Gators Back From Texas & Back To Their Future. Did Billy Napier Find New Juice?

Miller (#51) on bottom of pile: "Tough Love" halftime talks were key. (UAA Photo)

If nothing else, the big second half comeback victory – Napier’s first as Gator coach – validated some things Billy and his staff have been teaching. Aided by a fiery halftime talk by coaches and players.

By BUDDY MARTIN

GatorBaitMedia.com Editor

Despite the image we have of a fire-breathing, ass-kicking tyrant who browbeats athletes into submission and brainwashes them into believing they have superpowers, football coaches must learn the patience of farmers. Plant it, grow it and, when it is ready, it will blossom. Or it won’t.

Yes, football coaching success sometimes must rely on organic farming. It took 10 months and 8½ games for Billy Napier’s crop to yield. Then it happened in Southeast Central Texas on an early November Saturday afternoon, at halftime of a game in which his Florida Gators trailed 24-20. Like a good farmer, Napier found the secret in the dirt, pulling out an impressive 41-24 victory.

If nothing else, the big second half comeback victory – Napier’s first as Gator coach – validated some things Billy and his staff have been teaching. Aided by a fiery halftime talk by coaches and players.

I saw a new energy and better coaching in the second half, inspired some of the refocused thinking from players and coaches alike. As Ventrell Miller said, they asked for more and better — and they got it. “I think it had to do with the halftime speech from some of the coaches and players,” said Miller. “We started off flat-footed and just taking ownership of that. It got dem boys motivated in the second half, and everyone came out and did their job, and we showed them how the Florida Gators defense could play.”

Napier’s team at Florida had never won after trailing at halftime. The Aggies led 24-20 and were receiving the second half kickoff. I don’t know what all was said at halftime, but it enticed a fresh perspective. Everybody seemed to have received wake-up calls and it’s almost like a light bulb clicked on overhead. After an embarrassing first half on defense, the Gators found some answers. I saw a new defensive scheme with more stunts which put more pressure on the QB.

Some sparks flew.

“In the second half, we told everyone to fly around to the ball. Missed tackles don’t show up when everyone is flying to the ball, so that was definitely something that was going on in the second half,” said Miller.

On the halftime speech ... “It was a little bit of tough love, like ‘let’s go!’ It’s still a game and we aren’t playing like how we are supposed to play. We told dem boys to ‘shut it out,’ and dem boys stood on that. So I’m definitely proud of dem boys.”

They also got better play-calling. Last week I criticized the offensive coaches for their “uninspiring” game plan vs. Georgia, coming out of an open date. But they did find some juice in the third quarter, cutting the Bulldogs’ lead to one score. Even though they did not close the gap in the fourth, I felt the Gators began to discover resolve and direction that might become something to build on.

Then after losing to Georgia, Brenton Cox was booted for conduct unbecoming, and we wondered how that might impact leadership. Napier found out in the third quarter vs. A&M. They not only changed the direction of the season, but found new leadership. And according to AR, it may have changed his life. “Coach Nape (Napier) told me that this is going to be a turning point of my career and my life. I kind of see that because I think I am getting better with my leadership. That’s how I’m keeping cool.”

And on offense, which had been pretty much vanilla, I saw a few new wrinkles I’d hoped for last week — including a jet sweep reverse and flea-flicker.

Mostly what I liked was the poise and leadership. And the arrival of some new faces like Ja’Quavion Fraziars, Lloyd Summerall, Antoine Ryland-Powell, Caleb Douglas, etc.

Organically, however, the key to what have been a quantum leap for Napier’s Gators was the fresh new personality of Richardson, whose life lesson not only will make him a better quarterback for Florida, but for somebody in the NFL. What he learned was how to communicate with others. And he learned it right there in the heat of battle.

“It’s a challenge trying to be a leader,” Richardson admitted. “Sometimes you got to fight through those challenges and try to grow. As a leader, I haven’t always been the type of guy to communicate a lot. I just try to lead by example and just show guys how to do things. But I see that that’s not the only way you can be a leader. You can lead by example and then communicate with guys and connect with them. It makes a lot easier for you to lead people.” (UAA Photo)

See how he did it. https://twitter.com/secnetwork/status/1589012138445754376?s=46&t=_tk7t2mXBR5vZmLIzIWpOw

Napier talked about his heart-to-heart at halftime.

"I told Anthony there late in the game – I think Anthony’s going to play this game for a long time – I think he’ll look back and this will be one of those days that he will say was kind of a pivotal day,” Napier said after the game. ”I think just playing with confidence, (I) thought he started fast. Really thorough in his prep during the week. He’s a 20-year-old, first-year starter in a new system. And I think, again, I really believe Anthony’s problems aren’t physical. It’s about development. It’s about getting comfortable in a role. Being a leader, being vocal. Improving as a communicator.”

That should make South Carolina and how many other future teams A.R. will face in college football afraid. Very afraid. And the next time you Gator fans start grousing over your QB, get that clip of AR rambling down the field for a 60-yard touchdown run.

That’s a 6-foot-4, 225-pound man running like a deer, smoothly and skillfully. The same guy whose touch on a TD pass to Fraziars earlier landed like it had butterfly wings. No matter how long you disenchanted fans grouse, you’re never going to get that in your next box of Cracker Jacks.