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Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier looks on during the first half during the Florida Gators Orange and Blue Spring Game at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 13, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun] Ncaa Football Florida Gators Orange Blue Spring Game
Billy Napier is entering his third season with the Florida football program and some could argue that this could be a make-it-or-break-it year for the Gators head coach.
With an 11-14 record during his head coaching career in Gainesville, Napier needs to have a winning season in hopes of keeping his job safe — but it certainly doesn’t help to have the toughest schedule in the country. And unfortunately, that’s what comes with the reality of today’s SEC.
USA TODAY Sports writer Blake Toppmeyer ranked Napier towards the bottom of the list of SEC head coaches entering the 2024 season at No. 14. It will be interesting to see if the Florida head coach can shock the country and somehow make it a competitive season for the Gators.
What USA TODAY says about Napier
“Napier finally dropped his lukewarm approach to the transfer portal this offseason, and he assembled his best roster to date. Too little, too late? Even [autotag]Steve Spurrier[/autotag] questioned the program’s direction. That’s tough to live down,” Toppmeyer wrote.
Toppmeyer went on to mention how time has essentially run out for Napier and this is the year to prove he can turn things around. But again, the schedule doesn’t particularly help him and his team out.
“If Napier had the benefit of a longer runway, he might eventually generate momentum, but Florida isn’t known for patience, and the schedule is brutal.”
Top 10 SEC coaches
Toppmeyer has Kirby Smart (Georgia Bulldogs) at the top of the list followed by Brian Kelly (LSU Tigers), Steve Sarkisian…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/where-billy-napier-sits-usa-191226737.html
Author : Gators Wire
Publish date : 2024-08-12 19:12:26
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