TRENDING: Florida Gators Football HC Billy Napier Unfazed Over Potential Lack of Job Security; ‘Change Doesn’t Happen Overnight’ – REPORT – 2024 Offseason
The Florida Gators football program hasn’t finished with more than six victories in three seasons after being 5-7 last year. Following a catastrophic 5-6 season in 2021, the Florida Gators fired head coach Dan Mullen, paving the way for star bench boss Billy Napier of Louisiana Lafayette to take over. In contrast to his forebears, which included Mullen, Jim McElwain, Will Muschamp, Urban Meyer, and Ron Zook, Napier had difficulty during his first two seasons in the SEC program. Since his arrival, Napier and Florida have gone 11–14. As he prepares for the 2024 campaign, he will likely have the most difficult schedule in the country.
However, Napier seems unfazed about the road ahead. During SEC Media Days on Wednesday, Napier spoke to the press, including fielding questions about his job status.
Florida Gators Football HC Billy Napier: Talks Job Security with SEC Club
The past two seasons have challenged Florida Gators football and its fans. The three-time national championship-winning program has had a losing record since 2022, their first under head coach Billy Napier. The potential path becomes more challenging with Texas and Oklahoma added to the SEC. However, Napier believes that despite the struggles of the past two seasons, he, his staff, and the program are right where they need to be.
Florida coach Billy Napier on his job status: “Change doesn’t happen overnight. Timing is everything. When we took the job, what we inherited, the work that needed to be done… we’re on schedule.” pic.twitter.com/HdWhdSIObY
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) July 17, 2024
“Change doesn’t happen overnight. Timing is everything. When we took the job, what we inherited, the work that needed to be done… we’re on schedule,” said Napier during SEC Media Days on Wednesday. Napier took over in 2021 after Florida posted a 6-7 record and fresh off housing the 12th-ranked recruiting class, per 247Sports. Although remaining competitive regarding recruiting, Florida has failed to creep into the top ten recruiting classes in the past three years. Additionally, Napier has a .440 win percentage in 25 games with the Gators, the worst mark since Raymond Wolf in the late 1940s.
Florida Gators Football: Eyeing Toughest Schedule in the Nation
With one of the toughest schedules in the nation for the next season, Billy Napier and the Florida Gators will have their hands full. Before taking on Samford at home in a purchase game, the Gators begin their season with a tough non-conference home matchup against the Miami Hurricanes. But Florida plays a tough Texas A&M team at home before traveling to Mississippi State.
Most notably, Florida has a tough November ahead of them, beginning with a road game against Georgia in Athens. They’ll play the Texas Longhorns in Austin, then come home to play the LSU Tigers. They play their in-state foe, Florida State, in Tallahassee to start the month, and finishing the month with a home game against Ole Miss.
