It may not be possible at this point for Billy Napier to navigate a press conference without saying something that sends Gator Nation into a frenzy.
Last Wednesday, it was the confirmation that he would still call plays. This Monday is was the insistence that playcalling is what "helped get us here."
And now today, Napier made another comment that just made everyone smile and nod, smile and nod.
You play to win the game
During his weekly SEC Teleconference, Napier was asked a question about the uptick in penalties in college football. In responding to the question, Napier made a comment that perfectly sums up his tenure in Gainesville:
"I do think my message to the team after the open date is we came to the conclusion that, you know, more games are lost than won. And sometimes sloppy play, undisciplined penalties, poor decision making can cost you."
Yes, to his point, committing 10+ penalties is not a recipe for success.
But it also paints a picture that Florida is more consumed with playing a game of chicken with the opponent, hoping the opponent screws up, rather than putting themselves in a high ground position to make the opponent screw up.
Florida's offensive game plan in the Billy Napier Era seldom seeks to attack the opponent directly. There is this constant feeling that Napier picks a play at random and, as supported by this quote, goes out there and hopes the opponent makes a mistake.
The problem is that opposing teams have figured out Napier's gambit, and even if Florida plays clean football, there is such a small pathway for success.
USF, LSU, and Miami all dared Florida to beat them deep, but the Gators settled for underneath routes that were easily covered.
Sloppy play isn't why Florida has been losing; predictable play has.
However, unless Florida changes its mindset to believe it can dictate the outcome of a play, the beatings will continue until morale improves.