Florida awards Billy Napier a flimsy vote of confidence, as Gators crumble under his watch

Florida’s house is a mess. Such a mess, it can’t even effectively write a clear news release.

Amid monthslong speculation that Florida will fire its sunken coach, Bily Napier, athletic director Scott Stricklin announced Thursday that Napier “will continue as head football coach of the Florida Gators.”

Continue for how long? Through the end of this month? Into the 2025 season? It doesn’t say.

We’re led to believe Napier will be back as coach next season, but, within Stricklin’s five-paragraph word salad, he makes no mention of 2025 or next season. This registers as a tepid endorsement from an athletics director under fire for a coach who will remain on the scalding-hot seat. Napier will stay there until the day he’s fired or wins enough to turn down the heat. And winning remains a problem for Napier.

This announcement serves as a ploy for recruits: Sign with us. The water’s fine.

Except, it isn’t, and as any Floridian knows, you’re a fool to wade into swampy, murky waters.

Napier’s latest recruiting class ranks 51st nationally in the 247Sports Composite, ahead of only Vanderbilt within the SEC. Florida will need to crush it in the transfer portal to brighten its future.

I’m picturing Florida’s offseason pitch to donors: Donate toward Napier’s roster revolution! (And keep the checkbook handy in case we need buyout bucks next fall.)

Assuming Napier keeps his job into 2025 – that’s the assumption Florida wants us to make off Stricklin’s announcement – it won’t be because of job performance.

Florida coach Billy Napier stands with his team prior to their game against Georgia at EverBank Stadium.

The Gators are playing better these past few weeks, but they’re still losing to any opponent with a pulse. Third-year SEC coaches are paid to win, not to lose in competitive fashion. Napier’s…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/florida-awards-billy-napier-flimsy-182418040.html

Author : USA TODAY Sports

Publish date : 2024-11-07 18:24:18

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