Rumors fly that Napier's Florida coaching career is all but over

(Photo by Chris Spears)

“Parting is such sweet sorrow.” A guy named Billy – Shakespeare not Napier – wrote that line for Act II, Scene II of “Romeo and Juliet.” College football was still three centuries in the making when Shakespeare penned those words but they do sound a lot like a coaching epitaph, don’t they?

Rumors swirl that prominent University of Florida boosters have raised the more than $21 million it will take to tell Billy Napier that he has a headstart on retirement. Allegedly it’s a matter of when not if the pink slip arrives. Because he’s one of the nicest coaches on planet football it is going to be sweet sorrow when the time comes for Napier’s gainful employment to cease. Everybody loves the football culture Napier has established where accountability and good citizenship are stressed, but there is this teensy little problem called winning and that supercedes all the good will accumulated since December of 2022 when he was hired.

Billy Napier is paid more than $7.2 million to win football games not run a social experiment. While Napier may have transformed Florida football into a Boy Scout troop, he is paid to win and contend for national championships. This is a very violent game and the teams that win championships tend to be comprised of a few Boy Scouts and a majority of borderline psychopaths. The Gators have a lot of nice guys but not enough borderline psychopaths.

So far, the closest Billy Napier has come to winning a championship is taking home the Gasparilla Bowl trophy to cap off a 4-game winning streak at the end of 2024. Instead of building upon last year’s one step forward, the Gators have followed with two steps backward. Through 44 games as the UF head coach, Napier is 21-23. Barring something completely unforeseen, Napier will become the first coach since Raymond “Bear” Wolf to finish his Florida coaching career with more losses than wins.

The Gators will play Mississippi State (4-2, 0-2 SEC) at The Swamp Saturday, perhaps the last chance Napier will have to add another win to his coaching resume since Georgia follows. Although it is possible the Gators can win these next two games, the likelihood that happens falls into the donkeys may fly first category.

This is a cold, cruel business that doesn’t tolerate losing. Billy Napier has had adequate time and resources to build a winner. He hasn’t won often enough so now it’s time to part company.

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

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

COUNTDOWN TO FIRING DAY: MIDSEASON EDITION

Extinct Species List

Brent Pry, Virginia Tech: They would love for Shane Beamer to do a return of the native, but why leave the SEC with its money and prestige for the ACC? Michael Vick was getting a lot of attention but he’s 1-6 as a first time coach at Norfolk State.

Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State: Keep an eye on Dana Holgorsen, who has revived the Nebraska offense. When Holgorsen was the OC for Gundy, Oklahoma State was dynamic.

DeShaun Foster, UCLA: Tim Skipper as the interim and Jerry Neuheisel as the OC have won two games and lit up the scoreboard for 80 points and 853 yards. If they keep up the winning and scoring they might be the permanent replacements.

James Franklin, Penn State: First off, Franklin is owed $49 million because he was fired without cause. Hope he can squeeze by in the future.

Trent Dilfer, UAB: It wasn’t so much the losing as it is the empty seats. There is a lot of very young talent if they can keep it for whoever the Dilfer replacement might be.

Trent Bray, Oregon State: He was 0-7 this year, 5-14 for his tenure. This is a very difficult situation. Oregon State was orphaned by the Pac-12, has very little money and a weird remake of the Pac-12 starting next year.

Sam Pittman, Arkansas: Bobby Petrino is the interim and he’s making a case to be the replacement. His offense is lights out. Jerry Jones wants Rhett Lashley of SMU.

On Life Support

Billy Napier, Florida: Buzzards are circling The Heavener Center.

Bill Belichick, North Carolina: This is not going well. Consider the legend seriously tarnished. He got the dreaded vote of confidence from the AD. Is firing day far off?

Luke Fickell, Wisconsin: The blowout loss to Iowa hasn’t helped his situation. He could get the axe after Ohio State on Saturday. If not then, the week after the loss to Oregon.

Joe Moorhead, Akron: A 2-10 or 3-9 season seems imminent.

Derek Mason, Middle Tennessee: He’s living proof that you can lose wherever you are. Fine defensive coordinator who should have never been a head coach.  

Endangered Species List

Butch Jones, Arkansas State: The Red Wolves are 2-4 with a tough second half of the schedule ahead. He’s taken Arky State to two straight bowl games so he probably doesn’t get pink slipped if he can get to five wins somehow.

Hugh Freeze, Auburn: There is a faction that wants him gone, but AD John Cohen seems to be standing by his man.

Dell McGee, Georgia State: The Panthers have lost three in a row and they’re 1-5. They don’t have a lot of money at Georgia State so he is hanging by a thread.

SEC FOOTBALL

(Associated Press rankings)

6. Alabama (5-1, 3-0 SEC): For all the talk about Ty Simpson, the difference-maker is Jam Miller, who gained 136 in the win over Vandy and 85 in the win over Mizzou … Alabama is a 9.5-point favorite at home Saturday. Saturday: No. 11 Tennessee (5-1, 2-1 SEC)

Arkansas (2-4, 0-2 SEC): Taylen Green continues to lead the country in total offense, averaging 359.7 yards per game. Green has accounted for 17 touchdowns, 14 through the air and three on the ground … Arkansas is a 7.5-point underdog for the Aggies. Saturday: No. 4 Texas A&M (6-0, 3-0 SEC)

Auburn (3-3, 0-3 SEC): It will be interesting to see the SEC’s commentary on the questionable call of a fumble at the goal line against Georgia. Video evidence seems conclusive that Jackson Arnold was in the end zone when a Georgia player punched the ball out Saturday night. This is the second time Auburn has lost a football game in large part due to bad SEC officials …  Despite three straight SEC losses, Auburn is a slight 2.5-point favorite at home against Mizzou. Saturday: No. 16 Missouri (5-1, 1-1 SEC)

No. 9 Georgia (5-1, 3-1 SEC): Georgia allowed only 50 yards in the second half of its win over Auburn … The early line has Georgia a 6.5-point favorite over Ole Miss. Saturday: No. 5 Ole Miss (6-0, 3-0 SEC)

Kentucky (2-4, 0-2 SEC): Barring an injury, the Wildcats will either sink or swim with redshirt freshman Cutter Boley at QB the rest of the year … The Wildcats are a 10.5-point underdog at home against Texas. Saturday: No. 21 Texas (4-2, 1-1 SEC)

No. 10 LSU (5-1, 2-1 SEC): Defensive linemen Jimari Butler and Bernard Gooden left the South Carolina game with injuries and did not return. Their status for Vanderbilt has yet to be determined … LSU is a 2.5-point underdog on the road this week. Saturday: at No. 17 Vanderbilt (5-1, 1-1 SEC)

Mississippi State (4-2, 0-2 SEC): Due to the advent of the 9-game SEC schedule, Mississippi State has canceled its home and home with Washington State for 2030-31 … The Bulldogs are 9.5-point underdogs at Florida. Saturday: at FLORIDA (2-4, 1-2 SEC)

No. 16 Missouri (5-1, 1-1 SEC): A pair of interceptions thrown by Beau Pribula turned out to be the difference makers in the Tigers’ loss to Alabama … The Tigers are ranked and Auburn is not, but Auburn is a 2.5-point favorite this weekend. Saturday: at Auburn (3-3, 0-3 SEC)

No. 14 Oklahoma (5-1, 1-1 SEC): The Sooners are still the No. 1 team in the country in total defense, giving up just 211.2 yards per game … Oklahoma is a 4.5-point favorite on the road Saturday. Saturday: at South Carolina (3-3, 1-3 SEC)

No. 5 Ole Miss (6-0, 3-0 SEC): Lane Kiffin was not pleased with the way Ole Miss finished its win over Washington State. “I told them I hope they don’t feel good about the way they played. I let them know I was disappointed in that effort. We have got to learn that when we get up to go ahead and finish them off. We have not learned that lesson yet.” … Ole Miss is a 6.5-point underdog on the road at Georgia. Saturday: at No. 9 Georgia (5-1, 3-1 SEC)

South Carolina (3-3, 1-3 SEC): Offensive line coach Lonnie Tinsley has been removed of his duties. He is being replaced by former Georgia State head coach Shawn Elliott … The Gamecocks are 4.5-point home underdogs this week. Saturday: No. 14 Oklahoma (5-1, 1-1 SEC)

No. 11 Tennessee (5-1, 2-1 SEC): Tennessee beat Arkansas despite giving up four explosive running plays that combined for 108 rushing yards. The Vols allowed nine other runs for 10 or more yards … The Vols go on the road as 9.5-point underdogs for Alabama. Saturday: at No. 6 Alabama (5-1, 3-0 SEC)

No. 21 Texas (4-2, 1-1 SEC): Texas held Oklahoma to 48 rushing yards and 258 yards of offense … The Longhorns are 10.5-point favorites over Kentucky. Saturday: at Kentucky (2-4, 0-2 SEC)

No. 4 Texas A&M (6-0, 3-0 SEC): After giving up 157 yards and two touchdowns in the first quarter, the Aggies allowed only three points and 162 yards the rest of the way against Florida … The Aggies are 7.5-point favorites on the road this week. Saturday: at Arkansas (2-4, 0-2 SEC)

No. 17 Vanderbilt (5-1, 1-1 SEC): The Commodores need only one win in their last six games to be bowl eligible for the second straight year … Vanderbilt is a 2.5-point favorite to beat LSU Saturday. Saturday: No. 11 LSU (5-1, 2-1 SEC)