Not all Week 1 college football matchups are equal. Some teams benefit from beginning the season with lower-level, out-of-conference “cupcake” opponents to ease into the new schedule. This year’s season opener for the Florida Gators (0-1) did not come with the same privilege.
The Gators faced off against their longtime but infrequent rivals, the Miami Hurricanes (1-0), suffering a humiliating 41-17 defeat. This marked Florida’s first home opener loss since 1989 and extended their losing streak to six games, dating back to last season. It’s a significant low point for a program that’s been struggling since head coach Billy Napier’s arrival. Now in his third season in Gainesville, Napier has a record of 11-15. However, this particular loss might be one that sticks in Gators’ history for a long time.
After such a defeat, there’s no shortage of blame to go around, and most fans have a clear idea of where to start.
Billy Napier…yikes.
Napier’s job security was already in question before the 2024 season began, and now it’s likely in even greater jeopardy. This wasn’t just a loss to a potentially historic Miami (FL) team, but also a rare rivalry game that demanded a win.
The Gators will get another shot at Miami next year, but for Napier, the bad news is that he’s unlikely to be around to seek redemption for this year’s loss.
To put this in perspective, this was Napier’s 15th loss just one game into his third season. By comparison, Steve Spurrier lost only 27 games in 12 seasons with the Gators, and Urban Meyer lost 15 games over six years. Jim McElwain didn’t get the chance to lose 15 games—he was fired 10 games into his third season. Dan Mullen, Napier’s predecessor, was fired after his 15th loss in his fourth season, during his 11th game that year.
Saturday’s loss marked the sixth time in the last three years that the Gators have surrendered 40 or more points—a rare and alarming trend for a program like Florida. This is just one of many indicators that Florida football may have landed itself in yet another poor coaching situation. Any patience the Florida administration had left is now wearing very thin.
In his three seasons, Napier’s teams have shown little to no improvement; in fact, they often look unprepared and less talented compared to most of their opponents.
But sure, Napier could still make up for the Miami loss by achieving a winning record against what is arguably the toughest schedule in college football this season. The Gators face seven more preseason top 25 teams, starting on November 2, with five of those matchups coming consecutively to close out their season.
Napier’s home might already be listed on Zillow.
Florida Athletic Director Scott Stricklin
Just one day before the Gators’ blowout loss to the Hurricanes, Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin expressed full confidence in Napier, stating that “patience is going to be rewarded.”
“Billy is a man of substance; he’s a leader of substance,” Stricklin said on The Paul Finebaum Show. “He is very methodical, which probably, long-term, is going to be really good for Florida and for our football program because he’s not gonna cut a corner, he’s not gonna take a shortcut. He’s gonna [build] a really, really solid foundation. And he’s gonna get this thing going to be at the level that all Gators want it to be at, which is competing for championships, playing in meaningful postseason games. Once he gets it to that point, it’s gonna stay at that point.”
“I see the steps he’s taken, the caliber of young people he’s brought in. He’s improved the roster, he’s improved the overall structure of the team. I think we have been patient as a university. That patience is gonna be rewarded. I really believe Billy Napier’s gonna be the head coach at Florida for a long, long time.”
One has to wonder how Stricklin feels about those words now.
Florida’s recent on-field struggles reflect as much on Stricklin as they do on Napier. While this is just one loss, it feels like a season-defining one—and it very well could be. Some are even predicting that this year’s Florida team might not win more than two games.
Stricklin, who arrived in 2016, first dealt with Jim McElwain as head coach before dismissing him just before the end of his third season. He then fired Dan Mullen, who had some success with the program. These decisions have resulted in significant buyouts, totaling $19.5 million. When—not if—he lets go of Napier, the University of Florida could owe him $51.8 million, depending on when the decision is made.
However, Stricklin’s job is also in jeopardy. Few athletic directors get the opportunity to hire their third head football coach.
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