Florida Football’s relationship with Billy Napier appears to be coming to an end soon enough. Rumor has it that the buyout money has been obtained to break ways with him, despite his 12-16 record as head coach. Napier had made Louisiana a top Group of Five program and brought a wealth of Power Five experience, including a spell at Alabama, so at first the hiring looked positive.
Still, it’s possible that Florida missed a few warning signs when selecting candidates. During Napier’s playing career at Furman, one of the most notable incidents was his “Miracle on the Mountain” event versus App State, where a botched two-point convert resulted in an interception return that ended up winning the game. Over his coaching career, it appears that he has continued to make decisions of this type.
During his tenure as Clemson’s offensive coordinator, Napier’s system faltered, which resulted in Dabo Swinney firing him following a miserable season in which the Tigers finished 95th in points scored. Many Gator fans now identify his conservative play-calling and predictable habits in Florida’s current approach, which was one of the main causes for the Tigers’ offensive troubles.
Napier’s wide receiver group at Alabama underperformed in terms of NFL draft selections during his tenure as coach; the sole standout was Amari Cooper, who was already a star before Napier took over.
His dismal record persisted at Louisiana, when he nearly lost a game against App State due to a dubious call that brought back memories of his notorious undergraduate error. Furthermore, his Louisiana 2021 squad frequently failed to cover spreads, which begged the question of whether his success was a result of skill or luck.
In retrospect, it’s possible that Florida’s administration disregarded these important warning signs when appointing Napier, which is why the program is currently in an unclear position.
