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Vanderbilt Football is bowl eligible. Florida is not.

Injuries impacted the Gators, but that shouldn't be Billy Napier's get out of jail free card.

By Benjamin Henderson

Nov 2, 2024; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier reacts during the second half against the Georgia Bulldogs at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-Imagn Images
Nov 2, 2024; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier reacts during the second half against the Georgia Bulldogs at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-Imagn Images / Melina Myers-Imagn Images
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As the clock ticked down in Jacksonville and Florida Football's bid to pull off an upset for the ages fell short, natural human emotion is to look at the effort the players put in and give the Gaotrs a pat on the back. Florida was down to their third-string QB and was tied for seven minutes to go against the number two team in the country.

But too often in the Billy Napier Era has there been this feeling we are supposed to give a pat on the back for a good effort, and when programs with a much lower talent profile are figuring it out while Florida stays stuck in reverse, we here at Hail Florida Hail are out of pats on the back to give.

Final. 20. 526. Team. 34. 527

Florida Football: Moral Victory

We are just going to state a fact:

Vanderbilt is bowl eligible, and Florida is not.

"But Ben, if Florida had Vanerbilt's schedule, the Gators would be bowl eligible too."

So, we are just going to state another fact:

Vanderbilt has beaten two Power Four programs which currently have a winning record, while Florida has beaten zero.

While we are at it, South Carolina has also beaten two Power Four programs with a winning record, while Florida has beaten zero.

See, the problem is when one runs around handing out too many moral victories when other programs around the country with an "inferior" roster are figuring out actual victories.

"But Ben, Florida was down to their third-string QB. Nobody is winning that game."

Ask yourself the following question: Could Florida one day make the playoffs if Aidan Warner were the starting quarterback?

Got your answer?

Guess who was the third-string QB for Georgia in 2021?

*whispers*

Carson Beck, the QB Florida just lost to.

*un-whispers*

We wrote this last night, but there is a folly in tying Napier's job security to whether or not DJ Lagway is healthy. Vanderbilt took the starting QB from New Mexico State and beat Alabama. If there is a will, there is a way.

One program is going bowling in 2024, while the other is sitting around hoping we say nice things about them.

Billy Napier is 15-18 as Florida's head coach.

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