It's deja vu as Florida Football has a coach on the hot seat and is playing Samford

Heading into the 2024 season for Florida Football, most assumed the Gators would be able to make it to the end of the season before the necessity to even think about a coaching change would be a topic of conversation. Fast forward about 72 hours, and the bulk of Gator Nation wishes Billy Napier would retreat into a basement rather than be the head coach of the Florida Gators.

In theory, Napier should be able to temper the barrage of headlines calling for his job this Saturday when the Gators take on Samford in The Swamp and should cruise to an easy win.

But those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it, and there are plenty of narratives running around Gainesville now that feel eerily similar to the last time Florida took on Samford.

Florida Football: I've Seen This Film Before

In 2021, as Florida was getting ready to take on Samford, Dan Mullen was on the hot seat after a blowout loss to South Carolina, and part of the problem was his insistence on keeping Todd Grantham as the defensive coordinator when everyone wanted a change. Recruiting was lagging behind, but Florida did have Anthony Richardson waiting in the wings to give Gator fans some form of hope.

Hmm...

Billy Napier is firmly on the hot seat after a blowout loss to Miami, and part of the problem is his insistence on being the offensive coordinator when everyone has wanted a change. Recruiting is lagging behind, but Florida does have DJ Lagway waiting in the wings to give Gator fans some form of hope.

The November 13, 2021 game against Samford was supposed to help ease the sting of getting blown out by South Carolina, but what transpired was Florida trailing at halftime before eventually winning 70-52. One week later, Mullen was fired after losing to Missouri.

In theory, Lagway could come out and look great on Saturday, get tabbed as the starter against Texas A&M, and lead Florida on a run that makes us all forget everything we have said over the last 72 hours.

But if we keep going down this same path we did three years ago, this Saturday is going to provide more questions than answers, and the clock might just strike midnight next Saturday against the Aggies.

The beauty of sports is that we ultimately have to let things play out even when we think we know what comes next.

All I know is that I think I've seen this film before, and I didn't like the ending.