As the coaching corpses began piling up this week, Billy Napier was asked what it’s like to run a college football program.
Especially when a program is, to borrow a phrase, “stuck in neutral.”
“You don’t just flip a coin and decide to be the head coach at the Florida Gators,” Napier said. “For me, you go into it with a strategy and a plan. You adapt. You evolve. You adjust.
“We’re in the middle of that process.”
Translation: These things take time, patience and perspective, none of which are commonly found among fans at places like Florida.
For people who think Napier deserves more of those considerations, a couple of names tend to come up — Eli Drinkwitz and Mike Norvell.
Not long ago, fans thought those coaches were more suited for selling insurance. For all his shortcomings, Napier has never lost to Jacksonville State at home. But look where FSU is now.
The Seminoles are 10-0 and envisioning a College Football Playoff run. Missouri is by far the best team in the SEC East (non-Georgia division) and Drinkwitz’s team might make a New Year’s Six bowl.
As fate would have it, the Gators stand in the way of both teams. They close their season against Mizzou and FSU, which probably means two more losses for Napier. But those games will also be an object lesson for fans:
Give Napier time, he’ll do at UF what Drinkwitz is doing at Missouri and Norvell is doing at FSU.
It’s a comforting thought for Florida fans. But it’s based more in wishful thinking than logic.
Historic collapse: Leaky defense among questions for Florida football following loss to No. 19 LSU
When’s kickoff? Florida football will finish the season under the lights facing FSU at The Swamp
Remember Karl Dorrell at Colorado? Probably not, which is the point. He’s just another coach who didn’t pan out.
Remember Jimbo Fisher? Probably…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/patience-virtue-fsu-missouri-florida-090418443.html
Author : The Gainesville Sun
Publish date : 2023-11-15 09:04:18
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