Florida interim head coach Billy Gonzales says he’s looking for Gators to ‘play for the patch’
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Florida has an open week to get ready for its annual game against Georgia in Jacksonville.
It will be doing it under an interim head coach: Billy Gonzales will lead the program temporarily after Billy Napier’s firing on Sunday. Gonzales has had several stints in Gainesville as wide receivers coach: 2005 to 2009, 2018 to 2021, and from 2023 to the president.
The Gators are 3-4 after a Week 8 win over Mississippi State. Now, with five games to go, Gonzales’s message to the team is one of unity.
“You play for the patch. And that means a lot to me. It means a lot to our players,” Gonzales said on Tuesday. “I had a long talk with (former Gators WR) Brandon Spikes this past year, and we went back, but … you play for the patch. And I think that’s the most important thing.”
The Gators are in danger of not making a bowl for the second time in three seasons. They’ll need three wins down the stretch to reach bowl eligibility. It won’t be easy: after playing Georgia, Florida visits Kentucky and Ole Miss before returning home to host Tennessee. It will wrap up the regular season against Florida State.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
