Billy Napier focused on his own ‘grass to mow,’ not concerned with FSU’s struggles
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Billy Napier probably has some thoughts on the school out west’s 2024 struggles, but he isn’t taking the bait to share them publicly.
During his Monday press conference, Napier was asked to comment on Florida State’s rough 2024 season, in which the Seminoles are 2-9 entering their finale. Napier declined to say anything about FSU, making clear he’s focused on keeping his own house in order and tending to those needs.
Billy Napier asked to comment about Mike Norvell and FSU’s season: “I’ve got my own grass to mow, and my yard is big, and it’s got a lot of weeds in it…We’re trying to get the Florida Gators better, that’s my focus.”
— Graham Hall (@GrahamHall) November 25, 2024
Mike Norvell’s Noles have had Napier’s number so far in the rivalry. FSU ended Florida’s 3-game winning streak against FSU in 2022, as Jordan Travis carried the Seminoles to a 45-38 victory in Tallahassee. Last year, in Gainesville, Florida State won 24-15, denying UF bowl eligibility.
Napier and Norvell entered 2024 with drastically different expectations for their teams.
Norvell’s FSU program, coming off a 13-win season, was ranked No. 10 in the preseason AP Top 25. The Florida State head coach had also been linked to the Alabama opening after Nick Saban’s January retirement.
Napier faced hot seat chatter since the end of the 2023 season. Many expected Napier’s seat had caught fire when Florida started 1-2 with home blowout losses to Miami and Texas A&M.
When UF was 4-4, athletic director Scott Stricklin announced that Napier would be retained for 2025. Though a blowout loss at Texas followed in the next game, the Gators bounced back from that defeat with back-to-back wins over ranked LSU and Ole Miss teams in The Swamp.
Florida’s recent play has given the program some momentum, with bowl eligibility secured and a string of new commitments. While FSU won’t be bowling this season, the Noles would love to rain on the Gators’ parade and send UF back to Gainesville on a down note entering bowl season. Older fans will warn that Florida-Florida State can be a throw-out-the-records rivalry game.
Napier’s Gators and Norvell’s Noles are set for a 7 p.m. ET kickoff on Saturday night in Tallahassee, with the game airing on ESPN2.
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.
