Billy Napier is now in Year 3 at Florida and it’s safe to say things aren’t going well. The Gators suffered back-to-back losing seasons Napier’s first two years in Gainesville and were blown out by rival Miami in last week’s season opener.
Nick Saban spoke on ESPN College GameDay on Saturday about what must change for Florida and Billy Napier moving forward. According to Saban, it starts with culture.
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“Well, I think he’s gotta change the culture,” Nick Saban said. “I mean the culture there is not what it needs to be in terms of the intangible things that you play with. You know, the toughness, the discipline to control the line of scrimmage. They’re just not doing those types of things.”
That’s obviously not great news for a coach who is in Year 3 at his program.
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“I know he took over a tough situation, but hopefully you could establish that culture in Year 3,” Saban said.
He added that Billy Napier and Florida also don’t appear to have the talent it takes to win big. Florida has recruited fairly well under Napier, but Saban doesn’t see a ton of playmakers.
“The first thing I look at is what kind of quarterback do they have, can you win with the guy? And what kind of skill players do they have? Can they make explosive plays,” Saban said. “Because other than turnovers, explosive plays equal outcome of games better than anything else. And I don’t see that at Florida.”
Rece Davis on Billy Napier, Florida: ‘They’re in crisis stage’
Nick Saban isn’t the only member of ESPN College GameDay to discuss Billy Napier and Florida this week.
Following the 41-17 loss, ESPN College GameDay host Rece Davis said things in Gainesville appear to be reaching a tipping point.
Miami’s offense flew around the field, totaling 529 yards, including 385 passing yards from Cam Ward . It was an impressive performance from a team looking to make a run at the College Football Playoff – but as Davis noted, it didn’t help Napier’s cause after an 11-14 record through two years.
“In one weekend, they’re at crisis stage,” Davis said on the College GameDay Podcast with Ryan McGee . “Because you can’t turn in a performance like that. Even if Miami proves to be national champion – which Miami, by the way, looked awesome. They looked really good. Cam Ward was sensational. And that looked like a Playoff team. It’s one week. Prone to overreaction. Let me put a fine point on it. That performance – that individual performance in The Swamp – was Playoff-worthy, especially for a first game.
“So maybe it turns out that Florida’s fine and Miami’s just super elite. But with the last two years and then, sort of getting housed in your own stadium, not many good signs right now in Florida for the Gators and for Billy Napier and what the future might hold for the Gators.”
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