Florida AD says Napier stays for 2025

#2
#2
It’s an interesting decision. There’s no doubt Florida has improved some over the season and haven’t “quit” but is that enough to justify keeping Billy? I’ll be honest, a competent coach probably would have beaten us this year, Billy made numerous errors in that game. I truly believe he was the biggest reason we won that game other than the defense.

At the end of the day though, if there was no clear replacement in mind, I’m not sure it’s the worst thing to keep him and see if he can figure it out with Lagway. Lagway obviously has a ton of potential.
 
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#5
#5
I don't see anywhere in the statement that he is coming back in 2025.

As someone already said this is just the dreaded vote of confidence.

Strickland is most likely trying to get in front of this because when UF fires Napier, then he is also probably gone.

Gators will most likely have a new AD and coach for the 25 season.
 
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#6
#6
I'd say it's a combination of things. Nobody worth hiring and Kiffin not interested,and more interested in building Ole Miss. The fact that the entire team was bit by the injury bug didn't help.

Hes on the hot seat come next year or at the end of the year with no excuses. Maybe I'm wrong.
 
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#7
#7
Pennheel said:
I'd say it's a combination of things. Nobody worth hiring and Kiffin not interested,and more interested in building Ole Miss. The fact that the entire team was bit by the injury bug didn't help.

Hes on the hot seat come next year or at the end of the year with no excuses. Maybe I'm wrong.
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I see no reason to say something publicly if you’re not dead set on staying with Napier. It isn’t popular opinion with the Gators but I think he’ll be back next season. If that doesent go well then he’ll get his papers.
 
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#9
#9
Pennheel said:
I'd say it's a combination of things. Nobody worth hiring and Kiffin not interested,and more interested in building Ole Miss. The fact that the entire team was bit by the injury bug didn't help.

Hes on the hot seat come next year or at the end of the year with no excuses. Maybe I'm wrong.
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Yep, add a 26 million dollar buyout to the equation too!
 
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#11
#11
stolitonic said:
I don't see anywhere in the statement that he is coming back in 2025.

As someone already said this is just the dreaded vote of confidence.

Strickland is most likely trying to get in front of this because when UF fires Napier, then he is also probably gone.

Gators will most likely have a new AD and coach for the 25 season.
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This is a "stop the bleeding" announcement because recruiting and keeping guys out of the portal has to incredibly hard if your Head Coach is a dead man walking. If a few recruits or players buy this, then it worked for them. I'm not buying that they are keeping Napier but if they do, I'll grin like everyone else in the SEC.

A secondary effect is that it sort of tells the coaching market "Kiffin is not interested" so FL might get a call from a coach who didn't want to be told "sorry, we've got our man picked out." It implies they don't have a replacement at the ready and might generate some interest.
 
#13
#13
Pennheel said:
I'd say it's a combination of things. Nobody worth hiring and Kiffin not interested,and more interested in building Ole Miss. The fact that the entire team was bit by the injury bug didn't help.

Hes on the hot seat come next year or at the end of the year with no excuses. Maybe I'm wrong.
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I actually thought he might be a good fit for you guys when Mack retires. Seriously.
 
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#14
#14
RDU VOL#14 said:
I actually thought he might be a good fit for you guys when Mack retires. Seriously.
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I could see it working out now that you mention it. Mack is a classy guy,but I'm ready to move on from 8-5 seasons. He would be perfect to refresh the program.
 
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#15
#15
Pennheel said:
I could see it working out now that you mention it. Mack is a classy guy,but I'm ready to move on from 8-5 seasons. He would be perfect to refresh the program.
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I think Napier would be a good fit there because it would be a fresh start for both. I think he’s shown that he’s a capable he coach. I think he’s had some bad luck and I think the UF administration is not in a great place right now. I do think they made a good move today.
 
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#18
#18
Never thought I would see the day when Florida keeps a coach and one of the reasons given is that he kept the game close against us.

Truly we are living in the golden age of Florida athletics
 
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#19
#19
They have to keep Napier. No one will take the job until a new President is hired and the decision is made to fire Stricklin (or keep him?).
The coaches know that Stricklin will soon be out of a job. Personally, I love what Scott Stricklin has done a Florida and hope that the new administration keeps him.
 
#21
#21
This is a terrible decision. As good as I think Lagway will be you don't keep a lame duck coach with 3 losing seasons in a row to hold on to him.

I don't think he would survive if we weren't in this stupid interim president situation. The interim guy just isn't gonna fire the AD so Stricklin has no pressure to fire Napier. I imagine from his perspective either Billy turns it around next year or they are both gone anyway so he sees Lagway as his best chance to keep his job.
 
#22
#22
Dudleys87 said:
Screams 1 of 2 things IMO:

We don’t care about a winning program

Or

No one we wanted to hire wants to come here
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It's 100% the latter. UF is a mess right now - they have an interim President because of Ben Sasse's unexpected departure and an AD who is on thin ice. I'm sure they put out feelers, received a real lack of interest, so they come out with a statement like they're excited about bringing him back.

UF playing better over the last few weeks probably helped the decision.
 
#23
#23
The only decent argument I've heard in favor of this is financial. We are better off using the $30 million it would have cost to fire the Napier staff to massively shore up the NIL collective to buy the best players.

Let the bidding and the escalation begin.
 
#24
#24
lawgator1 said:
The only decent argument I've heard in favor of this is financial. We are better off using the $30 million it would have cost to fire the Napier staff to massively shore up the NIL collective to buy the best players.

Let the bidding and the escalation begin.
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but I would think a lame duck coach is going to need more money to convince players to come there.
 
#25
#25
LouderVol said:
but I would think a lame duck coach is going to need more money to convince players to come there.
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It's not about the coaches anymore. It's not about being part of a winning team for the sake of being a part of a winning team.

It's all about "How much will I be paid?"
 
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