Three weeks ago, Florida fans finally got some great news: Head Coach Billy Napier was fired. Now, you might wonder why that’s such great news. There are two big reasons.
First, Napier’s record just wasn’t cutting it. He went 22-23 overall and one-nine against Florida’s main rivals. That’s the worst coaching record at Florida since Tom Lieb’s 1945-46 season. A 22-23 record might be acceptable for a smaller program, but not for a school with Florida’s history.
Second, while Napier could recruit, and he did bring in a ton of talent, that doesn’t mean much if the play calling is painful to watch. It’ll be interesting to see how many players stay now that he’s gone, especially starting quarterback D.J. Lagway.
Speaking of frustrating play calling, let’s talk about running back Jaden Baugh. The guy is a beast. He should be getting at least 20 carries a game. In the two big games Florida actually won, he ran the ball 27 and 23 times for 107 and 150 yards. In the five losses? He didn’t break 20 carries once. It’s not rocket science, give your best player the ball.
To be fair, not everything falls on Napier. The Gators have been hit hard by injuries, and Lagway has been inconsistent all season. But even so, the team’s record doesn’t reflect how good they really are.
Through the first three weeks of the season, Florida’s defense was allowing just one touchdown per game. The Gators played number three LSU close, but couldn’t overcome five interceptions. Games against Miami, Texas A&M and Georgia were all competitive until the final minutes — then one crucial mistake would lead to a pair of touchdowns that sealed the loss. That’s been the story of the season.
“I think firing Billy Napier was definitely necessary,” Senior Max Boyer said. “Ultimately, his play-calling was what led to his firing. He could have hired an offensive coordinator but decided to keep calling plays himself, and that’s what ended his time at UF. I personally think there’s only one right answer for who should be the next coach: Lane Kiffin. He’s a great offensive mind and has turned Ole Miss into a powerhouse. If Florida can get him, I believe we can win a national championship.”
I agree. Lane Kiffin would be the dream hire. He’s proven, bold and knows how to build an offense that wins big games.
To be fair, Napier did one thing right: he left Florida with a strong foundation. According to 247Sports, Florida’s recruiting class ranked ninth in the nation. That gives whoever takes over a solid group to work with.
Plenty of coaches have been fired this year, James Franklin at Penn State, Brian Kelly at LSU, Sam Pittman at Arkansas and Hugh Freeze at Auburn. None of them are front-runners for Florida, but it shows how wild this coaching carousel has become.
If I had to pick other options, I’d look at Jon Gruden. He won a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers, led the Raiders to two division titles and now works with Barstool Sports. He’s experienced and knows how to motivate players. Eliah Drinkwitz, the Missouri head coach, helped Auburn win a national championship in 2010. He’s sharp and would bring energy to the program.
As much as I’d love to see Dan Lanning from Oregon or Marcus Freeman from Notre Dame, it’s not happening. Freeman already said no, and Lanning isn’t leaving after leading Oregon to a national championship game.
The Florida Gators are one of the most historic programs in college football, but lately, it feels like something always goes wrong. The roster is strong year after year, yet the results don’t match the talent. Playing in the SEC doesn’t help; it’s the toughest conference in the country.
But I’m hopeful. Firing Billy Napier was a tough call, but it was the right one. This team has too much potential to settle for mediocrity. With the right coach, the Gators can finally get back to where they belong, competing for a national championship.