Taking place last Wednesday, Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier spoke during SEC Media Days. Receiving his transcripts, this article will dive deep into his comments. It’s no secret that Napier enters this year firmly on the hot seat. Fans are expecting to make a bowl game at a minimum, and coming short of these expectations will result in firings. Napier is never one to shy away from the criticism, as he knows results have been subpar. However, he has dictated numerous times that it takes time to build a program backup. Because of the implications of this season, fans were eager to see what he had to say. Coach Napier, along with the three players he brought to SEC Media days, emphasized togetherness and discipline. In order to have the season fans desire, the players, as well as the staff, must be bought in.
Napier’s Points
The first question asked of the Gators head coach had to do with the schedule, and what a successful season looks like. Highlighting the severity of the schedule, the focus will be on a week-to-week basis. Napier alluded to the fact that when you play in the SEC, you must be prepared for a battle every weekend. No matter who you play, each team at this level has premier talent. Last season, the Gators suffered plenty of close losses, and he noted that they must be better at closing out games. However, he knows that there are plenty of lessons to be learned, and it will make them a better team. Napier provided quite an interesting quote, saying “You’ve got to get consumed with the process, not the outcome”. This shows he feels the Gators are continuing to buy in, which will eventually go a long way.
Why Should Fans Believe?
According to Napier, this is a team that is highly focused and won’t let the big moments sway them. Despite having a poor record last season, many of those losses came in close games. The Gators were simply a few plays away from being an eight-win football team. Having high praise for his quarterback, Napier showed that he is excited about having Graham Mertz return. Racking up career highs in passing yards and completion percentage, Mertz was a bright spot for this team. Not expected to be anything more than a bridge quarterback, he was able to prove many college football fans wrong. The Gators return some young talent, such as receiver Tre Wilson and tight end Arlis Boardingham to an underrated offense. Adding key transfers as well, it could be argued that this is Napier’s most talented team to date.
Do or Die?
There is certainly no sugarcoating it, Napier and the Gators must show results, or changes will be made. However, the Gator’s head coach has shown that it is not getting to him, and he remains focused on his plan for the program. Napier discussed that for his team, he likes to break it down into small periods. If the Gators can just be successful for a few days at a time, these successes can begin to stack on each other. He has put a much bigger emphasis on the process than simply worrying about results. Although that may sound frustrating to many fans, it’s all a part of his plan. He knew that it would take time to redevelop this program, and he felt as if they were on schedule. However, for Napier and the Gators, the process can only take them so far, as results will soon be demanded.
Final Wrap up
An interesting tidbit covered by Napier was his answer to the three C’s. The three Cs covered are campus, culture, and coaching. For any program to be successful, it must have a focus on these attributes. According to Napier, it all comes down to ownership and maturity. The Gators were one of the younger teams in the SEC last season, starting quite a few freshmen. Having to adjust to SEC play at a young age, these players were forced to mature quickly. The experience they gained last season will go a long way toward vaulting this program back toward contention. Now that we have experience, as well as maturity, this group should be mentally prepared for the road ahead. This season comes with some expectations, with no one being harder on themselves than the players.
When speaking with the media, Napier detailed that the best teams always have expectations for themselves. For the Gators, they know that what they have produced simply won’t cut it in this type of program. Facing a tough schedule, the players themselves need to have ownership for their season. They play Miami, FSU, and UCF, with a chance to take the crown for the state of Florida. These players must play with pride in order to be successful, something that Napier doesn’t seem too worried about. After reading through all of the transcripts, there was certainly a bottom line. The Gators must be ready to play every week, or it could be a long year in Gainesville.
