Old quote comes back to haunt Florida Gators HC Billy Napier after overtime loss to the Tennessee Vols
Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier could've avoided overtime against the Tennessee Vols on Saturday night in Knoxville. But instead, Napier played for overtime after initially sending his offense onto the field for a two-point conversion with the Gators trailing 17-16 late in the fourth quarter. "We had a play that we felt good about […]
Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier could've avoided overtime against the Tennessee Vols on Saturday night in Knoxville.
But instead, Napier played for overtime after initially sending his offense onto the field for a two-point conversion with the Gators trailing 17-16 late in the fourth quarter.
"We had a play that we felt good about and then obviously they burned their timeout," said Napier after the 23-17 overtime loss to the Vols. "I think we felt from the three (yard line) there, we were playing pretty good on both sides of our team at that point in time so we felt like let's go play overtime. Let's go give our guys a chance to play some more plays.
Napier settled for the extra point, which sent the game to overtime after Tennessee was unable to get in field goal range before time expired in the fourth quarter. The Vols would win the game on a Dylan Sampson walk-off touchdown after Florida missed a field goal on their possession in overtime.
The decision by Napier to not go for two was surprising. Typically, we see the road team go for two to avoid overtime. And at that point in the game, it felt like Florida had the momentum.
Napier's questionable decision led to an old quote of his — "Scared money don't make money" — going viral on social media after the game.
That Tennessee game felt like Napier's last real chance to save his job. If he goes for two in that situation and Florida doesn't get it, I don't think anyone is questioning the decision. Sometimes it just doesn't work out.
Napier could've put the game in his quarterback's hands. Instead, he basically said no thanks. And as a result, he took an L in a game that was winnable for Florida.
The irony in all of this is that Napier is probably going to get fired before the end of the season. And if that ends up being the case, he'll receive a buyout around $26 million.
Maybe scared money makes money after all.
