The injury bug equates to a 2024 mulligan for Billy Napier

DJ Lagway went down with a hamstring issue against Georgia (Gator Bait Photo by Chris Spears)

A few thoughts to jump start your Monday morning:

“They could surrender to us, but I wouldn’t count on that.” -- The Sundance Kid in the movie “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”

It is entirely possible that a healthy Florida football team could give the Texas Longhorns a run for their money, even in Austin. Give Billy Napier a healthy DJ Lagway, Elijhah Badger, Tre Wilson, Jason Marshall Jr., Devin Moore, Asa Turner, Devon Manuel, Ja’Keem Jackson and Montrell Johnson Jr. and there is a good chance the Gators could play a whole lot better than they did Saturday when the Longhorns hosed them, 49-17.

Texas knew all about the rash of Florida injuries but that didn’t stop the Longhorns from feeling the urge to stomp the Gators into oblivion, which they pretty much did. Of course, the Longhorns could have surrendered, but they didn't.

Looking back, we could surmise that a healthy Florida team might very well have beaten Tennessee and Georgia. Injuries played a role in losing both those games. Unfortunately, the Gators haven’t been healthy all season which has something to do with a 4-5 record with games remaining against No. 21 LSU, No. 10 Ole Miss and hapless Florida State. The FSU game seems to be the only one the Gators should win, but, of course, the outcome of that one could also be determined by how many healthy bodies Napier has available.

This is not an effort to make excuses for Napier and the Gators. He’s been given another year to right the Good Ship Gator. The schedule will be tough again next year when the Gators have to go to Miami, Texas A&M,  LSU and Ole Miss. Georgia, Tennessee and Texas will still be on the schedule. A rash of injuries won’t save his job if he doesn’t produce on the field in 2025.

Associated Press top 25: 1. Oregon 9-1; 2. Ohio State 8-1; 3. Texas 8-1; 4. Penn State 8-1; 5. Indiana 10-0; 6. Tennessee 8-1; 7. BYU 9-0; 8. Notre Dame 8-1; 9. Alabama 7-2; 10. Ole Miss 8-2; 11. Georgia 7-2; 12. Miami 9-1; 13. Boise State 8-1; 14. SMU 8-1; 15. Texas A&M 8-1; 16. Army 9-0; 17. Clemson 7-2; 18. Colorado 7-2; 19. Washington State 8-1; 20. Kansas State 7-2; 21. LSU 6-3; 22. Louisville 6-3; 23. South Carolina 6-3; 24. Missouri 7-2; 25. Tulane 8-2

AFCA Coaches top 25: 1. Oregon 9-1; 2. Ohio State 8-1; 3. Texas 8-1; 4. Tennessee 8-1; 5. Penn State 8-1; 6. Indiana 10-0; 7. Notre Dame 8-1; 8. BYU 9-0; 9. Alabama 7-2; 10. Georgia 7-2; 11. Ole Miss 8-2; 12. Miami 9-1; 13. (Tie) Boise State 8-1 and SMU 8-1; 15. Texas A&M 7-2; 16. Clemson 7-2; 17. Army 9-0; 18. Washington State 8-1; 19. Kansas State 7-2; 20. Colorado 7-2; 21. Missouri 7-2; 22. LSU 6-3; 23. South Carolina 6-3; 24. Louisville 6-3; 25. Iowa State 7-2

SEC FOOTBALL

No. 9 Alabama (7-2, 4-2 SEC): Jalen Milroe inserted himself back into the Heisman Trophy conversation by throwing for 109 yards while running for 185 and four touchdowns to lead Bama to an easy win over No. 15 LSU. Next: Mercer (9-1)

Arkansas (5-4, 3-3 SEC): The Razorbacks have three shots at bowl eligibility -- Texas, Louisiana Tech and (at) Missouri. Win one of the three and Sam Pittman almost certainly has a job next year. Next: No. 3 Texas (8-1, 4-1 SEC)

Auburn (3-6, 1-5 SEC): This is the fourth consecutive year that Auburn has lost at least five SEC games. The last time they lost four straight conference games was 1927-30 when Auburn was a member of the Southern Conference. Next: Louisiana-Monroe (5-4)

No. 11 Georgia (7-2, 5-2 SEC): Georgia has two regular season losses for the first time since 2020 and just the second time since Kirby Smart became the head coach in 2016. Next: No. 6 Tennessee (8-1, 5-1 SEC)

Kentucky (3-6, 1-6 SEC): The Wildcats can keep their eight consecutive bowl seasons alive by winning their final three games. Next: Murray State (1-9)

No. 21 LSU (6-3, 3-2 SEC): The Tigers were blown out by Alabama, 42-13. Their third loss of the year basically eliminates them from College Football Playoff contention. Next: at FLORIDA (4-5, 2-4 SEC)

Mississippi State (2-8, 0-6 SEC): The Bulldogs rank dead last in the SEC and 128th nationally in total defense, giving up 460.8 yards per game. Next: Open

No. 24 Missouri (7-2, 3-2 SEC): Even though the Tigers are ranked 24th in the CFP poll, they are still in the hunt for the playoff since they have only two losses. Next: at No. 23 South Carolina (6-3, 4-3 SEC)

Oklahoma (5-5, 1-5 SEC): The Sooners have gained more than 300 yards just once in six SEC games. In their loss to Missouri, they were held to 257. In eight previous seasons, all in the Big 12, the worst year they had was 450 yards per game. Next: Open

No. 10 Ole Miss (8-2, 4-2 SEC): The Rebels sacked Carson Beck five times, picked him off once and forced a pair of fumbles. Ole Miss held Georgia to 245 total yards. The Rebels lead the nation in sacks with 46 and they’re second in rush defense, allowing just 79.9 yards per game.  Next: Open

No. 23 South Carolina (6-3, 4-3 SEC): It was a dominant win over Vanderbilt as the Gamecocks ran for 214 yards and passed for 238. Rocket Sanders carried 15 times for 126 yards and two touchdowns plus caught two passes for 52 yards and a TD. Next: No. 24 Missouri (7-2, 3-2 SEC)

No. 6 Tennessee (8-1, 5-1 SEC): Quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who left the win over Mississippi State with an upper body injury, is expected to play Saturday when the Vols travel to Georgia. Next: at No. 11 Georgia (7-2, 5-2 SEC)

No. 3 Texas (8-1, 4-1 SEC): The Longhorns are 9th nationally in total offense (465.2 yards per game) and 2nd in total defense (251 yards per game). Texas is outscoring opponents 38.9-12.1. Next: at Arkansas (5-4, 3-3 SEC)

No. 15 Texas A&M (7-2, 5-1 SEC): With Le’Veon Moss done for the season with a lower body injury, the Aggies are down to two scholarship running backs, Amari Daniels (466 yards, 6 touchdowns) and EJ Smith (107 yards). Next: New Mexico State (1-8)

Vanderbilt (6-4, 3-3 SEC): Quarterback Diego Pavia is suing the NCAA, claiming its junior college transfer rules are unlawful and restrict a player’s ability to earn money off NIL when he does get to the Division I level. Next: Open

AROUND THE STATE

Florida Atlantic (2-7, 0-5 American): The Owls’ only win in their last six games is against D1AA Wagner. In the five games against Division I opponents, they are losing by an average score of 44-22. Next: at Temple (2-7, 1-4 American)

Florida International (3-6, 2-3 Conference USA): The Panthers struggle against the run (196.56 yards per game, 4.68 per carry). This week they face Jacksonville State, which averages 260.89 yards per game and 5.75 per carry. Next: at Jacksonville State (6-3, 5-0 Conference USA)

Florida State (1-9, 1-7 ACC): Mike Norvell is feeling the heat, which is why he fired three assistant coaches -- offensive coordinator/line Alex Atkins, defensive coordinator Adam Fuller and wide receivers Ron Dugans.  Next: Open

No. 12 Miami (9-1, 5-1 ACC): Thanks to their loss to Georgia Tech, the Hurricanes are now in a three-way battle for one of two spots in the ACC Championship Game. Right now, it seems only one ACC team will get into the College Football Playoff. Next: Open

South Florida (4-5, 2-3 American): The Bulls need to win two out of the last three to be bowl eligible. They will be favored in all three starting Saturday at Charlotte where they are 3-point favorites. Next: at Charlotte (3-6, 2-3 American)

UCF (4-6, 2-5 Big 12): The Knights have to win their last two games to become bowl eligible, at West Virginia in two weeks and then home against Utah in the regular season finale. Next: Open

ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: When he retired as the Florida football coach after the 2001 Orange Bowl, Steve Spurrier commented to Buddy Martin that 12 years at one school seemed to be an acceptable limit. Spurrier went 122-27-1 in his 12 years as Florida’s head coach, winning UF’s first national championship (1996) and six Southeastern Conference titles including the first one that is recognized officially by the SEC in 1991.

Spurrier never complained publicly but after years of success that exceeded the wildest dreams of the Gator Nation, he had to grow weary of the weight of expectations. Because the Gators were in the hunt for both the SEC and national championships most years when he was the head ball coach, a sense of entitlement was growing among the Florida fan base.

In other words, Florida fans were spoiled by Spurrier’s success. Ron Zook confided that he was basically fired the day he was hired to succeed Spurrier. Urban Meyer resurrected the great expectations for six years to the point that when he called it quits for health reasons after six years, a 65-15 record and national championships in 2006 and 2008, a rather large contingent of Florida fans felt jilted. Meyer indeed had health issues, largely the result of the stress of maintaining the program at such a high level of success. Quite a few Florida fans will go to their graves believing Meyer faked his health issues so he could take the Ohio State job in 2012.

Saturday night, LSU was hosed by Alabama, 42-13, a loss that kept Bama’s College Football Playoff hopes alive and all but assures LSU will miss the playoff for the fifth straight year. Bryan Fischer wrote in Sports Illustrated that Kelly “and LSU, have suddenly reached a crossroads they never anticipated reaching, much less just three years into a decade-long contract. The Tigers’ administration won’t become trigger happy and show him the door like the Texas A&M Aggies did to Jimbo Fisher, but those once-creeping doubts that Kelly wasn’t the solution he was made out to be, well, they’re a full-blown crisis of confidence now.”

Brian Kelly is 26-10 at LSU since he was poached from Notre Dame by athletic director Scott Woodward. He has seven years remaining on a 10-year contract that pays him $9,975,000 a year with incremental raises. He has a career record of 289-106-10. At LSU he won 10 games in both 2022 and 2023 with the best quarterback in college football, Jayden Daniels. His 2024 quarterback, Garrett Nussmeier, has NFL first round draft pick written all over him.

LSU fans look at the quarterbacks, the 5-9 record against ranked teams, the blowout loss to Georgia in the 2022 SEC Championship Game and the 29-point blowout loss to Alabama Saturday night and they wonder how much bang are we getting for all these bucks?

Expectations, shall we say, are through the roof in Baton Rouge. We could say the same thing about Tuscaloosa where Alabama is 7-2 this season. Bama hasn’t lost three regular season games since 2007, which was Nick Saban’s first year on the job. Nick’s gone now, tired of expectations and the problems of NIL and the portal. His replacement is Kalen DeBoer, 111-14 in his coaching career. Had he lost to LSU, you can only imagine how many Alabama fans would be (a) clamoring for DeBoer’s head on a platter and (b) questioning why he’s getting paid $10 million a year.

It’s wonderful to have high expectations because they drive success. None of us wants a football program where mediocrity becomes the norm, which is why the highest paid public employee in most states is a head football coach. Millions in salary equate to higher expectations. Money plus higher expectations equates to (a) a sense of entitlement among the fan base and (b) a lack of patience when championships aren’t won.

Does that sound familiar?