GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida coach Billy Napier remains confident he can earn a fourth season with the Gators despite two lopsided home losses and a loss of confidence among Gator Nation to begin a pivotal Year 3.
“One hundred percent,” Napier said when asked if he has a path forward. “There’s a lot of football to be played.”
Napier said Monday he has been told “nothing” about his future as UF’s coach since his 33-20 SEC-opening loss Saturday to Texas A&M. The Gators’ no-show two weeks after a season-opening 41-17 flop against Miami incited fan outrage and spurred speculation he’d be fired.
Facing a rebuilding program with first-year Aggies coach Mike Elko, the Gators (1-2, 0-1) at one point trailed 33-7 and failed to score during the opening half in the Swamp for the first time 10 years — a 27-2 loss in 2015 to Florida State.
“Saturday was very disappointing and frustrating,” Napier said. “It’s important for everybody to know personally I’m taking total ownership of that.”
Florida has lost two of three games by double digits to open a season for the first time since 1992. Those Gators, though, won seven straight games, lost to eventual national champion Alabama in the SEC title game and finished 9-4.
UF had never recorded two double-digit home losses during its initial three games of any season.
With uproar at a fever pitch, Napier remained stoic and optimistic as the Gators prepare to visit struggling Mississippi State, which will be a six-point home underdog after falling 41-17 as 10.5-point favorites to Toledo in Starkville, Miss.
“I’m going to try to model what I would expect from our players,” he said. “And that for me is total focus on the next opportunity to improve. We’re going to put the [Texas A&M] game to bed today, and then it’s about doing my absolute best to…
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