Billy Napier draws heavy criticism after 4th down blunder: ‘Final straw’ for ‘Sun Belt Billy’

Billy Napier made an inexplicable call that was both very aggressive and perplexing to many watching the Florida game against Georgia on Saturday.

Trevor Etienne from his own 34-yard line took the snap, and appeared to look for a pass, but was quickly swallowed up by the Georgia defense.

Napier’s famous catch phrase, “scared money don’t make money” came back to bite him with this call.

Georgia scored 3 plays later on a 31-yard drive, and then Florida fumbled when Graham Mertz was sacked. Marvin Jones Jr. recovered the fumble, and Georgia scored again 4 plays later.

Georgia scored 3 touchdowns in 5:49 to take a commanding lead after Florida scored first against Georgia for the first time since 2015.

Here’s a sample of the reaction:

Billy Napier on “Scared money don’t make money” soon after he was introduced as #Gators‘ HC:
“Yeah, I think it’s gonna help me justify all these times I go for fourth down and don’t get it. That’s what it’s going to do.”

— Matt Baker (@MBakerTBTimes) October 28, 2023

Billy Napier, no.

— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) October 28, 2023

Didn’t like Mike’s call to go for it on 4th down on our own 36. Billy just said….. pic.twitter.com/6uHTgqfTvE

— FSU2Times (@FSU2Times) October 28, 2023

Billy Napier what was that 4th down call? Yikes

— Blake Fromang (@blakefromang) October 28, 2023

Billy Napier got Jedi mind tricked into running that 4th down play. Just punt the damn ball. You’re at your own 25. Dumb! Dumb! Dumb

— Rocky Hidalgo (@CoachRock73) October 28, 2023

Billy Napier had coached well in recent weeks but that 4th down call was a Sun Belt Billy moment.

— Jon Tweets Sports (@jontweetssports) October 28, 2023

Billy Napier should be fired for that 4th down call. These coaches are all idiots. Every single damn one of them!!!!!!

— Mark Zinno (@MarkZinno) October 28, 2023

Billy Napier calling a trick 4th down play from his own 40 and getting STUFFED: pic.twitter.com/8jdbwVKhUm

— Jim Weber (@JimMWeber) October 28, 2023

That RB pass on fourth-and-1 from the UF 34 — down 3 in the first half of a rivalry game after losing a review — should be the nail in the coffin of Billy Napier as the #Gators‘ offensive play caller. Final straw.

— OnlyGators.com: Florida Gators news (@onlygators) October 28, 2023

Keith Farner

A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.