Billy Napier, the head coach of the Florida Gators, appears to be leaving the position more likely than not. Napier is under great pressure as the team stumbles to a 1-2 start, including disappointing defeats to Texas A&M and the eighth-ranked Miami Hurricanes. Supporters are vocally demanding that he be fired, even starting a GoFundMe page to pay for his sizeable buyout should he be let go.
Napier and athletic director Scott Stricklin have been the subject of rumors all week as the Gators get ready for their road game against Mississippi State on Saturday. According to a fresh story that CBS Sports released on Friday, Napier’s firing might occur at any time. Sources claim that “the wheels are already turning behind the scenes” since Florida’s leadership seems more cohesive than what fan speculation would have us believe. Stricklin, who has taken a lot of heat for employing Napier as well as Dan Mullen, will ultimately decide what happens to Napier. According to CBS Sports, Stricklin will be in charge of organizing the hunt for a new coach if he decides to make the move.
Napier’s time at UF is rapidly running out as he finishes his third season with a 12-16 record. The $27.9 million buyout of Napier has already been funded by boosters, and plans are in motion to recruit a replacement, so Napier may be let go as soon as Saturday’s game is over. Fans of the Gators are excited for a new coach, but with Stricklin’s prior mistakes with Mullen and Napier, there is increasing doubt about his ability to select a better replacement.
In four seasons, Mullen won two bowl games and had a 34-15 record, but he was never able to get Florida into the College Football Playoff picture. The school had to pay $12 million for his buyout, and now that Napier’s time is probably coming to an end, supporters are wondering if Stricklin will ever be able to make the correct decision.
