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Florida Football: What is and isn’t Billy Napier’s fault for 2023 season?

By Benjamin Henderson

Nov 25, 2022; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier gestures during the second half against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 25, 2022; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier gestures during the second half against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 31, 2023; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier works the sideline in the first half against the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /

Florida Football: Who gets the blame?

Week-to-week consistency – Napier

Since arriving to lead Florida football, Napier has knocked off Utah only to lose to Kentucky and nearly lose to USF. He smacked South Carolina only to lose to Vanderbilt. He beat Tennessee this season only to drop subsequent games to Kentucky and Arkansas.

We can muse that the talent pipeline dried up under Mullen for the level needed to compete for a championship. However, the Gator roster isn’t so devoid of talent that it should be experiencing some of the week-to-week roller coaster rides it has been taking under Napier.

Saturday’s game against Arkansas was symbolic of these consistency issues. The Gators blinked and were down 14-0 before having to mount a comeback. The more profound concern is that Florida football might not be as organized under Napier as we are led to believe.

He will get his guys into the system over the next couple of years, but teams like Texas A&M, Miami, and Southern Cal are examples that high-level recruiting isn’t the sole prerequisite to fielding a successful team.

Next. Three stats the Gators are near the bottom of nationally. dark

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