Florida Gators coach Billy Napier is perhaps the SEC (Southeastern Conference) coach on the hottest seat in college football after his side were mauled 41-17 at home by the Miami Hurricanes to start the season. Despite a 45-7 blowout win against the Samford Bulldogs, the spotlight is still on the beleaguered coach.
Up next for the Gators is a home game against coach Mike Elko's Texas A&M Aggies who have a 1-1 record so far this season.
During an episode of "Always College Football," ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum raised his concerns on Napier's career were the Gators to lose against the Aggies in week three action.
“I think ‘must-win’ is really an understatement,” Finebaum said. “I think should Billy Napier fail to win this game and Florida loses again, I don't see how he can survive. All the goodwill Napier found in the offseason, and he found a lot, went out the window.
"There’s virtually no confidence in this program without a win and a win against Texas A&M doesn’t really mean anything, but it stops the hemorrhaging."
Nick Saban criticizes SEC program's culture
Billy Napier and former SEC coach Nick Saban share a long history, with the former being the latter's wide receivers coach between 2013 and 2016. In his new role as an analyst for ESPN's "College GameDay," Saban criticized the culture in Florida under Napier.
“I think he’s gotta change the culture. I mean the culture there is not what it needs to be in terms of the intangible things that you play with," Saban said. "The toughness, the discipline. To control the line of scrimmage. They’re just not doing those types of things. I know he (Napier) took over a tough situation, but hopefully, you can establish that culture in year three.”
The SEC coach replied to the comments by his former boss during his weekly news conference ahead of the clash against the Texas A&M Aggies.
"Big picture-wise, you know, I think that we need to experience some success on the field," Billy Napier said. "I think ultimately, I would say that's where we need to take the next step. I think once we do that, much like any culture, it is — it's being built until it gets established. Hey, it works, it's working."
The SEC is perhaps the most competitive conference in the country, and the Florida Gators have the most difficult schedule in 2024, according to ESPN. If Billy Napier is to survive, he will have to do it the hard way.
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