The Florida Gators improved to 3-4 on Saturday with a 23-21 win over Mississippi State at home. Fans in the crowd chanted for head coach Billy Napier’s firing despite holding a lead for most of the game.
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Multiple reports indicated last week that Napier would be fired with a fifth loss this season. However, it was less clear if athletic director Scott Strickland planned to make a move if Florida defeated the Bulldogs in Week 8.
The timing of a firing after Saturday’s game made sense. The Gators are on a bye in Week 9, giving an interim head coach an extra week to prepare to host No. 9 Georgia on Nov. 1.
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Per Pete Nakos of On3, there are legitimate conversations about how to proceed with Napier after Saturday’s win. Regardless of the timeline, Napier’s future in Gainesville has been decided.
“Sources have told On3 that legitimate conversations are being held about Billy Napier’s future with the Gators,” Nakos wrote. “Those conversations started last year, picked up again in the last month and now have reached a fever pitch. A source close to Florida’s Board of Trustees told On3, “it’s over,” a comment directed at Napier’s future in Gainesville.
“Florida would be on the hook for roughly $20.4 million, with $10.2 million paid within 30 days of the termination. Napier appeared to know what was coming with his tone in his postgame press conference.”
Napier, 46, is 22-23 overall and 12-16 in SEC play during his four seasons with Florida.
Florida started the season ranked No. 15, but fell out of the rankings after losing 18-16 at home to Southern Florida in Week 2. The Gators lost two more games in a row to then-No. 3 LSU and then-No. 4 Miami.
Things looked up when the Gators defeated then-No. 9 Texas on Oct. 4, but a humbling 17-point loss to then-No. 5 Texas A&M gave Napier’s team a fourth loss by Oct. 11.
Napier said after Saturday’s game that the distractions surrounding the program have been difficult on the team.
“Just really proud of the group, with the way they’ve handled last week was tough, and they showed up to work,” Napier said. “And I think for young people to be able to eliminate distractions and show up and do very hard work… It’s not easy what we asked these guys to do, but they were well prepared, and they showed up and played.”
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