Billy Napier positive about Florida despite middling record

On paper, it has been a so-so year for the Florida Gators, and certainly compared to the sky-high expectations in Gainesville, it has been a disappointment. 

Head coach Billy Napier also has to contend with a bit of “comparison being the thief of joy” in the fact that Miami’s head coach, Mario Cristobal, started at the same time as him and Cristobal is 21-13 in two-and-a-half seasons and has Miami ranked No. 4 in the nation. In the meantime, Napier is 15-18 and the Gators are 0-3 against ranked opponents this season.

So no, it has not been great for the Gators, but Napier does think his team is on track? His evidence for that? They just took No. 2 Georgia to the fourth quarter. It was 20-20 with 7:29 to go in the game. Sure, UGA pulled away late and won, 34-20, but the Gators gave them a run for their money.

To Napier, that means something.

“We all want things faster, right? I mean, I think we all — I think life and football is no different. It tests our patience, but I do think given the dynamic — I just like this team I would say. I like what I have observed from this team since the first open date,” Napier told the media on Monday, referencing his 4-4 team (h/t On3). “Obviously we were very disappointed in how we started the year, but I think just a group of players — I have a ton of respect for the group of players. The body of work since the open date I think as a whole I’ve been pleased with that, and I think the mindset, the competitive spirit, the improvement, the football improvement, I think the tape speaks for itself.”

The tape against Georgia showed the Gators forcing quarterback Carson Beck into three interceptions. The Bulldogs went for 455 yards total, but Florida held them to 4-of-11 on third downs. The Gators have now forced six interceptions in the past two games, so there is something to build on here.

The question is, will the powers that be in Gainesville be patient? If not, Napier likely won’t have a chance to see this through.