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Florida Football: Billy Napier and the Gators fall straight into Vandy’s trap

By Benjamin Henderson

Nov 19, 2022; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier on the sideline after a touchdown by the Vanderbilt Commodores during the first half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2022; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier on the sideline after a touchdown by the Vanderbilt Commodores during the first half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Earlier in the week, we pointed out that the game vs Vanderbilt had all the makings of a trap game for Florida football. The Gators were coming off a beatdown of South Carolina and have FSU coming up on Friday.

Vanderbilt meanwhile just came off a win over Kentucky, the same Wildcats squad Florida couldn’t beat.

But this was Vanderbilt. Florida football always beats Vanderbilt. Well, about that.

Florida Football: The day the music died in Nashville

If had told Gator fans that Anthony Richardson was going to throw for 400 yards and three touchdowns, while holding Vanderbilt QB Mike Wright to 108 yards passing, almost everyone on planet Earth would have assumed a massive win.

Except Florida football committed a facemask on 3rd and 12 to extend a drive that led to Vanderbilt’s first TD. And Jason Marshall muffed a punt in the endzone. And Richardson threw an interception that turned into a TD one play later. And Florida was held to 45 yards rushing. And Ventrell Miller was kicked out for targeting and will miss the first half vs FSU.

Add it all up, and it was a massive faceplant for Billy Napier. Somewhere Dan Mullen is claiming the Gators out gained Vanderbilt 445 yards to 283 yards.

What makes this loss such a downer is that Napier prides Florida football on being process oriented, that each week should look the same. That the fundamentals of not taking dumb penalties or fielding a punt transfer over from game to game.

Yes, Nick Saban famously lost to ULM his first season at Alabama and Kirby Smart lost to Vanderbilt during his first year at Georgia. In time, it’s possible we look back at a gloomy afternoon in Nashville and laugh.

Or like Dan Mullen losing to Kentucky, or Jim McEwlain losing to Tennessee, it could be a sign of a lowered ceiling that won’t cut it in Gainesville.

Time will tell, but Saturday was not a good day at the office for Billy Napier.

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