Florida lost to LSU 20-10, falling to 1-2 on the season and 20-21 in the Billy Napier Era. The Gators held the LSU offense in check, but a back-breaking pick-six and an inability to sustain drives led to another lackluster showing.
After the game, Billy Napier gave a press conference, and these are some of the more notable quotes he had.
Billy Napier reflects on loss to LSU
"Obviously I think we did a lot of good on defense, 10 first downs I think, and really held them to 316 yards. We got a takeaway late, I thought we did a nice job in the kicking game, keeping control of their returners, you know I think in general that part of the plan worked.
And then I think offensively, just not able to generate enough. Felt like when we had momentum, we had a critical penalty or we turned the ball over, so, right before half obviously was a big one, and then the one to make it two scores, and then you're down two, and then you kind of played one-dimensional at that point, so you know I think this is a team game."
The problem with Napier's diatribe is that this is the same issue the offense has always had. His offense has never overcome anything that goes wrong in a drive.
And to his point, what makes Saturday even more frustrating is that the defense actually played well, and Florida should have won this game.
DJ Lagway Struggles
"No, I think we all understand the dynamic here. You know, this was his fourth week of full practice. You know, he's had a very unique offseason. He's missed quite a bit of time. But I would say that what he's going to say to you is that he's not going to use that as a crutch. This is not a young man that's looking for excuses."
Remember when Napier and crew spent all offseason claiming it wasn't a big deal that Lagway wasn't practicing, only for it to now matter?
Hail Florida Hail remembers.
Tramell Jones
"No, I don't subscribe to that theory. DJ's our quarterback. He's one of the best quarterbacks in the country."
To be fair, playing backup QB Tramell Jones doesn't fix Florida's problems. Yes, a couple of the interceptions of Lagway were really bad.
But others, including the pick-six, were a direct result of LSU baiting the Gators into well-known tendencies.
DJ Lagway had 49 passes to Jadan Baugh having 10 runs
"I think Ja'Kobi [Jackson] had carries too, I think we had 27 rushes, nine of which were DJ [Lagway]. 76 plays, look, I think some of that was when the game became a two score game. I'd be interested to see what it was at half. It was 13-10 at half."
This is among the very real problems the Gators have had the last two weeks. Because LSU didn't fear getting beat over the top, they were able to load the box and so Florida felt like it couldn't run the ball.
Holding penalty wipes away touchdown
"Well, we've lost two in a row like that, that's what I'd tell you. I think for our team it's important that we focus on the things that we can control. What I respect about our team tonight is they showed up ready to play, I thought they competed their a** off."
Florida's core problem is that it plays with a style that dictates a low margin of error, so when one or two things go wrong, that's all it takes.