If Billy Napier is trying to save his job with the Florida Gators, he sure doesn't look like it. On Wednesday, during his weekly SEC Teleconference, he was asked once again about job security and his case for remaining in Gainesville.
And in his response, Napier sounded like a man who knows what his inevitable fate is going to be.
Billy Napier on his last legs
Napier was asked by Dave Waters of Gators Breakdown what his case was to be given more time with Florida to generate more wins.
Napier's response:
"You know, I do think that that's a reality in our profession, you know, I think that as a competitor, as a leader, you know, I think that it comes with the territory, right?
So I think you have to have the ability to focus on the things that are important today, you know? I think it's, that's the whole key here is you got to stack good days, and you got to do a good job setting a great example for your players and staff.
So for me, ultimately, we got to get consumed with what's important now, and you live with the result on Saturday, you know, I think we all want better results, even sometimes when we win, you know, I think the product isn't as good as we would like it to be.
And then sometimes you can be proud of how you competed and played, and you played a good opponent and you came up short.
So in general, I think it's about focusing on today, the work, the process, and helping your young people maintain humility when they're having success, and try to keep that enthusiasm where it needs to be when maybe you're frustrated or a little bit disappointed about last week's result."
It's over isn't it?
Given the backdrop of the USA Today report that Napier might be on his way out the door, win or lose on Saturday, this response came across as "Yeah, I know my time is coming to an end. At least I tried my best."
Napier didn't even try to make the case to save his job. He just launched into his normal coach speak, but even that seemed subdued compared to the fiery side of Napier we saw this offseason.
We here at Hail Florida Hail have long chronicled the platitude of missteps that Napier has taken along the way that landed him in this spot, and it appears he has taken one too many missteps to save himself.
It will all be over soon.
It will all be over soon.