It is time for Florida to reverse the trend of hiring mediocre coaches

Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin will begin searching for a new coach

From 1990 to 2010, the Florida Gators won more football games (210) than any team in the nation. Steve Spurrier went 122-27-1 during his 12 years, winning six Southeastern Conference titles and the 1996 national championship. Following a 3-year interlude with Ron Zook in charge, Urban Meyer led the Gators to a 65-15 record with national and SEC titles in 2006 and 2008.

In the years since Meyer hung up his whistle in 210, four Florida coaches have led the Gators to a 109-75 record, which ranks outside the top 30 nationally. The Gators are a full 69 wins behind Alabama (178-23) since Will Muschamp’s initial year in 2011, 52 wins behind Georgia (161-37).

Muschamp, Jim McElwain, Dan Mullen and Billy Napier have been unable to sustain the high standard set by Spurrier and Meyer. From 1990-210, Florida was an elite program, the standard setter in the SEC and for the nation. Since then Florida has tumbled into mediocrity.

Can the Gators find a coach who can bring back the mojo? Can Florida rejoin the elite programs in the nation?

Obviously, now that Billy Napier has been dismissed, the search committee will be charged with finding the next Spurrier or next Meyer, but the question has to be is there an available coach who can deliver? Whoever is hired will have the undaunting task of keeping the talent Napier accumulated happy and willing to stay. Florida doesn’t lack for talent, but how much of it will remain for the new coach? And, can the new coach manipulate the portal in such a way to fill in deficiencies in the UF roster?

This is not a task for a weak or mediocre coach. It has to be a home run hire and it has to be someone who can take advantage of facilities that rank among the best in the country, one of the largest alumni bases in the country, and the usual overflow of high school talent in one of the nation’s top three fertile recruiting grounds.  

If there has been a failing of Florida administration since Meyer left it is the inability to hire a coach capable of greatness. Rather than swing for the fences to bring in a great coach, Florida has settled for coaches who were by no means elite. That is a trend worth reversing. If the Gators don’t bring in a truly outstanding coach to replace Napier, then the program will continue falling farther behind.

Does the administration comprehend the urgency?

Associated Press top 25: 1. Ohio State 7-0; 2. Indiana 7-0; 3. Texas A&M 7-0; 4. Alabama 6-1; 5. Georgia 6-1; 6. Oregon 6-1; 7.  Georgia Tech 7-0; 8. Ole Miss 6-1; 9. Miami 5-1; 10. Vanderbilt 6-1; 11. BYU 7-0; 12. Notre Dame 5-2; 13. Oklahoma 6-1; 14. Texas Tech 6-1; 15. Missouri 6-1; 16. Virginia 6-1; 17. Tennessee 5-2; 18. South Florida 6-1; 19. Louisville 5-1; 20. LSU 5-2; 21. Cincinnati 6-1; 22. Texas 5-2; 23. Illinois 5-2; 24. Arizona State 5-2; 25. Michigan 5-2

AFCA Coaches top 25: 1. Ohio State 7-0; 2. Indiana 7-0; 3. Texas A&M 7-0; 4. Alabama 6-1; 5. Georgia 6-1; 6. Oregon 6-1; 7. Georgia Tech 7-0; 8. Ole Miss 6-1; 9. Miami 5-1; 10. BYU 7-0; 11. Oklahoma 6-1; 12. Vanderbilt 6-1; 13. Notre Dame 5-2; 14. Missouri 6-1; 15. Texas Tech 6-1; 16. Virginia 6-1; 17. Tennessee 5-2; 18. Texas 5-2; 19. LSU 5-2; 20. South Florida 6-1; 21. Cincinnati 6-1; 22. Louisville 5-1; 23. Illinois 5-2; 24. Michigan 5-2; 25. Arizona State 5-2

SEC FOOTBALL

(Associated Press rankings)

No. 4 Alabama (6-1, 4-0 SEC): Since that game one loss to Florida State, Ty Simpson has completed 130-175 passes for 1,677 yards, 16 touchdowns and just one interception. Saturday: at South Carolina (3-4, 1-4 SEC)

Arkansas (2-5, 0-3 SEC): The Razorbacks have the No. 4 offense in the country (513.7 yards per game) but the defense is No. 126 (443.9 yards per game). Saturday: Auburn (3-4, 0-4 SEC)

Auburn (3-4, 0-4 SEC): The Tigers are playing defense well enough to be unbeaten but they figure out ways to lose games they should win. They outgained Missouri 150-91 on the ground, picked off two passes and sacked Beau Pribula three times and yet still lost in double overtime. Saturday: at Arkansas (2-5, 0-3 SEC)

No. 5 Georgia (6-1, 4-1 SEC): Kirby Smart has to be concerned with the pass rush or lack of. The Poodles have eight sacks in seven games. It’s not a problem the rest of the way against five teams that aren’t prolific passers, but if they get into the playoff it could bite them in a big way.

Kentucky (2-4, 0-4 SEC): They are still trying to figure out how they lost to Texas. The Wildcats outgained the Longhorns 395-179 and held Arch Manning to just 4.9 yards per pass attempt. Saturday: No. 17 Tennessee (5-2, 2-2 SEC)

No. 20 LSU (5-2, 2-2 SEC): One reason the fans are growing increasingly weary of HBC Brian Kelly is the dismal offense that ranks 12^th in the SEC and 83^rd nationally. The running game averages 112 yards per game which ranks 117^th nationally. Saturday: No. 3 Texas A&M (7-0, 4-0 SEC)

Mississippi State (4-3, 0-3 SEC): In the first half of the loss to Florida, the Bulldogs fumbled away one possession, missed a field goal and turned the ball over on downs. Saturday: No. 22 Texas (5-2, 2-1 SEC)

No. 15 Missouri (6-1, 2-1 SEC): In his last two games, Ahmad Hardy has gained a combined 110 yards on 36 carries. In his first five, Hardy gained 730 yards. He still leads the SEC by 169 yards. Saturday: at No. 10 Vanderbilt (6-1, 2-1 SEC)

No. 13 Oklahoma (6-1, 2-1 SEC): The Sooners rank No. 1 nationally in total defense, allowing just 213 yards per game. Oklahoma also leads the country in sacks with 28. Saturday: No. 5 Ole Miss (6-1, 3-1 SEC)

No. 8 Ole Miss (6-1, 3-1 SEC): Held to a season low 351 yards by Georgia, the Rebels will face the top defense in the country Saturday. Ole Miss put up 35 points against Georgia through three quarters, then went scoreless in the fourth. Saturday: at No. 13 Oklahoma (6-1, 2-1 SEC)

South Carolina (3-4, 1-4 SEC): The lack of pass protection is killing the Gamecocks offensively. They gave up six sacks to Oklahoma and for the season they’ve given up 26 for -238 yards, which is next to last nationally. Saturday: No. 4 Alabama (6-1, 4-0 SEC)

No. 17 Tennessee (5-2, 2-2 SEC): The high flying Vol offense was slowed down considerably by Alabama. The Vols, who average more than 511 yards per game, were held to season lows 410 yards and 20 points. Saturday: at Kentucky (2-4, 0-4 SEC)

No. 22 Texas (5-2, 2-1 SEC): The preseason hype for Arch Manning was off the charts. His numbers this year are rather pedestrian: 114-189 passing for 1,449 yards and 12 touchdowns (5 interceptions); 193 rushing yards for five touchdowns. Saturday: at Mississippi State (4-3, 0-3 SEC)

No. 3 Texas A&M (7-0, 4-0 SEC): Quarterback Marcel Reed is emerging as a serious Heisman Trophy candidate. For the season he has thrown for 1,770 yards (8.8 yards per attempt) and 15 touchdowns (only 4 picks) while running for 241 yards and four more TDs. Saturday: at No. 20 LSU (5-2, 2-2 SEC)

No. 10 Vanderbilt (6-1, 2-1 SEC): A year ago, Vanderbilt gave up more than 376 yards per game. The defense is considerably better this year. The Commodores are allowing only 315 per game in 2025, which is seventh in the SEC, 29^th nationally. Saturday: No. 15 Missouri (6-1, 2-1 SEC)

COUNTDOWN TO FIRING DAY: OCTOBER 19 EDITION

Extinct Species List

Billy Napier, Florida: Napier is the first coach since Raymond “Bear” Wolf to finish his UF coaching tenure with a losing (22-23) record.

James Franklin, Penn State: He’s already showing up as a replacement candidate for a number of jobs. Meanwhile, it seems that Matt Rhule is the ideal candidate to replace Franklin at Penn State. He says he’s happy at Nebraska. It’s a whole lot easier to recuit at Penn State than it is Nebraska.

Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State: They would love to lure Alex Golesh from South Florida but Golesh might be a candidate for bigger and better jobs.

Sam Pittman, Arkansas: Bobby Petrino’s offense is making waves, but it hasn’t resulted in wins, so he seems less likely to be Pittman’s successor. Big money people like Dallas Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones seem to be throwing their weight behind SMU coach Rhett Lashley. Why would he leave SMU? They have the money and it’s easier to make the playoff coming out of the ACC than it is in the SEC.

DeShaun Foster, UCLA: Interim Tim Skipper is 3-0 since Foster was canned. He gets Indiana in Bloomington this week. If the Bruins figure out a way to win that one, Tim Skipper may have sealed the permanent replacement job.

Brent Pry, Virginia Tech: South Carolina’s lack of success this season makes it more and more likely Shane Beamer will answer the call from mama to come home to Blacksburg.

Trent Dilfer, UAB: Interim Alex Mortenson pulled off a huge upset Saturday in knocking off previously unbeaten Memphis. They don’t have a lot of money at UAB. Do they stick with Mort? Or can they coax Bill Clark to come out of retirement and take over. He won 49 games at UAB between 2017-2021.

Trent Bray, Oregon State: It’s going to be difficult for the Beavers to land a top flight coach since there is very little in the way of TV money and so many questions about the new Pac-12 conference that will begin play next season.

On Life Support

Mike Norvell, Florida State: When he beat Alabama, Norvell was every Seminole’s buddy. Now that he’s lost the last four, he’s the guy they can’t wait to get rid of. Word is that when they raise the money for the buyout he’s a goner.

Hugh Freeze, Auburn: Auburn’s four losses in SEC play are by a combined 29 points. If close calls don’t turn into wins soon, Hugh will be a goner.

Luke Fickell, Wisconsin: In their last four games, the Badgers have been outscored 122-20. They’ve been shut out on back-to-back weekends by Iowa and Ohio State. Nobody is happy in Madison.

Derek Mason, Middle Tennessee State: The Blue Raiders are 1-5. They drew fewer than 10,000 to their loss to Missouri State.

Joe Moorhead, Akron: He probably lasts until the end of the season but anything less than five wins and he’s a goner.

Endangered Species List

Brian Kelly, LSU: He left Notre Dame thinking it would be easier to win a national championship at LSU. He’s 5-2 this year, probably won’t make the playoff for a fourth straight year and the natives are restless. The noise in the system is about to become a dull roar.

Mark Stoops, Kentucky: He’s the winningest coach in Kentucky history but if he doesn’t start winning soon he will be the unemployed winningest coach in UK history.

Dell McGee, Georgia State: He has South Alabama this week. That might be the last legitimate chance at a win.

Bill O’Brien, Boston College: He’s lost six straight games and the next four are at Louisville, Notre Dame, SMU and Georgia Tech. They may keep him around for next year but he will be on a very hot seat.