Gary McCullough/Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson (15) rolls out of the pocket to throw a pass during an NCAA college football game against Missouri, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, in Five-star cornerback AJ Harris canceled his official visit to Florida and committed to Georgia. Baylor. Given that we live in the Sunshine State, those odds are not in our favor. Billy Napier Napier isnt just pulling lower-level recruits, hes battling head-to-head with the big dogs of college football, and hes winning. At age 26 he became Clemsons tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator under Tommy Bowden, and by 29, he was promoted to offensive coordinator when Dabo Swinney took over as head coach. Graham Hall. Billy Napier discusses newly hired Florida DC Austin Armstrong. I think if you dont, youre doing them a disservice. Message boards were set ablaze when Florida didnt immediately shoot to the top of the recruiting boards under the former Louisiana-Lafayette coach. Just ask Napier himself. Local OL target planning official visit with Gators - Yahoo News NFL Draft Profile: Florida guard OCyrus Torrence Though Graham was fired after that 2017 season, incoming Sun Devils coach Herm Edwards reportedly planned to retain Napier as offensive coordinator until he pursued the Louisiana opening. 3. All those who voted to confirm Kavanaugh believing his words were either nave or hypocrites. He made me feel that I had no doubt that he was going to take care of Kamari. BILLY!. Hes got a lot of confidence in his plan and a lot of confidence in himself. He quickly clarified, I did not mean that in an offensive way! and continued his answer: Towards the end of the session, an attendee asked about the recent hiring of former Gator Taurean Green. "The best is truly yet to come here. Billy Napier The election is only a few months away. The Gainesville Sun 0:00 1:47 Billy Napier ran out of the tunnel and into The Swamp for the first time Saturday night. Has Gainesville really grown to 340,000? "If we're going to do NIL at the University of Florida, let's do it with class, and let's do it in a way that has checks and balances, that's NCAA approved, that's state-law approved, with people with great integrity and a good heart and that's what I would say about this group.". Costa emphasized Florida Victorious will be adding a community service element into its organization. Napier, who led an -- New Florida coach Billy Napier plans to hire an "unprecedented" support staff, he said Sunday. 3. Florida was best because they say the word family everybody says family in all the visits (to the different programs) its family, family, family, family. Two days later, on Nov. 23, Stricklin flew to Lafayette no staff, no agents, no formal pretense and arrived at the Napiers home. But according to mothers of freshmen currently enrolled in Gainesville, when Billy Napier and his staff talk about a family atmosphere in Gainesville they mean it. But there is more to this staff. Torrence joined Billy Napier at Florida. And will racism be used to justify what will basically be government confiscation of personal property under the guise of zoning reparations? Billy Napier - Football Coach - Florida Gators Efficient, thats the best description for his offenses, an opposing head coach said. Then theyll get you in some unbalanced sets and make you defend some unique things. A unique young man and unique story and couldn't be more happy for him and his family. He coaches the coaches when they watch all the practice tape together, Lamb said. Its hard for everybody on the team to feel like thats our guy, but Billy could fit in with the linemen, he could fit with the DBs, he could fit everywhere. Billy Napier Phelan M. Ebenhack/Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. In streamlining to one collective, Florida is following a model similar to Auburn and Ole Miss, who recently rebranded and consolidated their NIL Collectives into exclusive organizations. Napier, who holds the same role at Louisiana, will coach the Ragin' Cajuns on Saturday and arrive in Gainesville, Fla., on Sunday. Gators hit a grand slam by hiring Billy Napier; just ask those who The new collective sponsored UF's spring game last week. It also peeved him to be bypassed for the chance to call plays when Lane Kiffin left for FAU during the CFP run. Billy Napiers father passed away in 2017 due to ALS. Michael Hull is a fourth-year journalism sports & media major and a sports writer at The Alligator. After taking Napier on a tour of the stadium, Stricklin said a coach asking for resources wasnt remarkable. Hull rushed for 2,417 yards in four seasons at Northwestern. His attendance when Florida hosts the Utah Utes to open its season will be a welcome sight to Gator fans. You can tell that he has worked all those contingency plans for different situations, so theyre ready for anything that happens, one said. Its why the people who have faced Napier believe his success at the Group of 5 level will translate to becoming a Power 5 boss. I encourage the use of sunscreen and wide-brim hats along with seeking shade as often as possible. Golden then quipped about his first day at University of San Francisco, where former head coach Kyle Smith warned him about the West Coast Conferences hiring history: Before moving on to the Q&A, Golden finished up with some remarks about coming to Florida: I never anticipated getting the opportunityI was very honest with [Scott Stricklin], I said, I want to be here with you. Florida Gators' Scott Stricklin, Billy Napier discuss, endorse new NIL Florida fans seem to be coming around on the whole trust the process idea. We all know how to read census reports. Gators offensive lineman O'Cyrus Torrence honored as an Sophie Goodwin Napier After confirming that he did, in fact, buy a house in Gainesville, Coach Napier showed a photo of his extended family. Later in the call, Costa pointed out that Florida Victorious is already supporting athletes from five different UF women's programs and that donors can earmark specific contributions for women's sports programs on the association's website. That culture starts from the top., And that starts from the lesson handed down by Napiers father, who used to remind Billy on rides to school: You know your last name, so you need to represent it the right way today.. generate the same blockbuster NIL deals as LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne. All rights reserved. Managing Floridas much larger recruiting budget and salary pool shouldnt feel too big either, considering how Napier built a cadre of quality control staffers and analysts at UL that dwarfed its counterparts. Billy Napier enters his second season as Florida's head coach after being named the 29th head coach in He gave such a compelling reason as to why these things are going to help make the Gators better, Stricklin said. Billy Napiers second Pro Day in Gainesville was far from a lowkey affair, as its been at times throughout the recent history of the Florida football program. But Napier was the lead in changing their mind when they finally visited The Swamp. 2 or No. Billy Napier With the hiring being finalized Sunday afternoon, Mondays meeting became anti-climactic. We have priorities and we are trying to get to all of them as quickly as we can. Florida fans wanted to immediately compete with the Georgias and the Alabamas of the world, but thats not how a rebuild works. Read on for more highlights from the event. Billy Napier has arrived in Gainesville and is ready to get started on rebuilding the University of Floridas football program. On Nov. 27, minutes after Florida beat Florida State 24-21 to become bowl-eligible at 6-6, Stricklin thanked the team for being focused on the rivalry game. It's part of the fundraising but that is our intent. Auburn had a more prestigious vacancy brought on by the firing of Malzahn and seriously courted Napier. For those who didnt read Matt Howlands departure letter, he spent most of it praising the outgoing commission for making tough decisions and spoke disparagingly of those who disagreed, calling them old.This same disregard for their constituents has been obvious for anyone who has been keeping up with current commission meetings. 3. GAINESVILLE, Fla. Following a late-morning flight from Louisiana and a police escort from the Gainesville Air Center, Billy Napier planted his feet on the Matt Stamey/Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. He took it hard, but once we got back for spring term, he took it up a notch and had a phenomenal senior year to get us back in the playoffs.. Such sly tactics are not persuasive. Includes must-see content on Gainesville.com and Gatorsports.com, breaking news and updates on all your devices, and access to the eEdition. Billy Napier is in Gainesville and ready to get working on his vision for the University of Florida football program. I have people that arent in this program who have hit me up on Twitter, other moms, who have told me how Coach Napier has affected their sons and how they are the people they are because they spent time with him.. Billy D always said Gainesville was a great community to raise a family..he stayed for quite awhile.. Metro population is a better indicator of city size. Amid the optimism that radiates from a hire, Stricklin seems particularly comfortable with the union. Over the last few months, 15 highly-touted prospects have announced their plans to join Billys army in Gainesville. )do you all recommend? ), where the cell phone service was so spotty that he had to move to one corner of his house or step outside to take Napier and Florida Athletic Director Scott Stricklin appeared on the 45-minute Zoom Call with Florida Victorious founder Jose Costa and ESPN studio host/reporter and Florida alum Laura Rutledge, who is on the new collective's board of directors. While skin cancer is deadly, the good news is that its preventable. I mean, they had guys everywhere all with clipboards, writing and watching and charting. Last month, Florida State softball player Kaley Mudge testified before congress, calling for more equity in regard to NIL opportunities and funding for women's athletes. Looking for a business in Greater Gainesville, check out our directory listings for the region. You better have unbalance checks, and a lot of defenses only have one. Probably the best thing to ever happen to him, Lamb said. Very rarely in your career do you coach a player that you would say that guy impacted me just as much as I impacted him.That guy right there is unbelievablethats why you coach.. Gainesville, Fla. Billy Napier says his wife was burning me up over the weekend with questions about Floridas most daunting season opener in school history. "I think what you're seeing here is the Gators aren't going away on the recruiting trail, Napier said. They wanted to come back and do something special.. However, its always darkest before the dawn. Billy Napier "We're going to plan our work, work our plan. Billy Sticking with the Ragin Cajuns last week for their first Sun Belt title was a rewarding sendoff for Napier and his players, even though it cost him a week of recruiting at his new program. This wont be Hours after Mullens firing on Nov. 21, Stricklin appealed to Napiers representatives for a chance to speak in-person in contrast to Zoom interviews Napier had conducted with two other schools. Following a Friday night game, Coach Napier sent Rainey and a fellow assistant to scout a possible playoff opponent in Gainesville, Ga., 80 miles away. Some great family photos in this story. Richardson is different. The Louisiana athletic departments approval for making atypical hires was a resource Napier maximized by essentially seeking out hungry coaching apprentices. GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 10: head coach Billy Napier of the Florida Gators Instead, the 7th-grader stood out. But you need multiple unbalance checks versus him.. Their connection with him began years earlier, however, back when the 12-year-old showed up at their camp intent on going through drills with the high school players. The 2023 recruiting class has skyrocketed into the top-10 on 247Sports as we roll into mid-August, and there is still more to be done. Our mayor is using the word racism for effect while he gentrifies neighborhoods. Some contend Napier desires to know everything about everything his fingerprints on every decision, his soaring standard of acountability. Spring impressionsFlorida football: 3 quick takeaways from Gators' first spring practice in rainy Gainesville.