Postgame Thoughts: Florida Gators (3-4, 2-2) v. Mississippi State Bulldogs (4-3, 0-3)

Questions and rumors surrounded this matchup as the future of Billy Napier hung in the balance as the Bulldogs, losers of 14 straight SEC games came to town. Would this game be Billy’s last stand or could a blowout win complete with a dominating offense and defense save the embattled coach for the remainder of the season? That would be the question and this game did little to give us any answers.

By Loren Meadows, GatorBaitMedia.com, Football Analyst-Host of the Lowdown with Loren Meadows

Napier addresses the media Saturday night (GatorBait photo)

What We Thought: The Florida Gators have spent the last four years in the “just not good enough” category of mediocrity. While strides have definitely been made in the area of player experience, the Gators 21-23 record under Napier has not been what Florida has come to expect and most living Gators can even remember. Yet, every Saturday in the fall brings one more opportunity to present your program to the masses and as the intro states, “take on adversity and knock the grin from its face”. That was the chance that the Gators would have on Saturday. Take all the adversity the Gators had dealt with, talk of coaches being fired, a slightly embattled quarterback, injuries in the secondary, and a meeting that may or may have not happened, and put it all away with an impressive showing against a much improved Bulldog team. Mississippi State had dealt with its own success and close calls this season. An early upset of Arizona State followed by a near miss at Tennessee and running out of gas at Texas A&M. This was definitely not the Bulldogs of last season that saw the Gators dominate in Starkville and if the Gators should fall it seemed that their embattled coach would soon follow. 

What We Got: Florida was once again game at home. While the team has managed just four wins away from The Swamp, the familiar confides of home have seemed to embolden this group and they seem to play their best ball when surrounded by the Gator faithful. Florida got out the gate a little slow as the Bulldogs marched 75 yards in 8 plays to take an early 7-0 lead. The Gators would cut the score to 7-3 eleven plays later and then would proceed to stifle the Bulldogs the next seven possessions to take control of a game that should have been tucked away early in the third quarter. Therein lies the issue over the past four years. While the Gators have found some success at times there is always something. A holding penalty on the perimeter that negated a Jaden Baugh 60 yard run in the second quarter, an interception to follow an explosive play that kills a drive, a substitution penalty on a key two-point conversion try that could have changed the dynamic of the game. So instead that Gators needed a great defensive play from Michai Boireau to save the day as the Bulldogs inexplicably threw a pass in a situation where they were already in position to kick the game winning field goal. So despite sacking Blake Shapen four times and tallying 11 tackles for loss, Jaden Baugh rushing for 150 yards on 23 carries and DJ Lagway actually hitting a couple of explosive plays, the Gators were in a position to lose another game where they dominated the opponent. 

The Skinny: It’s funny, when Napier is finally relieved of his duties and I believe he will, there will be a number of things that people will point to that led to his demise. Unfortunately for Napier those things almost 100% had to do with the product on the field. When I was told to stop harping on a clean game it was those signs that continued to rear their ugly head. The football was never spic and span. Even in the wins. The penalties, the substitution eras, duplicate numbers, which happened against Texas and the refs missed it, and just a consistent lack of transparency when the football didn’t look like it needed to. A mat for special teams? Delay of games to start drives? Head scratching play calls in key situations. All of it points to an organization that is really good at wining and dining, but falls short when you have to actually commit to the relationship. The football has just been so-so and at Florida so-so doesn’t flow anymore. There have been many names mentioned as possible replacements but no matter who that may be, there are things in place that can ease the transition and I would encourage those involved be kept by the new regime.

What has to be improved is an apparent lack of transparency, preparation, and effort particularly away from home. My parents have gone on to the most high and they weren’t even born when Florida was this bad over a four year stretch. Numbers don’t lie people do. So here is the truth. I encourage whoever is making the next coaching hire to call Lincoln,Nebraska and ask if they feel good about where their program is right now and take their answer seriously. Because the two teams that battled in 1995 still have a lot in common, and that is looking for the next Tom Osborne and Steve Spurrier. Florida has to get it right, and I believe if the obvious fail to take to the job there are good coaches out there that can get Florida back to consistent relevance. Just know if you get it wrong you will be walking hand in hand with the same program that was on top of the world thirty years ago and has not come close since. 

Final Score: Florida Gators 23 Mississippi State 21 (ironic numbers actually)