Former Florida golfer and current PGA Tour player Billy Horschel posted on X (formerly Twitter) Sunday about the recent Gator slander, defending his alma mater and noting that culture doesn’t change overnight.
“It doesn’t happen in one spring practice or training camp,” Horschel said on X.
BIlly Horschel reminds Gator fans of Nick Saban's first year at Alabama
Horschel compared the culture shift Sumrall is attempting at Florida to the one Nick Saban engineered at Alabama. Saban established a standard of excellence over time, building a mindset every player had to embrace before arriving in Tuscaloosa.
Even Saban, now revered as a legendary coach, endured a mediocre start at Alabama, finishing 7-6 in his first season after a forgettable stint with the Miami Dolphins. Saban’s culture change at Alabama took time, as the standard he began to build mirrored the standard his role model, Bear Bryant, set for the program.
“The things he did created our opportunity to be successful because of the tradition he established at the University of Alabama,” Saban said.
Saban went 12-2 the next year and started a period of dominance that lasted until he retired in 2024.
Sumrall seeks to do the same in Gainesville, taking the Florida job because he understood the standard Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer set for the football program.
“Championships are the standard here,” Sumrall said to On3. “That’s why I came here.”
Horschel wants Florida fans to understand that, even while staring down two straight losses.
“It’s easy to buy into the changes, especially culture changes, when we are winning,” Horschel said. “The true detriment is when s--- starts hitting the fan. Do the players quit when things get hard and fall back into the old ways of doing things or thinking? Or do they stick to the plan? Have the mental strength to push past these hard times, continue to work hard, and believe in their coaches and their leadership.”
The Crimson Tide battled this adversity with Saban; Florida had the same woes with Meyer and Spurrier in their first years, and now Sumrall is looking in the same mirror, with a world of expectation on his shoulders to mimic excellence.
However, Horschel believes he’s the guy.
“I believe we have the right guy captaining the ship and the players to follow his lead,” Horschel said.
As the Gators march to No. 7 Texas in Austin, Horschel has one ask “from one Gator to another.”
“Stop this B.S. rumor mill going on social,” Horschel said. “It’s doing nobody any good. It’s only hurting us and our team. Let’s stick together and support these coaches and players.”
To all Gator Nation, its fans and supporters.
— Billy Horschel (@BillyHo_Golf) October 11, 2026
We need to stay positive and continue to have an optimistic outlook on our football program. What we can’t do and need to stop is this bickering, false rumor spreading, gossiping type of crap.
We need to understand that change…
Add us as a preferred source on Google