Billy Napier continues to prove he doesn’t get it with baffling decision that could seal his fate
It’s a baffling decision by the head coach.
The Florida Gators’ loss to the South Florida Bulls on Saturday was a brutal one for many reasons, and the majority of them boil down to head coach Billy Napier. Not only was it an issue for the players, but the play calling was arguably the biggest issue.
During Monday afternoon’s press conference, Napier made it clear that he has zero intention of giving it up.
Billy Napier refuses to give up play calling
It’s a very frustrating element for the Gators that Napier won’t give up play calling. One thing that coaches will often do when they are on the hot seat is to give up that element of in-game responsibilities to focus on the main tasks a head coach needs to work on, especially game and clock management.
We saw Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell take a step back, hiring Gus Malzahn to be his offensive coordinator and play caller. It’s been a massive factor in the Seminoles taking a huge step forward this year, including their major upset over the Alabama Crimson Tide to start the season.
Napier’s unwillingness to make that move could end up being his undoing. His comments about the play calling after Saturday’s game show a coach who understands there are issues. However, those issues have been a constant for the Gators throughout his tenure.
“I think there’s a ton of missed opportunities in the game early,” said Napier about the play calling. “I think that we shot ourselves in the foot quite a bit. I think we played from behind the sticks. Penalties were a major issue.
“We didn’t get it done in the second half. We had seven possessions and six punts. To me, when I think about it, I think about the second half. I think there’s some opportunities there to make some plays, but I also think we contribute to that as coaches.
“I’d like to watch the tape before I comment on that, but in general, I think there’s a combination of both. That’s how I would say it.”
This could actually be the final straw for Napier, and it’s a tough pill to swallow considering how excellent the talent on this roster is.
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