By Rock Westfall
On Thursday morning, Florida Gators athletic director Scott Stricklin hurriedly announced that Billy Napier would be retained as head coach for the 2025 season. Following a 33-20 home loss to the Texas A&M Aggies in Week 3, Napier was thought to be having a date with the firing squad at a moment’s notice.
Instead, the Gators have rallied around their head coach to win three of the five games that followed, with the two losses being respectable close calls against the powerful Tennessee Volunteers (23-17 on the road) and the loaded Georgia Bulldogs (34-20) at the annual World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party in Jacksonville.
With freshman phenom DJ Lagway set to return as the starting quarterback in 2025, there is a sense that retaining Napier is a logical decision and would save over $20 million in buyout cash.
At the start of the 2024 campaign, Stricklan braced Gator Nation for this eventuality. The embattled Florida AD was clearly playing the long game.
https://twitter.com/jakewinderman/status/1854557227601772803
A Self-Preservation Act By Stricklin?
Scott Stricklin arrived at Florida on November 1, 2016, to take over a football program that was en route to its second consecutive SEC championship game appearance under then-head coach Jim McElwain. But after a 3-4 start in 2017, Stricklin fired McElwain. Subsequently, his hiring of Mississippi State HC and former Florida offensive coordinator Dan Mullen was a popular move.
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Mullen quickly got the Gators up and running with records of 10-3 in 2018 and 11-2 in 2019. In 2020, Mullen led Florida to a near upset of the Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC championship game and then nearly upset the Tide in 2021. But after a 5-6 start in 2021 and Mullen’s perceived lack of commitment to recruiting, Stricklin decided to make another in-season change.
Napier replaced Mullen with Napier. But Napier has not substantially improved the program during his tenure despite being given a budget and staff larger than many nations. Few ADs are given the luxury of firing and hiring a third coach. Thus, Stricklin needed an excuse to save Napier in order to spare himself.
“Gator Nation,” Stricklin wrote today,” I wanted to let you know that Billy Napier will continue as head football coach of the Florida Gators. As we’ve seen these past several weeks, the young men on this team represent what it means to be a Gator. Their resolve, effort and execution are evident in their performance and growth each week – building a foundation that promises greater success next season and beyond. UF’s commitment to excellence and a championship-caliber program is unwavering. In these times of change across college athletics, we are dedicated to a disciplined, stable approach that is focused on long-term, sustained success for Gator athletes, recruits and fans. I am confident that Billy will meet the challenges and opportunities ahead. We will work alongside him to support any changes needed to elevate Gator football. As college athletics evolve, UF is committed to embracing innovation and strategy, ensuring the Gators thrive in today’s competitive landscape. Gator Nation has remained strong, showing up game after game to stand with our team. This loyalty creates an incredible environment that inspires our players to compete with heart and determination. Now, I call on all of Gator Nation to continue standing behind Billy and his dedicated team while we work together to build a championship program.”
https://twitter.com/DylanHolt_/status/1854558741753979025
The Euphoria May End As Soon as Saturday
This week, the Gators are on the road to face the #5-ranked Texas Longhorns. Florida is a 21.5-point underdog with Lagway’s status as “touch and go.”
Florida may be annihilated on Saturday at DKR Texas Memorial Stadium. Thus, Stricklin may see that probability and is trying a bomb squad move to defuse the nukes.
Next week brings a home game against head coach Lane Kiffin and his Ole Miss Rebels, who boast one of the most prolific offenses in college football. Florida will be a decided underdog in that matchup, too. Kiffin is the top name on Gator Nation’s Christmas list of HC candidates to replace Napier.
Is it possible that Stricklin and Napier could be sent packing after two blowout losses, which follow Thursday’s announcement? Gator Nation will certainly be in an uproar if, indeed, Florida is routed in consecutive games.
At 4-4 with only the season finale at Florida State considered a potential win, Stricklin may have thrown a Hail Mary that could turn into a desperation long-shot gamble that he can’t win.
Stricklin and Napier are fortunate in that Florida has an interim university president, which could buy them an extra year due to that transition.
Stay tuned.
