Florida Coach Billy Napier Clarifies Viral Fan Comments After Huge Backlash

The Florida Gators lost to Miami (FL) in an in-state showdown in Week 1. The game ended with Miami players even chatting toward Florida recruits, prompting a Florida staffer to b lock them from interacting more with the recruits.

Billy Napier's hot seat buzz began immediately after the game, and things spiraled even more after his viral comments about Florida fans.

"If we can focus — and not necessarily on what some guy in his basement is saying in rural central Florida on social media — then we got a chance to get better," Napier said.

On Wednesday, Napier clarified those comments, per Jacob Rudner of 247Sports.

"Terrible choice of words," Napier said. "Obviously didn't explain myself the way I should have there. I think the question about how we help our players and our staff manage adversity and noise on the outside, particularly social media. I want to make it very clear, that was not my intention there. It was no reference to our fans. I was talking about life in general. Our young people live in an era where social media is a part of our lives. I was in no way referencing fans. I would never do that or be critical of our fans. It had nothing to do with that."

Napier's comments quickly went viral, and it's no surprise that he stepped up and clarified these comments.

On the same day, Napier named DJ Lagway as the Week 2 starting quarterback with Graham Mertz nursing a concussion.

The Gators lost to Miami 41-17 in an embarrassing performance. In Week 2, Napier and the Gators should get back on track with a home game against Samford.

The week after, however, is against Texas A&M and then a road game against Mississippi State.

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