For the moment, at least, Billy Napier is still the UF coach

Embattled Billy Napier is for now, at least, still Florida's head football coach (Photo by Chris Spears)

A few thoughts to jump start your Monday morning:

For the moment, at least, Billy Napier remains the head football coach at the University of Florida.

A meeting of the University Athletic Association Board of Trustees was called for Sunday morning, but as of Sunday night there are no definitive conclusions.

There are reports confirmed through other sources that prominent boosters have cobbled together the money it would take to buy out the remainder of Napier’s contract (estimated $26 million), but it is more than just Napier’s buyout at issue. Each of Napier’s 10 assistant coaches plus strength and conditioning coordinator have two-year contracts. Additionally there are numerous analysts and staffers with contracts that have to be evaluated.

By the time all the contracts are evaluated and buyouts totaled, the amount of cash the boosters will have to come up with could be substantially more than what Napier is owed. One conservative estimate says it will take a minimum of $40 million to buy out Napier, his assistants and prominent staffers.

That is just for starters.

If and when Napier is fired, the search for a new head coach will begin. It’s likely a search firm will be contracted that affords both the University of Florida and any prospective coach a measure of plausible deniability. And once the number of prospects is narrowed down, decisions will be made regarding which one is the best fit both financially and culturally.

Depending on the coach, his buyout and the buyouts required for new assistant coaches plus moving expenses, etc., it might take $50 million or more to hire someone new. It seems obvious based on the hires this century of Ron Zook, Will Muschamp, Jim McElwain, Dan Mullen and Napier that it would be in Florida’s best interests to after an established coach who has won in a power conference or else the National Football League. That factor alone could jack up the price of a new hire.

For now, though, Napier is still the head coach. The early line from Las Vegas on Saturday’s game with Mississippi State (12 noon, ESPN) is Florida established as a 4.5-point favorite.

Following Mississippi State, the Gators have an open date. If change is truly in the works DURING the season, this might prove to be the ideal time to make it since the Gators would have adequate time to get accustomed to whoever is selected as the interim. There were unsubstantiated reports Saturday night that if there is an interim it will be analyst Dan Enos, a former head coach at Central Michigan who has been a coordinator and QB coach in the SEC (Alabama and Arkansas) and Big Ten (Michigan State and Maryland.

Associated Press top 25: 1. Texas 3-0; 2. Georgia 3-0; 3. Ohio State 2-0; 4. Alabama 3-0; 5. Ole Miss 3-0; 6. Tennessee 3-0; 7. Missouri 3-0; 8. Miami 3-0; 9. Oregon 3-0; 10. Penn State 2-0; 11. Southern California 2-0; 12. Utah 3-0; 13. Kansas State 3-0; 14. Oklahoma State 3-0; 15. Oklahoma 3-0; 16. LSU 2-1; 17. Notre Dame 2-1; 18. Michigan 2-1; 19. Louisville 2-0; 20. Iowa State 2-0; 21. Clemson 1-1; 22. Nebraska 3-0; 23. Northern Illinois 2-0; 24. Illinois 3-0; 25. Texas A&M 2-1

Coaches top 25: 1. Georgia 3-0; 2. Texas 3-0; 3. Ohio State 2-0; 4. Alabama 3-0; 5. Ole Miss 3-0; 6. Oregon 3-0; 7. Tennessee 3-0; 8. (Tie) Missouri 3-0 and Penn State 2-0; 10. Utah 3-0; 11. Miami 3-0; 12. Southern California 2-0; 13. Oklahoma 3-0; 14. Kansas State 3-0; 15. Oklahoma State 3-0; 16. LSU 2-1; 18. Michigan 2-1; 18. Notre Dame 2-1; 19. Clemson 1-1; 20. Louisville 2-0; 21. Iowa State 2-0; 22. Nebraska 3-0; 23. Memphis 3-0; 24. Texas A&M 2-1; 25. UNLV 3-0

SEC FOOTBALL

No. 4 Alabama (3-0): In the Tide’s 42-10 win over Wisconsin in Madison, QB Jalen Milroe threw for threw for 196 yards and three TDs while running for 75 and two more. It was the third straight game that Milroe has had at least two passing and two rushing touchdowns. Next Saturday: Open

Arkansas (2-1): Arkansas rallied back from a 17-3 deficit to take out UAB, 37-27, behind a running game that netted 266 yards. Ja’Quinden Jackson ran for 147 yards and a TD and quarterback Taylen Green ran for 96 yards and two touchdowns. Next Saturday: at Auburn (2-1)

Auburn (2-1): Hugh Freeze benched Payton Thorne, turning the offense over to Hank Brown, who responded by throwing for 235 yards and four TDs without an interception in the win over New Mexico. Next Saturday: Arkansas (2-1)

No. 2 Georgia (3-0, 1-0 SEC): Georgia drove 68 yards for a fourth quarter touchdown to eke past Kentucky, 13-12. The win was Georgia’s 28th straight SEC win, a new conference record. The Bulldogs held Kentucky to 262 total yards and four field goals. Next Saturday: Open

Kentucky (1-2, 0-2 SEC): The Wildcats rank 129th nationally in total offense, averaging just 261.3 yards per game. Kentucky’s offense has produced four touchdowns and seven field goals in three games. Kentucky’s defense is giving up only 215 yards per game, which ranks 9th nationally. Next Saturday: Ohio (2-1)

No. 16 LSU (2-1, 1-0 SEC): The Tigers rallied from a 17-0 deficit to take a 36-33 win over South Carolina. South Carolina missed a 49-yard field goal as time ran out, giving the Tigers the victory. Next Saturday: UCLA (1-1)

Mississippi State (1-2): A bad day was had by all in the Bulldogs’ 41-17 loss to Toledo. The O-line gave up give sacks while the secondary was torched by Toledo’s Tucker Gleason, who threw for 285 yards and three TDPs. Next Saturday: FLORIDA (1-2, 0-1 SEC)

No. 7 Missouri (3-0): Appalachian State transfer Nate Noel ran for 121 yards and wide receiver Luther Burden III caught six passes for 117 yards and a TD in the Tigers’ 27-21 win over Boston College … Mizzou was flagged for eight penalties (-81 yards). They’ve been penalized 25 times in three games. Next Saturday: Vanderbilt (2-1)

No. 15 Oklahoma (3-0): The offense has been erratic, but the Oklahoma defense has been solid through three games, giving up 11.3 points and just 264.7 yards per game. The Sooners are tied for sixth nationally with 11 sacks. Next Saturday: at No. 6 Tennessee (3-0)

No. 5 Ole Miss (3-0): Ole Miss is averaging 692 yards per game, tops in the country, while giving up just 253.7, 22nd nationally. The Rebels are tied for the top spot nationally … Quarterback Jaxson Dart is leading the nation in passing, hitting 73-88 passes for 1,172 yards (13.3 per attempt) and eight touchdowns. Next Saturday: Georgia Southern (2-1)

South Carolina (2-1, 1-1 SEC): Athletic director Ray Tanner and HBC Shane Beamer had conversations with the SEC about the officiating both Saturday evening and Sunday after the Gamecocks were flagged 13 times for 123 yards in penalties in their loss to LSU … Raheim Sanders ran for 143 yards and two touchdowns and QB LaNorris Sellers ran for 88 yards and two TDs. Next Saturday: Akron (1-2)

No. 6. Tennessee (3-0): Against a rather weak schedule, the Vols are No. 2 in the nation in total offense (639.3 yards per game) and total defense (160.7 per game). Tennessee is outscoring opponents, 63.7-4.3.  Next Saturday: at No. 15 Oklahoma (3-0)

No. 1 Texas (3-0): Quarterback Quinn Ewers is listed week-to-week after both an oblique and abdominal strain against UT-San Antonio. At the time of the injury, Ewers was 14-16 passing for 185 yards and two touchdowns. Arch Manning stepped in when

Ewers went down, hitting 9-12 passes for 223 yards and four touchdowns while running for 53 yards and another TD. Next Saturday: Louisiana-Monroe (2-0)

No. 25 Texas A&M (2-1, 1-0 SEC): A potential quarterback controversy is brewing for the Aggies after redshirt freshman Marcel Reed directly the Aggie offense flawlessly in a win over Florida while Conner Weigman sat out the game with an injury to the AC joint in his shoulder. Against the Gators, Reed completed 11-17 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns while running for 83 yards and a TD on 13 carries. Weigman has had to miss games due to injury in each of his three seasons at Texas A&M. There is no timetable set for his return to active duty. Next Saturday: Bowling Green (1-1)

Vanderbilt (2-1): The Commodores hopes for a 3-0 start to the season came crashing down when they gave up a 7-play, 79-yard scoring drive to Georgia State in the final 74 seconds. That offset a furious fourth quarter rally that saw Vandy score 22 points in the fourth quarter to take a 32-29 lead with 1:14 to go. Next Saturday: at No. 7 Missouri (3-0)

AROUND THE STATE

Florida Atlantic (1-2, 0-1 American): Zuberi Mobley ran for 134 yards and two touchdowns as the Owls got their first win of the season over FIU, 38-20. Next Saturday: at UConn (1-2)

Florida International (1-2): The Golden Panthers threw three interceptions and lost two fumbles in their loss to Florida Atlantic. Next Saturday: Monmouth (1-2)

Florida State (0-3, 0-2 ACC): The Seminoles woes begin with the offensive line. FSU has run for 156 yards in three games, averaging a pathetic 2.2 yards per carry. Against Memphis, the Seminoles gave up four sacks for -33 yards. Next Saturday: California (3-0)

No. 8 Miami (3-0): Cam Ward is firmly one of the early leaders for the Heisman Trophy with 1,035 passing yards (11.6 per attempt) and 11 TDPs … The Hurricanes are tied for second nationally in sacks with 12. Next Saturday: at South Florida (2-1)

South Florida (2-1): In the Bulls 49-24 win over Southern Miss, quarterback Byrum Brown threw for 193 yards and two touchdowns while running for 72 yards and one more TD. Next Saturday: No. 8 Miami (3-0)

ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: Changing coaches is never pleasant whether it’s the coach leaving on his own volition or because he’s been told his job has been terminated. We tend to forget that it’s more than a head coach. They have assistant coaches who will have to find new jobs, families, ties to the community and relationships with recruits who may or may not elect to seek a scholarship elsewhere.

I like Billy Napier. I think he is a fine man and unlike a lot of coaches I have dealt with since I wrote about my first college football game 57 years ago, I believe he seriously cares about each of his players. If I had a son who was good enough to play football in the Southeastern Conference and Billy Napier came to my home for an official visit, I would be impressed with the kind of man who would be guiding my son.  

That being said, I think there are times when people conclude that things aren’t working out for a variety of reasons. That’s when hard decisions have to be made to stay on the same track and hope things work out or make the necessary changes to plot a new course.

I’m of the opinion that it’s time to plot a new course at Florida. I’m also of the opinion that Billy Napier will resurface somewhere as a head coach, this time in a situation that is more amenable to the things he does well. He didn’t win 40 games in four years at Louisiana by accident, but what he did there and what he has done here isn’t working out. Coaches are hired to win and the Gators aren’t winning under Napier, so adjustments will have to be made if Napier is to find success again.

He's a very good man who should be treated with respect and should not be held in contempt by Florida fans. If and when he is dismissed, give him the dignity of a thank you for giving the University of Florida his best and well wishes for the future.