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Billy Napier getting roasted after Florida’s loss to Vanderbilt
By Kevin Duffey
Published:
Billy Napier needs patience in Gainesville to rebuild the Florida program and brand, but losing to Vanderbilt is a great way to make fans lose patience. Losing to Georgia or Tennessee in Year 1 is one thing. Losing to Vanderbilt is a whole other ballgame as the Florida head coach. That’s no disrespect to the Commodores. That’s the floor at Florida.
That’s what happened Saturday, as the Gators dropped the road game in Nashville 31-24 — the first home Vandy win against Florida since 1988.
Over the last few weeks, Florida’s offense has been blazing. Anthony Richardson has been developing nicely as the Gators quarterback, and Napier’s offense has been demolishing teams with the running game.
And then Saturday’s setback happened.
In the 41-24 win over Texas A&M 2 weeks ago, Richardson carried 7 times for 78 yards and 2 rushing touchdowns. That helped open the passing game for Richardson to throw for 2 touchdowns.
Last week in the win over South Carolina, Richardson carried 15 times for 96 yards and a touchdown. Florida nearly had 3 runners with more than 100 yards rushing.
Saturday — Richardson had just 4 carries and 25 rushing yards, with 15 of those coming on the only quarterback scramble late in the game, and Florida came out of Nashville with a loss ahead of playing rival Florida State. Richardson did have 392 passing yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 interception. Most of that came in the second half when Florida’s offense had to play catchup.
Florida continues to take 2 steps forward and, Saturday, 3 steps back. It’s unclear what kind of game-plan Napier and the offense had Saturday with Richardson. Neglecting to use your biggest weapon’s best asset — his legs — is head-scratching.
The Gators ended up with just 45 rushing yards Saturday.
Florida fans reacted accordingly on social media, too.
Billy Napier is going to have the entire fanbase turn on him at this point. If we don’t at least do respectable next year He’s gone.
— Turkey Gator ?? (FLORIDA MAN) (@GodFearingGator) November 19, 2022
Billy Napier is not an SEC play caller. He’s a great leader. Bring someone in, you literally have a blank checkbook. @coach_bnapier
— Preston Holland (@prestonholland6) November 19, 2022
Billy Napier spends 7 days a week with these players, this coaching staff, watches film, develops plays, does literally everything & he STILL doesn’t understand what makes this offense successful & has no clue how to make in game adjustments. good thing he can recruit i guess?
— Kyrie Autry (@KyrieAutry2) November 19, 2022
Time for Billy Napier’s 2 minute offense pic.twitter.com/qjQ2sMneW0
— Collin Johnson (@CollinJ95) November 19, 2022
Florida has had some bad seasons in the past, but one thing has been consistent (other than 2013), BEATING VANDY.
A loss to Vandy is an absolute embarrassment to UF and absolutely puts Billy Napier on the hot seat. You can lose games to bad teams, but you CANNOT LOSE TO VANDY.
— your average sports fan (@GATORbaitFL) November 19, 2022
Losing to rivals Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, LSU and now losing to Vanderbilt, with a beat down at the hands of FSU on deck next week.
Idc about recruiting or the roster, that is an absolutely BRUTAL first year for Billy Napier #Gators
— Matt Heiniger (@HeinigeronSport) November 19, 2022
Billy Napier going to lose to every rival in his 1st year. Don’t know any coach did that. But we here
— J.W (@jwormski) November 19, 2022
Billy Napier never was going to be a miracle worker with what was left behind by Dan Mullen… but woof. More house cleaning is in order in Gainesville.
— Bryan Cooney (@Bryan_Cooney) November 19, 2022
Honeymoon will be over for Billy Napier in Gainesville after this debacle in Nashville today.
Gators are getting out-worked and out-coached by Vanderbilt.
— The Archduke of Fall?-dinand (@nwblackmon) November 19, 2022
Yeah I’m sold now. Billy Napier is not the guy. Can’t coach, can’t scheme, we will be rebuilding for years.
— Jonathan Young (@flyingcbread) November 19, 2022
Billy Napier ain’t the guy #Gators
— Dan Richman (@danrichman) November 19, 2022
If I’m Florida Billy Napier is on the hot seat already
— Muzz (@Mussallem) November 19, 2022
Billy Napier and staff better be fired, they have been out coached consistently. It won’t change in year 2
— #ENICOUT (@352cards) November 19, 2022
This is not entirely on Billy Napier, HOWEVER this is the worst Florida football team I have seen in a while. The play calling is what sends it over the edge #gators
— Chase Greene (@chasegreene16) November 19, 2022
A graduate of the University of Florida and founder of Saturday Down South, Kevin is a college football enthusiast.