Time for Some Scorched Earth for Billy Napier

A few thoughts to jump start your Monday morning:

“Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.” – Al Pacino as Michael Corleone in the movie “Godfather III”

To take a little liberty and paraphrase a bit, just when I thought the Florida Gators had turned the corner and were done with the inconsistency, along came Kentucky to pull them back onto the roller coaster. It’s a new year, the roster has changed, there have been changes to the coaching staff and yet, it’s like 2022 all over again.

A year ago, the Gators went 6-7 because they could never establish any measure of consistency. It wasn’t just game-to-game. Sometimes it was series-to-series or quarter-to quarter. It was frustrating because we saw enough good moments to know the Gators could have and should have gone at least 9-3, probably 10-2.

Perhaps I was trying to convince myself that the Gators put away their childish, inconsistent ways after the Utah game. Well, I was wrong and Kentucky proved it. I was convinced the Gators who made first half snack out of the Tennessee Vols a couple of weeks ago were the ones who were going to show up in Lexington.

I couldn’t have been more wrong, and why was that? I was wrong because I chose to believe the first half Gators vs. Tennessee and not ten consecutive quarters since. Starting with the second half against Tennessee, we haven’t seen a quality product. Ten consecutive quarters now. The last two against the Vols, four against Charlotte and four against Kentucky.

It's easy to excuse the second half of the Tennessee game as Billy Napier and the Gators channeling their inner Douglas Adair Dickey. If you’re old enough, you remember that Dickey-ism that we all grew sick of hearing: “To win, first you have to avoid losing.” Rather than go for the Tennessee jugular – and the Vols were teetering on the verge of total collapse – Napier went plain vanilla for an entire half. After building a 26-7 first half lead, it was avoid losing by working the clock with one handoff after another. Florida managed a second half field goal. That’s it. Someone will have to convince me the Gators couldn’t have blown the doors off the Vols by at least four touchdowns.

Personally, I prefer Steve Spurrier’s way of doing things. When you get a chance to hang “half a hundred” on Georgia in Athens, you do it. You stomp the life out of the other team and send a message that you are never going to be good enough to beat us. I also like Urban Meyer’s way of doing things. Calling time out twice in the last 40 seconds with a 49-10 lead over Georgia to remind Mark Richt and every Georgia fan that paybacks are hell.

Now, the spin that we’re likely to hear this week is that no one wants to win worse than these coaches and these players, but what have we seen since the second half kickoff against Tennessee? A team that wants to win? A team on a search and destroy mission? Snoozerobics the second half against UT and all four quarters against Charlotte. “Thank you sir, may I have another” all four quarters against Kentucky.

Kentucky convinces me that it is attitude adjustment time, which starts with the guy at the top. Back in 2005 after the Gators returned to Gainesville from a 30-22 loss to South Carolina in Columbia, Urban Meyer, with some help from Vernell Brown, Jarvis Herring and Jeremy Mincey, had a come to Jesus meeting on the Florida charter sitting on the tarmac. Players who weren’t willing to do whatever it takes to win were encouraged to find a new place to play football. Some actually did. The Gators were 7-3 at that point. Over the next 60 games, they went 50-10, won two national championships and had three 13-1 seasons.

Meyer’s tactics were scorched earth. Unless the Gators want to slide further back into the abyss of mediocrity, it might be a good time for Billy Napier to adapt similar tactics.

No surprise, Gators drop out of top 25 in both polls

Associated Press top 25: 1. Georgia 5-0; 2. Michigan 5-0; 3. Texas 5-0; 4. Ohio State 4-0; 5. Florida State 4-0; 6. Penn State 5-0; 7. Washington 5-0; 8. Oregon 5-0; 9. Southern California 5-0; 10. Notre Dame 5-1; 11. Alabama 4-1; 12. Oklahoma 5-0; 13. Washington State 4-0; 14. North Carolina 4-0; 15. Oregon State 4-1; 16. Ole Miss 4-1; 17. Miami 4-0; 18. Utah 4-1; 19. Duke 4-1; 20. Kentucky 5-0; 21. Missouri 5-0; 22. Tennessee 4-1; 23. LSU 3-2; 24. Fresno State 5-0; 25. Louisville 5-0

Coaches top 25: 1. Georgia 5-0; 2. Michigan 5-0; 3. Ohio State 4-0; 5. Florida State 4-0; 6. Penn State 5-0; 7. Southern California 5-0; 8. Washington 5-0; 9. Oregon 5-0; 10. Alabama 4-1; 11. Notre Dame 5-1; 12. Oklahoma 5-0; 13. North Carolina 4-0; 14. Washington State 4-0; 15. Ole Miss 4-1; 16. Oregon State 4-1; 17. Miami 4-0; 18. Tennessee 4-1; 19. Utah 4-1; 20. Kentucky 5-0; 21. Duke 4-1; 22. Missouri 5-0; 23. LSU 3-2; 24. Fresno State 5-0; 25. Louisville 5-0

UF volleyball: Gators take out South Carolina in four sets

Rebounding from their first SEC loss of the season, the 4th-ranked Gators (11-2, 3-1 SEC) took a 4-set win over South Carolina (6-7, 0-4 SEC) Sunday afternoon in Columbia, 25-19, 25-19, 23-25, 25-20. The Gators hit a hefty .347 for the match, led by Kennedy Martin with 15 kills while AC Fitzpatrick and Sofia Victoria had 13 each. Setter Kennedy Muff had 44 assists. Anna Dixon had seven blocks while Nnedi Okammor had six and Martin five. Elli McKissock had 12 digs.

The Gators will be at home next weekend against No. 24 Auburn Friday night and Alabama on Sunday afternoon.

SEC football

No. 11 Alabama (4-1, 2-0 SEC): Jalen Milroe put together a second straight solid game at quarterback against Mississippi State, completing 10-12 passes for 164 yards while running 11 times for 69 yards and two touchdowns. Next week: at Texas A&M (4-1, 2-0 SEC)

Arkansas (2-3, 0-2 SEC): Take away the seven sacks for -41 yards in losses and Arkansas still had a miserable game running the ball. On non-sack rushing plays, the Hogs netted 42 yards on 32 carries. Next week: at No. 16 Ole Miss (4-1, 1-1 SEC)

Auburn (3-2, 0-2 SEC): The Tigers have an open week to work on their woeful passing game. Against Georgia, the Tigers managed only 88 yards through the air. In three games against Power Five opponents, Auburn has thrown for a combined 238 yards. Next week: Open date

No. 1 Georgia (5-0, 2-0 SEC): Georgia was in trouble against Auburn until it got tight end Brock Bowers involved in the passing game. Bowers, who scored the game-winning touchdown on a 40-yard pass from Carson Beck, finished the game with a season-high eight catches for 157 yards. Next week: vs. No. 20 Kentucky (5-0, 2-0 SEC)

No. 20 Kentucky (5-0, 2-0 SEC): Linebacker J.J. Weaver said he doesn’t consider beating Florida much of an accomplishment. “Florida is a good team, but honestly, they weren’t that good a team,” Weaver said. “I trust my guys and we watch film. At practice last week we were flying around and being dominant, and I already knew Florida wasn’t ready for us.” Next week: at No. 1 Georgia (5-0, 2-0 SEC)

No. 23 LSU (3-2, 2-1 SEC): There is nothing wrong with LSU’s offense. Jayden Daniels is having an All-SEC season with 16 TDPs and three rushing TDs already. The defense? Obviously that needs an overhaul after Ole Miss hung 55 points and 706 yards on the Tigers. LSU didn’t register a single sack nor did it force a turnover. Next week: at No. 21 Missouri (5-0, 1-0 SEC)

Mississippi State (2-3, 0-3 SEC): The Bulldogs had a miserable day trying to throw against the Alabama defense. The Bulldogs gave up four sacks, averaged only 4.0 yards per carry and threw three interceptions. Next week: vs. Western Michigan (2-3)

No. 21 Missouri (5-0, 1-0 SEC): Brady Cook completed 33-41 passes for 395 yards and four touchdowns against Vandy. Luther Burden caught 11 of Cook’s passes for 140 yards and two TDs. Next week: vs. No. 23 LSU (3-2, 2-1 SEC)

No. 16 Ole Miss (4-1, 1-1 SEC): As part of a 317-yard effort on the ground against LSU, Quinshon Judkins ran for 177 yards and a TD and Ulysses Bentley IV ran for 90 and a TD. The Rebels also threw for 389 yards, finishing with 706 yards of offense in their 55-49 win over LSU. Next week: vs. Arkansas (2-3, 0-2 SEC)

South Carolina (2-3, 1-2 SEC): Tennessee got to QB Spencer Rattler for six sacks. Rattler has gone down 23 times this season for -132 yards. Next week: Open date

No. 22 Tennessee (4-1, 1-1 SEC): Wide receiver Bru McCoy has undergone surgery to repair a fracture/dislocation of his right ankle. McCoy caught 17 passes for 217 yards and a TD through five games. Next week: Open date

Texas A&M (4-1, 2-0 SEC): The Aggie defense geared up for Alabama by sacking Arkansas QB KJ Jefferson seven times for 41 yards and losses. The Aggies held Arkansas to 172 yards of offense. Next week: vs. No. 11 Alabama (4-1, 2-0 SEC)

Vanderbilt (2-4, 0-2 SEC): The big question for the Commodores moving forward is pass defense after the way Missouri carved them up for 395 yards. The other big question involves QB AJ Swann, who has been battling an elbow contusion. He sat the Missouri game while Ken Seals filled in, throwing for 259 yards and two TDs. Next week: at FLORIDA (3-2, 1-1 SEC)

ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: After Florida’s brutal 33-14 beatdown at the hands of Kentucky Saturday, did you watch anymore football, convinced you needed to see a good team play to wash the disgust out of your mouth? Or were you still gagging at what you had seen, too sick to endure another football game and contemplating whether or not you seek professional help to cure you of your Gator addiction?

If you chose to watch more football, then you may have come away convinced that there is no such thing as a super team this year. Georgia may have talent that makes everyone envious but doesn’t look invincible even with the best player in college football (Brock Bowers) and a Will Muschamp defense. Michigan is really good, better than Ohio State. We’ll know more about Texas this week when the Longhorns play Oklahoma. I’m not convinced Florida State is one of the five or six best teams in the country. Penn State? Still has to play Ohio State and Michigan. Southern Cal? Defense optional. Washington and Oregon? Good yes, great? Doubtful. Alabama? Let’s see how the Tide does this week in Aggieland? Notre Dame? Exposed.

Here's what I have seen so far. The best talent is Georgia. The team that should scare everyone the rest of the way is Michigan. Texas is here to stay, which doesn’t bode well for Jimbo and the Aggies. Florida State hasn’t lived up to nor will it live up to the hype. There’s a loss just waiting to happen. Washington will win the Pac-12 and make the playoff. Nick Saban better hope and pray Jalen Milroe is the second coming of Jacob Coker. Notre Dame would be 7-5 at best in the SEC. Lane Kiffin is still the most fun coach in all of college football. Brian Kelly needs a defensive coordinator in the worst way. Deion Sanders is good for college football. If you’re into giggles, watch Game Day. If you want to learn football, Big Noon Kickoff on Fox.

And finally, I wish the Florida Gators played with the passion and confidence of the Kentucky Wildcats. If they ever figure that out, I’ll believe the corner has been turned.