What's the chances we can keep Lagway if we fire Napier

[Gatlin Gator]

Maybe we have to keep coach Napier at least for a few games into next season to see what he can do, because if we fire him is there any chance we could keep Lagway here?

Is it worth it to fire Napier if it risks us losing Lagway.

 

[BD489]

Napier isn’t developing his players and they’re not showing up on game day. If we make a great hire then lagway might want to stay as he could love his teammates and the area. Can’t keep Napier for one player at this point.

 

[Romeg8r]

I think our chances to keep him are better if we DO fire Napier. Do you think he's going to stay in this dumpster fire?

 

[Mark Wheeler]

I would wonder more along the lines of what are the chances of keeping Lagway if Napier is still here.

I know that DJ has said that he loves Napier and he came here to play for him.

I would expect any player to say that publically. Privately I would want to know how much NIL also played a part. He has also said that he is a UF fan that predates Napier being the coach. Also, to be honest, I find it hard to believe any quarterback would say the main reason he came to UF was to be developed by Napier, who has never produced a top end NFL quarterback. Even Anthony Richardson was drafted based on his athleticism, not his quarterback skills developed by Mullen or Napier.

Then, if I were DJ and his family, and it's just me speaking, I would actually be pissed about how he was used against Texas A&M. The week before against Samford, he got the first team reps. The week of the A&M game, he split first team reps with Graham Mertz, with my understanding being Mertz took the majority of the first team snaps.

A true freshman quarterback like that is being thrown to the wolves if he doesn't have a chance to be in the game, stay in the game, and find his rhythm. Napier did him no favors with that rotation.

 

[Dan the Man]

I don't care if we had a 20 year old Tom Brady, it's not worth keeping Napier just to keep one player.

Coaches like Napier find ways to lose games no matter who's on the field.

 

[drumlin]

One possible compromise is to move Napier to the GM position and hire a coach to replace him.
He is good at organization and gets to stay in Gainesville doing something for the money he would get paid in a potential buyout.

 

[Termigator]

One possible compromise is to move Napier to the GM position and hire a coach to replace him.
He is good at organization and gets to stay in Gainesville doing something for the money he would get paid in a potential buyout.

I am not sure how good he would be as the GM. He certainly has not been good at building a championship roster or coaching staff.

 

[Gator Thriller]

What I worry about with Lagway is giving him these little spots to shine and that is going to drive his NIL asking price up.

 

[GatorDMD]

It might be better because a new coach is going to bring new enthusiasm and that can bring more NIL money.

 

[Dan the Man]

I am not sure how good he would be as the GM. He certainly has not been good at building a championship roster or coaching staff.

Starting to wonder what he is good at. What did Stricklin see in him.

 

[OrangeandBlue]

One possible compromise is to move Napier to the GM position and hire a coach to replace him.
He is good at organization and gets to stay in Gainesville doing something for the money he would get paid in a potential buyout.

GMs are in control of signing players and hiring coaches.

Napier hasn't been outstanding in either category.

 

[drumlin]

GMs are in control of signing players and hiring coaches.

Napier hasn't been outstanding in either category.

Yeah, Termigator said the same thing, but there is a reason I think a GM role would suit him.
First, I wrote about this before, and admit it wasn't my idea, but I've heard a proposal that would have a board of directors made up of former players, coaches (HBC) and maybe NFL execs who would hire the coach.
Napier as GM make sense to me because he's assembled the current staff and has the reputation of being well organized.
I also don't think it's fair to blame the roster construction solely on the coaching staff.
I am not clear on who controls NIL money and how much to give to certain players.
Does Napier decide how much to give to a certain position or someone else?
At least the GM position would have full control of all of those decisions.

 

[Dan the Man]

Look at the holes in our roster. Why would we want Napier as a GM?