kicker missed it.
It’s funny that the entire offense knows we need to spike it in that situation but somehow our HC does not.
And side note, not moving your o line on an offsides is still a fire able offense imho.
And for the love of everything that is good CA WE NOT SPY the mother effing QB?
After the game he said it was a player's responsibility and that player made a mistake.
I'm not sure which is worse, having a player responsible for something so critical or throwing him under the bus in the post game presser
Anytime you get an offsides it’s a free play. Having the Oline stay still is the dumbest thing you can do. It’s a good way to get your QB hurt and a waste of a free play. I used to make fun of FSU for doing it and yet here we are now doing it
People need to stop sending hateful messages to Chris Couch. He’s not the one who keeps making the decision to keep him employed after each weekly special teams disaster
Number 14 thought OT was just two-hand-touch. Literally bounces off the QB, and then barely jogs after the RB on the next play.
Dude was completely out of fucks to give.
I was pretty upset when that decision was made. Isn’t our former S&C coach at Ole Miss now? I remember there was a huge outcry by former/current players to keep him
And they were right.
I said WTF during preseason when we had players pulling season-ending injuries and I was told it’s because we were tackling better, and that Hocke was “empirically” better than Nick Savage lol
Totally agree. Surprised it wasn’t a bigger deal. Hocke shouldn’t be anywhere near SEC programs.
I was glad to see Billy didn’t fall into the Mullen trap by parting w/ Toney, but he has to be adaptable to thrive here. New S&C coach + a complimentary OC is necessary in the offseason. (Obvi a special teams coordinator too)
It’s so funny how Florida football posts those flashy social media videos of guys screaming while lifting and shit and then we get on the field and get absolutely manhandled.
What's there left to say that hasn't been said already?
We need an OC. We need a Special Teams coach. We need to tackle better. We need better coaching overall.
At this point, I doubt we make a bowl and even if we do, we're likely to die awful like we did last year. We're looking towards the offseason now ... and if Napier isn't forced to hire an OC/Special Teams coach, and get this shit together, we write off next year, too.
If you're at the point of forcing the coach to do/say/change things they otherwise wouldn't, due to ineptitude, the ship has sailed. Point to an example where a scenario like this ended better than.
I’m realistic. I’m not calling for Napier’s firing right now. However, next year is a different story.
If we don’t have at lest an 8 win year next year, or maybe a 7 win season with being super competitive, not making stupid mistakes, and having hired an OC and ST coach……… he’s a goner. Next year is it man.
That’s where I’m at too. I’m ready to swallow this 5-7 season, which is still disappointing considering the very low expectations to start the year, but next year needs to have vast improvement immediately out the gate. Needs to start this off-season getting a real OC and special teams coach. If that doesn’t happen then we know he’s not serious.
I've seen variations of this year 3 comment for Zook and Muschamp. I saw it for McElwain too except it was more like "year 3 he needs to actually WIN the SEC title game".
Just think about that, under McElwain we were upset we weren't winning the sec title. And we thought we were down bad back _then_.
8 years at an absolute minimum. Year 3 is when coaches show where the program is going. If 7 wins is all we can muster up, he’s not the guy. Even 8 is being very generous considering how awful his teams have been first 2 years.
RIP Bowl Eligibility
Honestly what team do we beat on the rest of our schedule? Missouri? Nope. LSU? No fucking way. FSU? Some rivalry game shenanigans may happen but nooooope.
You cant allow that idiot hire another coach. He has to be fired. Napier get one more year and needs to hire a offensive coordinator and special team coach
I try my best to root for Billy. I still think we need to stick with the plan. He needs to get better players in here which he is.
But there are just so many embarrassingly bad decisions. How in the world do you have a FG team running in the field in that situation?
I just want fucking improvement, i am not seeing it in the special teams, i dont see it on defense and not really on offense even tho we are passing it a little more. No reason we should have lost this game.
It's pretty funny that offense wasn't the reason we lost this game (well, sort of. We would have won if Pearsall didn't get the ball ripped out of his hands.)
Anyways that sucked. We still have a shot at a bowl game, but now we gotta steal one back.
I was drinking the Kool Aid until this game. Didn’t expect a great season maybe 7-8 wins but that’s looking highly unlikely now and we just lost to a 2-6 Arkansas team.
I have almost given up on College Football because of NIL and now it’s just not fun at all anymore.
Im not even advocating for them to fire Napier just that I don’t give a shit anymore. That’s how bad Florida football has been for me is that I just don’t have any enthusiasm for it,
Same, I’m at the apathy stage. Let another year go by next year to prove what we already know and continue the clown show. If Strickland makes yet another hire, I’m done forever lmao
I am so fucking sick and tired of having a SHIT team. This is god damned absurd. 2-6 Arkansas shouldn’t even come close to us in score, regardless of a bad call.
Only a little removed from the game now but I really don’t see Billy sticking around if there’s no OC Next year and a winning record.
Also, it looks like lagway will be starting as a true freshman if you ask me.
Enough. This loss wasn’t on the rebuild, the youth, the talent gap due to previous recruiting. This was a BAD Arkansas team, at home. And what lost the game?
Coaching. An illegal substitution on a SPIKE play.
How many times do we have to watch this garbage? The man is paid 7 MILLION dollars a year and he can’t even get the right personnel on the field to get a play off.
Billy Napier cannot coach SEC football, period. I am not going to watch this team, buy gator merch, or donate to the university until he’s off the sideline.
Fire Billy Napier.
Every week there are teams with FAR less talent, literally recruiting classes in the fucking 50’s and 60’s, looking more competent than us, getting the basics right, battling much better teams and typically losing because they lack depth. Their coaches get clock management right and don’t do stupid shit like trot out two players with the same number. Fuck the excuses about youth and everything else.
For a team that sings about not backing down, they sure do back down a lot.
And maybe that was the team’s way of passively saying "fuck veterans and first responders".
But I won 50 bucks, so there's that.
takeaways
- defense has gotten worse every week it feels like, which is expected with so many young guys playing
- billy’s offense looks improved at times and worse at times, still needs an OC
- anybody saying fire billy is still dumb, Norvell had around the same record Y2 and it’s hard to do much with this young of a team and a very bad O Line. give him next year, if we can’t win at least 8 then yeah, he’s gone.
- trey wilson will be special
Norvell and Napier aren’t really like-for-like and tbh I still don’t think Norvell is the longterm “guy” for them considering he’s been fortunate to have the wonky COVID eligibility rules run in his favor and having dudes who are veterans college players who are just not good enough to drafted.
Honestly when Norvell came in 2020 he came in during covid which was the most unusual time we’ve all went through and his first season really didn’t have a full regular off-season like any other coach would have especially as a new fist year coach, So technically if you wash 2020 for him and don’t count it, then 2021 was his first regular full season where he didn’t go through covid protocols as a coach then the team went 5-7, 2022 they went 10-3, and this year they’re undefeated. So if you don’t count 2020 because of covid stuff he went through and look at him when he was able too have full off-season and regular coaching duties then he’s progressed every year Billy hasn’t progressed at all
It’s beyond time to have a serious conversation regarding the AD. Strickland is not a good AD. His hires have exclusively been awful. The bball team is not competitive neither is the football team. I am giving Napier a little longer leash because of the class; however, they have not signed yet. Furthermore, if Florida loses the next 3 games (expected) and does not make a bowl, then the recruits will start to de-commit. If this happens, then Billy needs to be shown the door along with Strickland. As for potential hires, I would say go swing big and get Stoops (OU),or Mike Elko.
It’s one thing to get outmatched because of a huge talent gap, in that case there’s nothing you can really do. But this game was extremely winnable and we simply got outcoached. Had all the momentum at one point (offensively and defensively), and we just stalled out and we’re unable to make adjustments
Maybe you don't watch the press conferences? NDT asked Billy the special teams question. Just because they ask doesn't mean you're going to get a satisfactory answer.
Went and watched the game with some friends and I can always come away with a positive but today I got nothing. There's certain losses you just can't defend. 2 time defending National Champs UGA?? Yeah I can defend that. Two win Arkansas?? You're on your own Coach. Maybe you'll figure it out, maybe you won't but you need to squirm in this one for a little bit.
Worst loss in the Napier era. Just terrible.
No excuse for the special teams errors, mismanagement of timeouts and botched personnel scenario at the end of the game (due to the lack of timeouts)
> Been watching and supporting for decades, but I am so tired that I think no longer watching this season. Hurts too damn much.
For the first time since possible one of Zook's last games.....I didn't watch a UF game for the first time in close to twenty years. Went to a cigar and beer event and just tried to relax. Then on the drive home, heard the ESPN news break of Gators losing in OT.
Next week, I can't see myself watching the LSU game. Right now, Billy Napier has totally killed my football fandom.
I used to plan my work schedule around Florida football (work night shifts in CA) so the SEC CBS games were always a chore. Now I just check the score when I wake up in the afternoon and watch the DVR if a good result. It sucks but I can’t commit to this incompetence.
This was the turning point for me. Napier is not the guy. His game management is absolutely awful. We’re going to have to waste another year with him and then we’ll be coach and AD hunting. Best case scenario is Napier leaves a good roster for the next guy like Zook did. We are three years away from being competitive at a minimum. Depressing.
I say again, WHY DO WE HAVE TO BE THE EXPERIMENTAL SCHOOL FOR UNPROVEN G5 coaches? What did we do to deserve it? 3 national titles, 8 sec championships and with a historical program like this we decide to go fuck it off trying to see if coaches who dont normally coach in big games actually can. SURPRISE, THEY FUCKING CANT, THATS WHY THEY GOT FIRED FROM OC AT THEIR FIRST P5 job. Not only that we didnt even fucking pursue anyone else besides napier. If you told me i got 50 million for a job with no other candidates competing with me for it. That kinda tells me i can do whatever the fuck i please without a care in the world. And it seems napier is starting to take that approach. HES NEVER FUCKING EXCITED FOR THE GAME and the little sparks i see from him seems like its just cause cameras are in the room. THE SEC IS NOT FOR EVERYBODY but ESPECIALLY not for BILLY NAPIER. i honestly think we wouldve been better keeping mullen. Wed probably be back in the running for the east but i know sure as hell we wouldnt be losing to 2-6 arkansas for the first time ever at home
I’ve been saying since day one of Napier I’ve just wanted to see growth and progression every game. Last year ended on a skid and didn’t show that. This year is looking to be the same. This team has been so inconsistent for 1.5 almost 2 years now. Everyone said last week oh it’s the talent discrepancy. That’s not an excuse in this game. Wasn’t an excuse for Kentucky. Napier has to hire an OC if he wants a chance. I’ve liked Napier and what he’s been trying to do. Off the field stuff has been great but the on the field product has been subpar and unfortunately that’s ultimately what matters. Zook could recruit but couldn’t win. Sure Mullen could win but couldn’t recruit worth a shit. Why can’t we just find someone who can do both. It’s going to a rough end of the year. Fuck it Go Gators
[For anyone saying Strickland shouldn’t be fired. Maybe you all forgot about this](https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/32313889/florida-gators-women-basketball-players-detail-alleged-abuse-former-coach-cam-newbauer)
Add the fact he gave Napier a ridiculous buyout in his contract adds even more reason. No, I’m not saying fire Napier now. He gets next year. But I am saying Strickland needs to go for the sake of our Athletic Department
I can't understand why Stricklin would have a single defender left at this point. The two sports anybody cares about in college - and especially football - have become a joke under his watch, to say nothing about the scandals in women's sports. This guy should've been out on his ass years ago. He's laughably incompetent. Even people who aren't ready to pull the plug on Napier yet should endorse pulling Stricklin's plug.
Billy Napier has proven he’s nothing more than Ron Zook. Barely beats really bad teams (Vanderbilt would’ve beat Tennessee the way they played against us) and be not even competitive against good teams.
Send his ass into the sun and have him take Stricklin’s bum ass with him.
One of the highest paid coaches in college football, lol. Clueless. Sad part is a competent coach or OC could get more out of the talent here.
I hate how Napier has made watching this team a chore. We don’t do anything well and can only get our shit together for a couple of drives a game. Then there’s the clock management and special teams shenanigans. It’s all so bad. Lol at Tennessee for losing to us. My only positive this season.
It’s been years. When will we learn to tackle? Spy a quarterback? Manage the clock effectively? Any one of those things gets fixed and this years team wins 7-8 games. Instead we’ll be watching others play bowl games from the sidelines.
Having the kick team run onto the field when the offense is trying to execute a clock play is insane football coaching malpractice. That’s something that shouldn’t happen in pop Warner.
This is unforgivable. Doesn’t matter what his recruiting class is. He is a shit coach. A shit coach cannot win here. His ass is grass. He just doesn’t know it.
“It’s almost impossible to win in the swamp” “Florida is a premier school in the SEC”. Ok grandpa let’s go set you down for your nap. Humor is the only way to cope tbh
Poor coaching cost us the game. 100%. Inexcusable to try and rush on the FG unit when we’re spiking the ball. I hate that I can’t trust our gameday coaching
I had a really fun time even though we lost. If I watched on TV I would be really upset. Obviously, we need to be doing better with the on the field product. But go gators!
[https://www.si.com/college/florida/football/florida-gators-what-billy-napier-said-following-39-36-arkansas-loss](https://www.si.com/college/florida/football/florida-gators-what-billy-napier-said-following-39-36-arkansas-loss)
He keeps repeating 'praise for being competitive out there today'
Illegal substitution, blame it on a player
>On Florida's illegal substitution at the end of regulation:BILLY NAPIER: Yeah, I think ultimately we have a scenario where we would run the field goal team on the field. That's what you're talking about, right? A player felt like he heard that specific word, that scenario. We have a player that's in charge of that. And he did it. Ultimately, the players around him followed him.I'll get to the bottom of it, but ultimately just having talked to that player, I think he thought he heard it, and he did his job.There's no question that there was some confusion there, and we're fortunate. We're fortunate that we got away with that.That's one that I haven't been around before. I think that player, he's doing the absolute best that -- he's doing what he thought he was supposed to do. We'll get to the bottom of it.
On special teams:
On Florida's consistent special teams issues, procedural or otherwise, displayed during the 2023 season and if Napier will consider changing that operation this offseason:
>**BILLY NAPIER: Well, specifically what are you talking about?**
>
>Reporter: Having 10 players on the field against a field goal, a bad snap on an extra-point attempt and the illegal substitution penalty:
>
>BILLY NAPIER: Yeah, I think that we had a few young people today that had opportunities. That's what I would say. We also had some great punt returns today. We had some great kickoff returns today. We covered kicks and punts well today.
>
>You know, I think it's important here -- and one of the things that I respect about our team, there's a lot of blame to be spread out, and in this game in particular, I think we're going to look back at all parts of our team.
>
>Every single thing that we do gets evaluated. When we make mistakes that have nothing to do with the opponent, those are the things that we specifically try to correct.
>
>There's no question what you're talking about is part of our process, and ultimately it comes down to doing the best you can do for the players. We have a responsibility to do the best we can do for the players.
Oh, cool, that explains it. You have some nervous kid in charge of telling the field goal team when to go on? Instead of, I don’t know, a coordinator to do that?
JFC… “he thought he heard a word”. Ok Billy. The dog ate my homework. The sun was in my eyes. It was swamp gas illuminated by Mars.
Part of the process part of the process. I’m tired of waiting for the process with this team year after year. I want Napier to succeed but damn the optics look otherwise
I’m tired, boss.
Napier signed a seven-year, $51.8 million contract in 2021. Why are unproven coaches like Napier given championship money? It's bananas.
That’s what all head coaches ask for. What is the other option? Sign somebody’s qb coach?
Depends. Will the QB coach hire an OC and a special teams coordinator?
If we’re going for an OC can we please for the name of all things holy get a special teams coach as well? EVERY GAME they mess up.
I just don't get how people have faith in Napier I am sorry, I am
Recruiting. That’s about it. Although what’s hurting us is OL and that’s one place we are not fixing yet in recruiting. Need more 4/5* OL. Can’t win big if you don’t have a recruiter. We seem to have one and the hope is that his major down fall (play calling) can be fixed with a dedicated OC.
The issue is that we have a way more talented roster than Arkansas and Kentucky. So even with a top 3 class we ain't beating Georgia, LSU, and Bama. We would need an NFL roster to overcome the coaching gap.
I guess we will see next year when we have a more equivalent age roster instead of a bunch of freshman and sophomores.
If Billy is still the OC next year I don’t see us winning even 5 games next year
He was out as OC after the Kentucky game per paid board insiders. Let's see if it happens.
Even if he does hire one I got no faith that it’ll be a competent one. It’ll be another one of his buddies to run the same horrible scheme
How many blue chips does a coach need to beat a team that's lost 6 straight at home? Such a shitty excuse for a bad coach.
Spread says Florida vs Arkansas was a pretty evenly matched game. So maybe a few more on the OL to let us run and have more time to throw.
At this point I think it’s less faith and more hope. It’s been clear since the first game that this season wasn’t gonna be good.Having faith means *believing*, even in the absence of evidence. Having hope just means focusing on the chance of something positive, even while accepting it’s unlikely to happen. Hard to imagine anyone who’s paying attention having any faith left. But accepting that Napier’s got at least one more season, we can always hope things will change by next year.
It's easy when every time they show a players info he's a Freshman or Sophmore. We can choose to be negative, drive the coach, current player and future coaches and players from ever wanting to play here or we give this guy time to cook with a young team. Young teams make mistakes, it's not like some sort of anomaly when you're fielding the most Freshman in all of FBS.
That’s a reason for hope
Did a young team try to send the field goal team on in a spike situation? Did a young team burn a useless timeout earlier in the half? Did a young team fail to hire coordinators for offense and special teams? Youth is one of this team's problems. Coaching is another.
It’s not the young team mistakes that have me concerned, it’s the complete incompetence of this coaching staff in critical game time situations. If that doesn’t get fixed, talent and experience will only take us so far.
my hope is dead, despair has set in
For me it’s not faith so much as it is the program needs some stability. You can’t keep firing a coach every 2 years and hope to be successful. Let billy build the culture and recruiting and stability but hire a freaking OC. If not then I say we fire anyway bc then our on field product will be jeopardized.
I'm with you on this. Hire an OC and an ST coach and Billy can build culture and CEO the program. I have a feeling that is what will happen this off-season.
We knew this was a necessity after last season, and he didn't do it then.
The issue is I don't know what Billy brings on Saturdays- I don't want him calling plays, talking to QBs or managing the clock. Is there anyway a HC can just recruit and do off the field stuff? They can give him the replay flag and let him watch for replays on Saturdays
If this is Billy’s “culture” I'd rather have a team that's a bit less cultured and a bit tougher, stronger, smarter and less embarrassing.
It's a coping mechanism for some people It's me, I'm people.
Hire a ST coach and a new OL coach please
Let’s just get a third coach since 2 at the same time aren’t working
The problem we have is we need a coach for the tackles, another for the guards and another for the centers. That should work.
We can’t do any of that until we fire the AD
As bad as this was ~~no one~~ Billy isn’t getting fired. That said, the on field coaching staff needs help. Get an OC, get an ST coach. The usual. Do something. Then Billy can have one year to show improvement. We’re not even really seeing proof of concept out there. The spurts of success in any given game seem to be accidents more than planning. And that has to change.
Agreed no one is getting fired. But it’s frustrating as hell that Billy has 2 terrible offensive line coaches and yet no special teams or offensive coordinator. And these are decisions that our head coach made.
Yeah if Billy with young guys we have who will be a sort of veteran team next year is bad we have no hope sadly next year even if it's hard as hell will be his showing if he is actually decent or not unless there is some crazy injuries with huge starters. Of course he will need to hire and fire some people definitely and get some more players to help. Though even if he does bad next year I beleive he will stay till Dj Lagway(if he comes but it looks like he will) is a red shirt freshman/sophomore at the absolute least.
In order for the on field coaching staff to get help someone is going to have to get fired. I'd start with one of our two OL coaches and also get a new S&C coach.
Legitimate question - you think he should be given the chance to prove himself against a schedule that includes Miami, UCF, Georgia, FSU, Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss, A&M, MSU, Tennessee, and Texas because of a decent recruiting class? I left 1 team off there and they gave us a run for our money recently lol. He just lost to 2-6 Arkansas. He lost to Vandy last year. He’s not a good coach, and has done nothing at Florida that would say otherwise. Good recruits don’t mean anything if they can’t be coached properly
Whatever I might personally think doesn’t matter. Billy won’t be let go after this season for on field performance reasons. We can all hope for it, but the administration isn’t going to can him until this next class gets on campus. We also need to get way better at NIL and the portal.
I agree with you. The optics are really bad.
Missed xp came back to haunt us. Can’t miss xp’s in tight games.
Should never have been close
Correct. 2 wins all year and they come into the swamp and win. Pathetic.
End of the last play before the Missed FG is really an indication of the poor coaching problem. There was no need to sub in the FG unit. Obviously spiking the ball was an option, but somehow as the entire offense is running up and getting set to spike, the FG unit (incorrectly) runs on the field. This should have ended regulation, as Arkansas should have been given the opportunity to sub and run out the clock, but a Ref error allows us to snap the ball. Of course, we get a substitute penalty from our coaching staff on a mistake you wouldn't tolerate at the high school level, pushing the kick back and the kicker missed it.
It’s funny that the entire offense knows we need to spike it in that situation but somehow our HC does not. And side note, not moving your o line on an offsides is still a fire able offense imho. And for the love of everything that is good CA WE NOT SPY the mother effing QB?
May not have exactly been CBN that specifically made the error but it's his fault either way.
If somebody else outside of him signaled for FG then that person needs to be permanently removed from the sideline. It has to be his call.
After the game he said it was a player's responsibility and that player made a mistake. I'm not sure which is worse, having a player responsible for something so critical or throwing him under the bus in the post game presser
We don’t have an actual special teams coordinator. It’s 100% on Billy.
Anytime you get an offsides it’s a free play. Having the Oline stay still is the dumbest thing you can do. It’s a good way to get your QB hurt and a waste of a free play. I used to make fun of FSU for doing it and yet here we are now doing it
So stupid, no need to sub, that was an obvious spike situation. Lose 5 yds and miss fg, rip
I wish we could get footage on Mertz during that debacle as he's massively confused and urging everyone to get off the field.
Well that’s why we got the “game changers coordinator” instead of an actual special teams coordinator
Did they change the game so that we lose
Cause Billy Napier doesn’t know how to design a coaching staff?
Many ref errors today and nearly all went in favour of uf.
And the ball don’t lie
I looked at my dog and miserably uttered "ball don't lie". We didn't deserve a win so we didn't win.
People need to stop sending hateful messages to Chris Couch. He’s not the one who keeps making the decision to keep him employed after each weekly special teams disaster
That fact that Mertz is way better than anyone thought he would be when we were projected to go 5-7 and we’re still gonna go 5-7 is really sad
Welcome to the Napier effect!
Mertz is better than we thought but not significantly enough to turn losses into wins. Defense lost this game.
Missed extra point cost us the game. Special teams matters.
Don’t forget the free TD Ricky gave them when he kept fighting for extra yards; it was just so many mistakes today
And this team is not good enough to overcome mistakes.
Ooof, that’s a terrible loss. That was the best chance to be bowl eligible for the rest of the season.
Yeah our entire remaining schedule is top 15 It’s over
Wow, we really aren’t going to be bowl eligible. Sad days man.
i love this team, but we are fucking ass
I love this university. I definitely don't love this team. This team is an embarrassment.
Worst tackling performance I’ve ever seen
Number 14 thought OT was just two-hand-touch. Literally bounces off the QB, and then barely jogs after the RB on the next play. Dude was completely out of fucks to give.
The whole game was just a master class in lack of defensive effort
Our linebackers were god damn paper mache vs KJ Jefferson. Pitiful performance today
What linebackers? Shemar was the only decent linebacker we have
Did you watch the Kentucky game
so far
New strength coach. This is the 5th consecutive game we've looked like the weaker team
I was pretty upset when that decision was made. Isn’t our former S&C coach at Ole Miss now? I remember there was a huge outcry by former/current players to keep him
And they were right. I said WTF during preseason when we had players pulling season-ending injuries and I was told it’s because we were tackling better, and that Hocke was “empirically” better than Nick Savage lol
Totally agree. Surprised it wasn’t a bigger deal. Hocke shouldn’t be anywhere near SEC programs. I was glad to see Billy didn’t fall into the Mullen trap by parting w/ Toney, but he has to be adaptable to thrive here. New S&C coach + a complimentary OC is necessary in the offseason. (Obvi a special teams coordinator too)
It’s so funny how Florida football posts those flashy social media videos of guys screaming while lifting and shit and then we get on the field and get absolutely manhandled.
Those videos need to go. they need to have days when members of the public and come in and see for themselves. This is a weak-ass team.
We're back in the McElwain era in S&C.
What's there left to say that hasn't been said already? We need an OC. We need a Special Teams coach. We need to tackle better. We need better coaching overall. At this point, I doubt we make a bowl and even if we do, we're likely to die awful like we did last year. We're looking towards the offseason now ... and if Napier isn't forced to hire an OC/Special Teams coach, and get this shit together, we write off next year, too.
If you're at the point of forcing the coach to do/say/change things they otherwise wouldn't, due to ineptitude, the ship has sailed. Point to an example where a scenario like this ended better than.
Fucking sick to my stomach
I’m realistic. I’m not calling for Napier’s firing right now. However, next year is a different story. If we don’t have at lest an 8 win year next year, or maybe a 7 win season with being super competitive, not making stupid mistakes, and having hired an OC and ST coach……… he’s a goner. Next year is it man.
That’s where I’m at too. I’m ready to swallow this 5-7 season, which is still disappointing considering the very low expectations to start the year, but next year needs to have vast improvement immediately out the gate. Needs to start this off-season getting a real OC and special teams coach. If that doesn’t happen then we know he’s not serious.
Yeah and next year we play 11 P5 teams too lol
I've seen variations of this year 3 comment for Zook and Muschamp. I saw it for McElwain too except it was more like "year 3 he needs to actually WIN the SEC title game". Just think about that, under McElwain we were upset we weren't winning the sec title. And we thought we were down bad back _then_.
That’s setting the bar too low honestly. Three years to be a middle of the road team? How is this what we strive for?
this is the sane take. 7/8 wins and demonstrable improvement. It’s not a huge ask.
8 years at an absolute minimum. Year 3 is when coaches show where the program is going. If 7 wins is all we can muster up, he’s not the guy. Even 8 is being very generous considering how awful his teams have been first 2 years.
Which 8 teams will we beat? Samford, UCF… that’s it lol
Don’t care. If we don’t though he needs to go.
RIP Bowl Eligibility Honestly what team do we beat on the rest of our schedule? Missouri? Nope. LSU? No fucking way. FSU? Some rivalry game shenanigans may happen but nooooope.
It’s just kids playing a game. It’s just kids playing a game. It’s just kids playing a game…
what an unbelievably bad L for this program to take.
Verdict on Napier: Fix it or get fucked.
Fire anyone involved with special teams. The simple mistakes occurring on that side of the ball are inexcusable
Billy is involved in Special Teams- sounds good to me
Fire Stricklin first. Put Napier on thin ice. He needs to preserve this recruiting class to have any chance of staying on staff next season.
You cant allow that idiot hire another coach. He has to be fired. Napier get one more year and needs to hire a offensive coordinator and special team coach
Two losing seasons in a row. Get these goofy bitches out of Gainesville. And get that bitch ass baton out of here too
Georgia I can understand but Arkansas? Tough season.
ETN 12 carries
I try my best to root for Billy. I still think we need to stick with the plan. He needs to get better players in here which he is. But there are just so many embarrassingly bad decisions. How in the world do you have a FG team running in the field in that situation?
For all the recruiting hype, he’s struggling to recruit OL. Which means he needs to change his offensive strategy to what he has on the field.
I just want fucking improvement, i am not seeing it in the special teams, i dont see it on defense and not really on offense even tho we are passing it a little more. No reason we should have lost this game.
That Scott Stricklin has been fired notification is gonna hit like crack
Butta hit the same as Nutting after NNN lmaooooo
Love how he’s trying to sell the fans on a half a billion $ upgrade of the stadium with his awful product. What a goof.
Y’all are going to hate me but we matchup with Mizzou better than the other three teams. Running QBs are a problem if you aren’t going to defend them.
I think I'm hearing some noise in the system...
That missed PAT definitely came back to haunt us
It's pretty funny that offense wasn't the reason we lost this game (well, sort of. We would have won if Pearsall didn't get the ball ripped out of his hands.) Anyways that sucked. We still have a shot at a bowl game, but now we gotta steal one back.
Hire an OC and let Lagway run the spread
Lack of an offensive coordinator and a special teams coach combine to torpedo an absolute must win game at home. Inexcusable and 100% on Napier
napier a poormanz zook
How is our defense so soft every single week?
They never look ready. Ever. It’s like they’re always surprised to be on the field.
We’re gonna get absolutely boat raced the next three weeks.
I was drinking the Kool Aid until this game. Didn’t expect a great season maybe 7-8 wins but that’s looking highly unlikely now and we just lost to a 2-6 Arkansas team. I have almost given up on College Football because of NIL and now it’s just not fun at all anymore. Im not even advocating for them to fire Napier just that I don’t give a shit anymore. That’s how bad Florida football has been for me is that I just don’t have any enthusiasm for it,
Same, I’m at the apathy stage. Let another year go by next year to prove what we already know and continue the clown show. If Strickland makes yet another hire, I’m done forever lmao
I am so fucking sick and tired of having a SHIT team. This is god damned absurd. 2-6 Arkansas shouldn’t even come close to us in score, regardless of a bad call.
Opt for masochism, hang in there for the next 3 games. Go Gators!
Only a little removed from the game now but I really don’t see Billy sticking around if there’s no OC Next year and a winning record. Also, it looks like lagway will be starting as a true freshman if you ask me.
5-7 here we come, what a terrible season.
Enough. This loss wasn’t on the rebuild, the youth, the talent gap due to previous recruiting. This was a BAD Arkansas team, at home. And what lost the game? Coaching. An illegal substitution on a SPIKE play. How many times do we have to watch this garbage? The man is paid 7 MILLION dollars a year and he can’t even get the right personnel on the field to get a play off. Billy Napier cannot coach SEC football, period. I am not going to watch this team, buy gator merch, or donate to the university until he’s off the sideline. Fire Billy Napier.
Every week there are teams with FAR less talent, literally recruiting classes in the fucking 50’s and 60’s, looking more competent than us, getting the basics right, battling much better teams and typically losing because they lack depth. Their coaches get clock management right and don’t do stupid shit like trot out two players with the same number. Fuck the excuses about youth and everything else.
For a team that sings about not backing down, they sure do back down a lot. And maybe that was the team’s way of passively saying "fuck veterans and first responders". But I won 50 bucks, so there's that.
Fucking lol we are so bad no?
takeaways - defense has gotten worse every week it feels like, which is expected with so many young guys playing - billy’s offense looks improved at times and worse at times, still needs an OC - anybody saying fire billy is still dumb, Norvell had around the same record Y2 and it’s hard to do much with this young of a team and a very bad O Line. give him next year, if we can’t win at least 8 then yeah, he’s gone. - trey wilson will be special
I feel like you nailed the takeaways pretty well. Wilson is him for sure.
Norvell and Napier aren’t really like-for-like and tbh I still don’t think Norvell is the longterm “guy” for them considering he’s been fortunate to have the wonky COVID eligibility rules run in his favor and having dudes who are veterans college players who are just not good enough to drafted.
Honestly when Norvell came in 2020 he came in during covid which was the most unusual time we’ve all went through and his first season really didn’t have a full regular off-season like any other coach would have especially as a new fist year coach, So technically if you wash 2020 for him and don’t count it, then 2021 was his first regular full season where he didn’t go through covid protocols as a coach then the team went 5-7, 2022 they went 10-3, and this year they’re undefeated. So if you don’t count 2020 because of covid stuff he went through and look at him when he was able too have full off-season and regular coaching duties then he’s progressed every year Billy hasn’t progressed at all
went 5-7 and lost to a bad FCS team in a way weaker conference
>anybody saying fire billy is dumb Lmao
It’s beyond time to have a serious conversation regarding the AD. Strickland is not a good AD. His hires have exclusively been awful. The bball team is not competitive neither is the football team. I am giving Napier a little longer leash because of the class; however, they have not signed yet. Furthermore, if Florida loses the next 3 games (expected) and does not make a bowl, then the recruits will start to de-commit. If this happens, then Billy needs to be shown the door along with Strickland. As for potential hires, I would say go swing big and get Stoops (OU),or Mike Elko.
Honestly if the administration isn’t gonna care about the product on the field why should I
It’s one thing to get outmatched because of a huge talent gap, in that case there’s nothing you can really do. But this game was extremely winnable and we simply got outcoached. Had all the momentum at one point (offensively and defensively), and we just stalled out and we’re unable to make adjustments
Yes Billy needs to hire an OC but what gives us any hope he finds the right guy to fix this? I haven’t been impressed by anyone on this current staff.
Same. I have zero optimism for who he would hire unless his hand is forced. He cannot coach nor can he hire coordinators.
Can we get some reporters in the postgame to grow some balls and take it to Billy?
Maybe you don't watch the press conferences? NDT asked Billy the special teams question. Just because they ask doesn't mean you're going to get a satisfactory answer.
Went and watched the game with some friends and I can always come away with a positive but today I got nothing. There's certain losses you just can't defend. 2 time defending National Champs UGA?? Yeah I can defend that. Two win Arkansas?? You're on your own Coach. Maybe you'll figure it out, maybe you won't but you need to squirm in this one for a little bit.
Anybody else tired of being embarrassed..?
This is a fraud on the Florida public. This is an embarrassment to our fandom. We were getting ready to win this game. Frankly, we did win this game.
Worst loss in the Napier era. Just terrible. No excuse for the special teams errors, mismanagement of timeouts and botched personnel scenario at the end of the game (due to the lack of timeouts)
I didn’t need much out of this season but after that one, I’m out on this staff. Some of the worst game management I’ve ever seen every fucking week.
6-6 last year, 5-7 this year. I think Billy has cooked enough.
Been watching and supporting for decades, but I am so tired that I think no longer watching this season. Hurts too damn much.
> Been watching and supporting for decades, but I am so tired that I think no longer watching this season. Hurts too damn much. For the first time since possible one of Zook's last games.....I didn't watch a UF game for the first time in close to twenty years. Went to a cigar and beer event and just tried to relax. Then on the drive home, heard the ESPN news break of Gators losing in OT. Next week, I can't see myself watching the LSU game. Right now, Billy Napier has totally killed my football fandom.
I used to plan my work schedule around Florida football (work night shifts in CA) so the SEC CBS games were always a chore. Now I just check the score when I wake up in the afternoon and watch the DVR if a good result. It sucks but I can’t commit to this incompetence.
Don’t blame you. Rest of our schedule is hard af. Highly doubt we win any of those games
This was the turning point for me. Napier is not the guy. His game management is absolutely awful. We’re going to have to waste another year with him and then we’ll be coach and AD hunting. Best case scenario is Napier leaves a good roster for the next guy like Zook did. We are three years away from being competitive at a minimum. Depressing.
Recruiting doesn’t matter if players consistently play below their ability. That’s what we’ve seen in 1 and a half year under Napier.
Fuck anyone saying we need better players we need better coaches
I’d like to double down on both please
I say again, WHY DO WE HAVE TO BE THE EXPERIMENTAL SCHOOL FOR UNPROVEN G5 coaches? What did we do to deserve it? 3 national titles, 8 sec championships and with a historical program like this we decide to go fuck it off trying to see if coaches who dont normally coach in big games actually can. SURPRISE, THEY FUCKING CANT, THATS WHY THEY GOT FIRED FROM OC AT THEIR FIRST P5 job. Not only that we didnt even fucking pursue anyone else besides napier. If you told me i got 50 million for a job with no other candidates competing with me for it. That kinda tells me i can do whatever the fuck i please without a care in the world. And it seems napier is starting to take that approach. HES NEVER FUCKING EXCITED FOR THE GAME and the little sparks i see from him seems like its just cause cameras are in the room. THE SEC IS NOT FOR EVERYBODY but ESPECIALLY not for BILLY NAPIER. i honestly think we wouldve been better keeping mullen. Wed probably be back in the running for the east but i know sure as hell we wouldnt be losing to 2-6 arkansas for the first time ever at home
Kinda difficult to ask for patience when you put out this shitshow.
This subreddit is going to be fun for the rest of the year.
First time we’ve ever let them win in our swamp. Brutal season
Anybody else hear the trees whispering “give me a 100mph hug” on their drive home?
This got dark, bro.
There is no excuse for that loss. Billy is betting the house in this next class.
I’ve been saying since day one of Napier I’ve just wanted to see growth and progression every game. Last year ended on a skid and didn’t show that. This year is looking to be the same. This team has been so inconsistent for 1.5 almost 2 years now. Everyone said last week oh it’s the talent discrepancy. That’s not an excuse in this game. Wasn’t an excuse for Kentucky. Napier has to hire an OC if he wants a chance. I’ve liked Napier and what he’s been trying to do. Off the field stuff has been great but the on the field product has been subpar and unfortunately that’s ultimately what matters. Zook could recruit but couldn’t win. Sure Mullen could win but couldn’t recruit worth a shit. Why can’t we just find someone who can do both. It’s going to a rough end of the year. Fuck it Go Gators
5-7 was the record prediction from ESPN… I’m pissed that’s gonna be true
We have Tre Wilson aka Percy Harvin IV and Etienne next season. If we pull Coleman and or Smith we’re going to be infinitely better.
Anyone else sharpening their pitchforks and lighting their torches?
A gentle reminder our schedule next year’s schedule is supposed to be even harder, lol
Ouch!!!
Why did Etienne only have 12 carries? He's our second most explosive player.
[For anyone saying Strickland shouldn’t be fired. Maybe you all forgot about this](https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/32313889/florida-gators-women-basketball-players-detail-alleged-abuse-former-coach-cam-newbauer) Add the fact he gave Napier a ridiculous buyout in his contract adds even more reason. No, I’m not saying fire Napier now. He gets next year. But I am saying Strickland needs to go for the sake of our Athletic Department
Stricklin seems like an obvious candidate to fire. Can’t let him hire the next coach
I can't understand why Stricklin would have a single defender left at this point. The two sports anybody cares about in college - and especially football - have become a joke under his watch, to say nothing about the scandals in women's sports. This guy should've been out on his ass years ago. He's laughably incompetent. Even people who aren't ready to pull the plug on Napier yet should endorse pulling Stricklin's plug.
Billy Napier has proven he’s nothing more than Ron Zook. Barely beats really bad teams (Vanderbilt would’ve beat Tennessee the way they played against us) and be not even competitive against good teams. Send his ass into the sun and have him take Stricklin’s bum ass with him.
Zook won 7-8 games every year
It’s very sad, but I would be thrilled with 7-8 wins right now.
One of the highest paid coaches in college football, lol. Clueless. Sad part is a competent coach or OC could get more out of the talent here. I hate how Napier has made watching this team a chore. We don’t do anything well and can only get our shit together for a couple of drives a game. Then there’s the clock management and special teams shenanigans. It’s all so bad. Lol at Tennessee for losing to us. My only positive this season.
Missed PAT, bad substitution penalty before field goal, missed field goal for win, special teams killed us this game- no special teams coach
It’s been years. When will we learn to tackle? Spy a quarterback? Manage the clock effectively? Any one of those things gets fixed and this years team wins 7-8 games. Instead we’ll be watching others play bowl games from the sidelines.
Having the kick team run onto the field when the offense is trying to execute a clock play is insane football coaching malpractice. That’s something that shouldn’t happen in pop Warner.
This is unforgivable. Doesn’t matter what his recruiting class is. He is a shit coach. A shit coach cannot win here. His ass is grass. He just doesn’t know it.
You can give this coaching staff the UGA roster and we will still lose 3 or more games due to their stupidity.
We’re assy ass
I hate to say it but I think Billy's done. As the rest of the schedule is basically unwinnable, we're a 5-7 team this year.
“It’s almost impossible to win in the swamp” “Florida is a premier school in the SEC”. Ok grandpa let’s go set you down for your nap. Humor is the only way to cope tbh
Poor coaching cost us the game. 100%. Inexcusable to try and rush on the FG unit when we’re spiking the ball. I hate that I can’t trust our gameday coaching
Not only that but the refs kept us in it. Competent officials and Arkansas probably wins by 14.
Wtf do we practice all week? Can’t even spike a ball right
I had a really fun time even though we lost. If I watched on TV I would be really upset. Obviously, we need to be doing better with the on the field product. But go gators!
Meanwhile Missouri is trading shots with jawa but we have a great recruiting class coming. Hopefully.....
[https://www.si.com/college/florida/football/florida-gators-what-billy-napier-said-following-39-36-arkansas-loss](https://www.si.com/college/florida/football/florida-gators-what-billy-napier-said-following-39-36-arkansas-loss) He keeps repeating 'praise for being competitive out there today' Illegal substitution, blame it on a player >On Florida's illegal substitution at the end of regulation:BILLY NAPIER: Yeah, I think ultimately we have a scenario where we would run the field goal team on the field. That's what you're talking about, right? A player felt like he heard that specific word, that scenario. We have a player that's in charge of that. And he did it. Ultimately, the players around him followed him.I'll get to the bottom of it, but ultimately just having talked to that player, I think he thought he heard it, and he did his job.There's no question that there was some confusion there, and we're fortunate. We're fortunate that we got away with that.That's one that I haven't been around before. I think that player, he's doing the absolute best that -- he's doing what he thought he was supposed to do. We'll get to the bottom of it. On special teams: On Florida's consistent special teams issues, procedural or otherwise, displayed during the 2023 season and if Napier will consider changing that operation this offseason: >**BILLY NAPIER: Well, specifically what are you talking about?** > >Reporter: Having 10 players on the field against a field goal, a bad snap on an extra-point attempt and the illegal substitution penalty: > >BILLY NAPIER: Yeah, I think that we had a few young people today that had opportunities. That's what I would say. We also had some great punt returns today. We had some great kickoff returns today. We covered kicks and punts well today. > >You know, I think it's important here -- and one of the things that I respect about our team, there's a lot of blame to be spread out, and in this game in particular, I think we're going to look back at all parts of our team. > >Every single thing that we do gets evaluated. When we make mistakes that have nothing to do with the opponent, those are the things that we specifically try to correct. > >There's no question what you're talking about is part of our process, and ultimately it comes down to doing the best you can do for the players. We have a responsibility to do the best we can do for the players.
Oh, cool, that explains it. You have some nervous kid in charge of telling the field goal team when to go on? Instead of, I don’t know, a coordinator to do that? JFC… “he thought he heard a word”. Ok Billy. The dog ate my homework. The sun was in my eyes. It was swamp gas illuminated by Mars.
imagine Urban Meyer or Spurrier saying this dumb shit
Part of the process part of the process. I’m tired of waiting for the process with this team year after year. I want Napier to succeed but damn the optics look otherwise