The Basement Chronicles: Buddy Martin's Take on Billy Napier

I’m not of the mind to pull the ripcord on Billy -- yet the ball is in his court and something has to change, fast. If it even can.

Mike McGinnis (l) Hosts Chris Doering at Ocala Quarterback Club

Pardon me for taking 24 hours off to digest it all and redecorate my basement here in rural Central Florida. Incidentally, if you took the time to research Florida Gator football, you’d realize that much of the Gators’ heritage was built and sustained by those rural Florida folks — most likely in mancaves or dens, not basements. We could start with Frostproof’s Ben Hill Griffin and beyond. But that’s for another day.

Billy Napier left himself wide open for a gut punch. And Paul Finebaum took it: “He’s lost more games in two seasons and one game in the Swamp than Steve Spurrier lost in 12 years. And he is going after his own fan base? Those folks who go to Walmart and buy Gator jerseys and beg and plead for tickets to his games. I mean, that is one of the most inexcusable shots I have ever seen.

“I don’t live in Florida, but I was there over the weekend at that game. They don’t have basements in Florida. It’s too close to the water. So, Billy, know your geography, my friend.”

This is where I’d love to jump up and say something insightful about Napier’s really good qualities, but in these past two-plus years I’ve never had the opportunity to get to know him. Never talked with him on the phone or exchanged emails. Sometimes I’m not even able to get in a question at a press conference. So I gave up trying. (I got people who do my heavy lifting.) I realize he is a very busy man and has big responsibilities. And I’m not all that important in the scheme of things.  Just sayin’.

I’m not of the mind to pull the ripcord on Billy -- yet the ball is in his court and something has to change, fast. If it even can. However, my people out here in Basement USA are hurting and asking me questions in record numbers that I can’t answer.

“I can’t imagine what it’s like,” Urban Meyer said to me the other day, remembering his time in Gainesville before and after winning two national championships. “If we lost ONE GAME it was miserable.”

When he spoke to the Ocala Quarterback Club Wednesday night, Chris Doering asked that any of his critical comments not be repeated or posted online, saying that while he was disappointed there wasn't more change, he wasn't ready to call for Napier's firing. "It looks like that 7-8 win season we hoped for now isn't going to happen now," said Doering.

Just before Doering went on, Napier issued an apology, saying his basement comment "was a poor choice of words."

There’s enough grief, heartache, shock, bewilderment and misery to go around — and then there’s Samford. Samford? We’re worried about Stinkin’ Samford? Yep, we’re worried about Stinkin’ Samford?

As for the aftermath of the beatdown by Miami — did that really happen, or was that just a nightmare? — somehow, we’ve got to leave it in the rear-view mirror. So I took a beat to try and do that despite You Tube audiences that have been 5 and 6 times larger than normal on The Buddy Martin Show.

For me it was almost PTSD. It was like a flashback to surveying the damage of Hurricane Charley in 2004 in downtown Punta Gorda. “What just happened? What hit us? Oh my God, this place looks like a war zone! What do we do?” A lot of people walking around with a dazed look.

Meanwhile. I’d like to be able to share some unflattering critical things that some people fairly high up in the pecking order told me. But I won’t throw them under the bus.

So I decided to seek a few other opinions. And I will delay my responses for a bit.

OTHER VOICES

“The coach is terrible and they suck,” wrote one of my famous friends who isn’t a Florida fan but is well known as a football expert. “They are a terrible football team.”

“He’s done,” said a  former All-American.

Danny Sheridan, professional handicapper

As I pointed out the week before the UM game & in my speech 8/29 to the Florida Gator Touchdown Club: That the ONLY thing that UM was missing was a QB & that signing Cam Ward was their answer to a 10-2 or 9-3 UM season and challenging FSU & Clemson for the ACC Title, saying Clemson & FSU's problems (both with a lot of talent like UM) were simply: the. QB position. In 2023 I told the FGTC, UF would win 5 games. This year I predicted (& hope I'm wrong) that UF would win 4-5 games max & if 6, Napier would be my choice for coach of the year, with that schedule, which I wrote in my Worst 20 CFB Teams article I sent you (UF ranked #20 due to their schedule). there are no easy games on the schedule but Samford & @ Ms State.  UCF & KY are very capable of beating UF. Then factor in UF's last 5 opponents who were 59-9 last year! BRUTAL!

UF's preseason schedule is the hardest I've seen since I began handicapping CFB games professionally some 40 years ago!

If a change is made at season's end, some very lucky coach will greatly benefit from Napier's recruiting, just like Mullen did from McElwain's recruits. the top SEC head coaches were very saddened when Mullen was fired, as his arrogant butt couldn't & didn't recruit.  Same thing with Mike Shula, which took Saban 3 years to correct (playing or starting 10-12 freshman per year) ...no matter what, I'd give BN another year, as he's no Saban (who did it in 3 years) & if BN can't do it in year 4, then he should be gone.

GatorBaitMedia.com Intern Jack Moore Noah

“Miami out played us, out coached us.”

Since January, Head Coach Billy Napier had been relaying the message to Gator fans and the college football world that Florida Football was establishing their identity this offseason. With the transfer portal and impatience of fanbases, taking over a program is no easy task, but the offseason was exciting. The general college football world only talked about the schedule when talking about Florida football. Very few were talking about the actual coaches, players, and team, other than Billy Napier. He reiterated all offseason how the culture and identity of this team has shifted.

After Saturday’s performance, how can anyone believe that? The schedule is what it is. It's tough. No one is arguing that. What Gator Fans wanted to see was the team go out there and compete. Forget the result, Florida looked hopeless in their home opener against Miami. In state rivalry, sold out Swamp, and Miami dominated in every single aspect of the game, outside of special teams. Florida generated no pass pressure, the offensive line got beat up the entire game, and the energy wasn’t even there. Outside of Graham Mertz firing up the crowd after a first down run, there was hardly any buzz from the Florida sideline. Miami was having fun, finishing runs, and flying around on defense. At no point did it look like Florida belonged to be on the same field as Miami. Which is why Napier said this in his opening statement for the post-game press conference: “Miami out played us, out coached us”.

Overall, a disappointing start to the season for the Florida Gators. It’s going to take strong leaders from both the coaching staff and players to turn things around.

John McLeod, Ocala  

Last text from me this year lol. I really want Napier to turn things around but after Sat I just have my doubts. My comment to you is Lane Kiffin my first choice. Last time, even a possibility after that, Jed Fisch/ Urban, again/ or even Kerwin. For some reason nobody wants to give Kerwin a chance. I think he would be awesome. Still hoping for Billy but being realistic.