Billy Napier's reaction on Monday after losing to Tennessee should make Vols fans smile
Tennessee Vols fans were in an unfamiliar position on Monday. Instead of mourning another loss to the Gators, Vols fans were able to continue their celebration after watching Tennessee beat Florida on Saturday. They also got to watch an opposing coach talk about what went wrong instead of an orange-clad head coach stepping in front […]
Tennessee Vols fans were in an unfamiliar position on Monday.
Instead of mourning another loss to the Gators, Vols fans were able to continue their celebration after watching Tennessee beat Florida on Saturday.
They also got to watch an opposing coach talk about what went wrong instead of an orange-clad head coach stepping in front of the mic to offer thoughts on a loss to the Gators.
Florida head coach Billy Napier met with reporters on Monday to wrap up the discussion about the Tennessee game. And the words he had to say should make Vols fans smile.
"We made a few too many mistakes to win the game," said Napier. "That's as simple as you can put it. I think Tennessee's got a good football team. When you play a team of that caliber, those mistakes are too much to overcome."
Who would've thought when Josh Heupel was hired that in his second season he'd have a Florida coach talking about Tennessee being a "team of that caliber" and acknowledging that you can't make mistakes against the Vols and still win the game?
It's truly remarkable how far the program has come under Heupel in the last 18 months. I didn't think I'd be hearing a Florida coach sound frustrated after playing the Vols. After all, it's not something we've heard much of over the last 17 years.
And the best part for Vols fans is that Napier isn't talking about the loss like it was a fluke. Sure, he mentions that Florida made some mistakes, but he didn't take a thing away from Tennessee while discussing the loss. There was no shade. No excuses. The Vols just beat the Gators. And he left it at that pretty much.
It has to feel good for Tennessee fans to know that the Vols got the best of the Gators. And it didn't take luck, a bad call, or some bizarre situation. It was just good players, a good coach, a great game plan, and tremendous execution.
Heupel said after the game that "Rocky Top is back".
With the Vols ranked No. 8 in the nation and producing one of the best atmospheres in the nation, it's hard to argue with him.
Featured image via YouTube
