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Billy Napier calls Florida’s loss to Vanderbilt a ‘setback,’ ‘reality check’
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Billy Napier reacted to the current low point of his first season as Florida’s head coach by pointing to numerous self-inflicted wounds.
The Gators fell 31-24 at Vanderbilt on Saturday. UF outgained VU 445-283 in total yards, but the Dores took advantage of multiple turnovers and penalties to take control of the game in the second half.
In his postgame press conference, Napier said he saw a lot of “Florida beating Florida.” Napier called the loss a program setback that gives the Gators a bit of a reality check heading into Rivalry Week.
Billy Napier’s post mortem after the #Gators lost 31-24 at Vandy:
• “Ton of missed opportunities.”
• “Two turnovers led to 14 points and too many penalties.”
• “A lot of Florida beating Florida today.”— G. Allan Taylor (@GAllanTaylor) November 19, 2022
#Gators coach Billy Napier on the Vandy loss:
“It’s a setback, there’s no question about,” he says. “A little bit of a reality check to some degree.”
— Zach Abolverdi (@ZachAbolverdi) November 19, 2022
Billy Napier on Florida's loss to Vanderbilt: "No question, ton of missed opportunities out there today."
Said UF knows what winning football looks like and that wasn't it.
— Zach Goodall (@zach_goodall) November 19, 2022
Billy Napier after #Gators loss. pic.twitter.com/xjFSOhyP6C
— Edgar Thompson (@osgators) November 19, 2022
Napier also addressed WR Ricky Pearsall’s early exit and LB Ventrell Miller’s targeting ejection:
Ricky Pearsall was held out after the first quarter in concussion protocol. He was belted along the sideline on a 27-yard catch.
— G. Allan Taylor (@GAllanTaylor) November 19, 2022
Billy Napier says the team will need to watch the film of Ventrell Miller's targeting penalty before looking into a potential appeal.
SEC would have to file the appeal to the NCAA national coordinator of officials under new rules.
— Zach Goodall (@zach_goodall) November 19, 2022
The Gators are 6-5 in Napier’s first season. Florida ends regular-season play at Florida State on Friday.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
