Billy Napier taking heat for playcalling, lack of discipline as Florida struggles against Miami
Billy Napier is under all kinds of pressure in Year 3 of his Florida tenure, and it started with the Week 1 matchup. For most coaches, a nonconference game against No. 19 as a home underdog isn’t seen as must-win. Napier, though, faces different circumstances than most coaches.
The Miami game, with the help of The Swamp’s homefield advantage, is seen as one of the most winnable contests on the Gators’ schedule. Florida’s schedule is considered the toughest in the country and wraps with the 5-game of gauntlet of Georgia, Texas, LSU, Ole Miss and Florida State.
Going 11-14 in his first two seasons, Napier needs a win over Miami to quiet the “hot seat” chatter, even if only temporarily. Napier’s Florida squad, though, didn’t come out looking particularly strong.
Florida trails Miami 24-10 at the end of the half. Napier is being heavily criticized on social media, particularly for play-calling and the Gators’ lack of discipline leading to costly mistakes and penalties.
Here’s a small sample of what’s being said:
The Florida mistakes/penalties have haunted Billy Napier during his time in Gainesville. It’s stunning they haven’t been cleaned up. And there’s nothing dynamic in this offense under Graham Mertz.
— Kevin Negandhi (@KevinNegandhi) August 31, 2024
We Thought We Had a Stop: The Billy Napier Story
— Matt Hinton (@MattRHinton) August 31, 2024
Tap pass on 3rd and 5 ? Come on Billy Napier
— Booger (@ESPNBooger) August 31, 2024
Billy Napier calls a third-and-5 run near midfield for 0 gain at the UM 49 … 0/4 on third down … #Gators nearly get sacked, nearly throw INT and called for holding on fourth down.
Vintage Napier.
— OnlyGators.com: Florida Gators news (@onlygators) August 31, 2024
Here she lies, killed by Billy Napier’s play calling on 3rd downs.
— Kassidy Hill (@KassidyGHill) August 31, 2024
someone tell Billy Napier your supposed to go forwards on third downs pic.twitter.com/q06EA2YLTz
— noah (@OwnHim16) August 31, 2024
Billy Napier to Josh Pate: “if I felt like giving up play calling duties was what was best for the team I would’ve done it”
Billy an idiot? https://t.co/NAPFXj2yus
— Joe (@UFLORIDAJOE) August 31, 2024
Napier has no feel or rhythm as a playcaller. Team still has no discipline
— Derek (@_DTyson) August 31, 2024
Justus Boone gets called for a blatant roughing the passer
He doesn’t miss a play and stays out there
Great way to show accountability, Coach Napier. That’ll help with getting that discipline under control
— JaguarGator9 (@JaguarGator9NFL) August 31, 2024
We’ll see how Napier’s Gators do in the 2nd half. The game is airing on ABC.
I don’t see any offensive strategy at all. Billy seems to be using some sort of randomizer to call plays with no regard for down and distance at all. When we have had chnces, Mertz has been way off target. He looks terrible.
I have a feeling Billy will be putting his up for sale soon. This is year 3, and the offense had regressed.
Can a coach be fired after the first half of the first game of the season? It seems inevitable at this point. Napier can’t call plays. He does not coach discipline. The Gators have no shot with him as HC.
Why wait? Give one (or both) of the coordinators a chance to show something. Otherwise, this season is a waste of time.
He is a LOSER. Fire him now, start working on ‘25.
This could get ugly fast for CBN…what’s the year 3 buyout?
20 plus million hump
Ouch
Sitting in the swamp at this moment and the mood is not well. Napier gifted Miami 7 by going for it at mid field . Miami o and d lines are so far ahead of Florida it is not even funny . Hate to see what the sec schedule is going to look like if this is the product out of Gville. I want to support Billy but man he is not making it easy .
The o-line has been bad, it’s hard to do much without protection.
Lagway time??
Nothing to lose at this point
OK doc, StlGator all the rest of you folks where you at ?
I have been telling you and telling you and telling you that Napier is over his head. He can’t coach at this level and he will NEVER be able to coach at this level.
Maybe we need to hire a defensive coordinator to coach the defensive coordinator we hired to coach the first defensive coordinator we hired.
Maybe if we get 15 of them we might get to the level of Georgia’s analysts.
I’ve been telling you Mertz can’t throw a football downfield and his percentage rating is high because of his completions behind the line of scrimmage.
Florida isn’t in the same world as Georgia football right now and this season is headed straight downhill.
So come on and at least have the gonads to admit you were wrong.
This university needs a real football coach not this letter writing loser excuse of a wannabe coach.
Your such a hack fake life .. seems you relish in this . Shows what you are
I am in fact relishing this BECAUSE I have BEEN saying he is NOT QUALIFIED to coach at this level.
It has NOTHING TO DO WITH BEING A FLORIDA FAN
The day he wrote that letter telling fans to expect losing told me everything I needed to know about him
EVERYTHING !!!!!!!!
Billy Napier has no business whatsoever being at this institution.
He thinks he’s a genius
He thinks he’s an offensive coordinator
He should resign immediately after this game in disgrace
To bad you can’t resign and never show up again.. you are one poor pathetic excuse for a person you fake troll
Okay, this is a waste of talent. It’s his third year, mostly his own players. Maybe in this case it takes more than three years, but this is a poor job of coaching.
Napier is DONE. This is an embarrassment. Fire him now and work on ‘25.
What happened to UFs tackling? This is not gators fundamentals.
#75 on the offensive line needs to just quit the team. Period. He just needs to quit and get his degree and find something else to do because being an offensive lineman isn’t his thing.
I’ll give you that, He’s pretty bad or either he has a lot of quit in him…either way I can’t believe the 2nd teamer at that position isn’t in
This is horrible. FIRE NAPIER NOW.
How would ya’ll feel about Lane Kiffin?
Hope they are on the phone with him now ..
Fire. Napier. Please.
If CBN loses against us then Florida will have to look real hard for a w. I wouldn’t be shocked if he is gone after the GA game. If Mertz is out then the wheels will really be coming off…
Worst coach in the SEC and bottom 5% of FBS. Pathetic.
I miss the 2023 Gators.
I have been an ardent supporter of Napier since day 1. That all changed today. Time to turn the page. Getting trucked by Miami im the home opener is not only unacceptable but grounds for dismissal. The play calling on offense was abysmal.
Fire Napier and hire Kerwin Bell. His Western Carolina team gave NC State everything and should have won Thursday. They played with a lot more intensity than the Gators today. He’s won everywhere he’s coached and it might be the only way we keep JD from leaving.
Please fire this incompetent now.
I removed my Gator decal from my car this evening. Graduated in 2007 and have never felt so embarrassed to be a Florida Gator (in sports). Napier is as awful of a coach as you can get and I don’t trust stricklin with the next hire.
Proud to be a Florida Gator alumnus, but prefer we not go the way of Vandy just cause our academics are getting really good.