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Better get on the Billy train now or get left behind
- Thread starter JDCO96
- Start date
Love cheering for Billy and this team! He's getting better and learning from his mistakes. His best ability, to build a team committed to fighting for eachother, is something that not everyone can do. Plus, this team is young and getting better every week. Obviously, we'll need talent to compete at the highest level but the foundation is set. Many of our best players are freshmen and sophomores. There's work to be done but it looks better every day.
Go Gators! Our future is bright!
Go Gators! Our future is bright!
He is still making some dumb time management mistakes, (end of 1st half, timeout near the end of game) but the players love him, play hard and physical, and he is learning. He's proven he's at least as good or better than Heiple, Stoops, Kelly or Lane. I am glad he has been given another year. BEAT HALF-ASS U!!
I wrote it before, and I'll do it again. There are no gatekeepers as to who is and isn't part of the Gator Nation. If you are a true (Orange and) Blue Florida fan – then you are regardless of whether someone else agrees or disagrees with it or if you believe or don't believe that Billy Napier is the long term solution. I don't know why it isn't possible to just enjoy BIG WINS. They have been so few and far between, take advantage of celebrating them and cheering on the team where and when you can without drawing boundaries.
When Scott Stricklin first gave Napier the vote of confidence, I didn't agree with it at all. His record to that point (and really still) means that he is still in the prove-it portion of his Florida coaching career.
Having said that, these last two weeks were big wins – with Ole Miss falling in the HUGE category. Those two victories moved me into the direction that he deserves a shot to see what he can do in 2025 with the full support of the Gator Nation and the UF Admin.
That however will be his prove-it season. It can't be a six, seven, or eight-win season. He has to be able to take advantage of the two years he has with DJ Lagway by winning at least nine games next year and making a legitimate run at the playoffs. Anything less, and he should be on the hot seat once again.
Why? Because even after these two wins, it still doesn't feel like he has everything together. Being honest with yourself, are you most optimistic about Florida in 2025 because of DJ Lagway as the quarterback or because of Billy Napier as the head coach?
When Graham Mertz went down, I posted that I thought that Lagway gave UF a better shot at pulling an upset (and they did it twice).
He has the IT factor. While there are still areas where he needs to improve, Lagway should be considered at least a top-five quarterback in college football entering the 2025 season. I can't think of another UF quarterback, Tim Tebow included, who could have made some of the plays and throws Lagway made yesterday. That in itself is reason for optimism.
When Scott Stricklin first gave Napier the vote of confidence, I didn't agree with it at all. His record to that point (and really still) means that he is still in the prove-it portion of his Florida coaching career.
Having said that, these last two weeks were big wins – with Ole Miss falling in the HUGE category. Those two victories moved me into the direction that he deserves a shot to see what he can do in 2025 with the full support of the Gator Nation and the UF Admin.
That however will be his prove-it season. It can't be a six, seven, or eight-win season. He has to be able to take advantage of the two years he has with DJ Lagway by winning at least nine games next year and making a legitimate run at the playoffs. Anything less, and he should be on the hot seat once again.
Why? Because even after these two wins, it still doesn't feel like he has everything together. Being honest with yourself, are you most optimistic about Florida in 2025 because of DJ Lagway as the quarterback or because of Billy Napier as the head coach?
When Graham Mertz went down, I posted that I thought that Lagway gave UF a better shot at pulling an upset (and they did it twice).
He has the IT factor. While there are still areas where he needs to improve, Lagway should be considered at least a top-five quarterback in college football entering the 2025 season. I can't think of another UF quarterback, Tim Tebow included, who could have made some of the plays and throws Lagway made yesterday. That in itself is reason for optimism.
If they win these next two, and assuming there isn't a mass defection via the Transfer Portal, that should be the case.
And DJ will be on the Heisman watch list to start the season. As much as I love Tebow, he was not the QB as a Freshman that DJ is. This kid is going to have a Statue outside of the Stadium before it is all said and done.
Get ready, because if we win the next 2 and with DJ steering the train, we will be in the playoff conversation next year.
