I don’t necessarily agree with his thoughts on Kiffen, but some interesting comments, and good for thought, IMO.
Didn’t realize Pantoni is a UF grad.
Franz Beard
2 hours ago
Florida Gators Legends To The Rescue: Contingency Plans for Life After Billy Napier
GatorBait has learned Spurrier and Meyer, while supporting Napier and his current program, have indicated a willingness to do "anything to help" -- including working in an advisory capacity if and when called upon during the transition.
Standing at the podium for his Wednesday night midweek press conference, Billy Napier looked nothing like a football coach under siege. He answered questions as he normally does in an low, unemotional voice and while he spoke a lot of words, he really didn’t say much at all.
It has been this way since he arrived from Louisiana in December of 2021. Win or lose, play well or badly, Napier taps the fingers on his left hand against the podium rarely offering a glimpse of what’s going on inside. Judging by Florida’s losses to Miami and Texas A&M, Napier’s stomach has to be churning like a cement mixer, but it doesn’t show.
Despite the usual relatively calm exterior, Napier is in trouble. Deepest and darkest. Should the Gators lose today against Mississippi State in Starkville, it’s difficult to imagine Napier surviving past Monday. A win almost certainly buys him two weeks (UCF, October 5 at The Swamp) but several credible sources have indicated to GatorBait that any loss between now and Georgia (October 26) will result in a pink slip. The latest anybody GatorBait contacted expects Napier to be Florida’s head coach is the Georgia game.
Could Napier produce a miracle of parting the Red Sea proportions that could save his job? Anything is possible. Probable? Seriously, seriously doubtful.
With a new rumor manufactured on what seems to be an almost hourly basis since the Gators were clocked by Texas A&M last week in Gainesville, more than one source with intimate knowledge of what’s going on has told GatorBait that there are contingency plans being developed to move immediately into a transformation mode the minute Napier is given the word to clean out his desk.
Two things confirmed: (1) Boosters have the money for Napier’s rather sizeable ($26 million plus) buyout and (2) the contingency plan is to bring in a general manager and assistants to handle all things football while a coaching search begins.
More than one source has told GatorBait that boosters and the University Athletic Associate Board of Trustees will be in charge of the coaching search. The same reliable sources have confirmed to GatorBait that contingency decisions will be made quickly – perhaps even this weekend – in the event Napier can’t get past Mississippi State today.
With eight games remaining in the regular season after today it is almost certain there will be a protracted period in which an interim coach is in charge. Therefore, the concept of a GM and assistants holding things together while the search for the new coach goes has real merit.
GatorBait has been told the GM position may not be temporary and could continue after the new coach is in place. More and more college programs are taking on an NFL approach to handle the day-to-day workings of the program while dealing with recruiting in a very professional manner.
From the perspective of the Florida fan base, the obvious choice for the GM or advisory position would be either Steve Spurrier or Urban Meyer, the two most famous and successful coaches in Florida history. Is this even possible? Yes. The optics of either Spurrier or Meyer in charge would be off the charts but neither have indicated a willingness to take on the day-to-day workings of the job.
GatorBait has learned Spurrier and Meyer, while supporting Napier and his current program, have indicated a willingness to do "anything to help" -- including working in an advisory capacity if and when called upon during the transition.
Here are the two legends and seven potential GM types that all have ties to the Florida program.
MAYBE THEY WOULDN’T BE GM, BUT THEY’RE WILLING TO HELP
STEVE SPURRIER: The greatest name in Florida football history, Spurrier has a deep and abiding love for the program which he turned into a true national power, going 127-22-1 with a 1996 national championship and six Southeastern Conference titles. He currently works for the University of Florida, lives in Gainesville and has close ties to everyone in the athletic department.
Why he would take the job: If Florida insisted and wouldn’t take no for an answer, he might give in but it would take a lot of convincing.
Why he wouldn’t take the job: He’s 79 years old and enjoys what he’s doing as an ambassador to UF. His football mind is sharp as ever, but the day-to-day aspects of the job are probably far more than he’s like to take on at this stage of life. However, if Florida said we need you in an advisory or consulting capacity to bring the program back to a championship level, then he would be all in.
URBAN MEYER: Meyer was 65-15 with national championships in 2006 and 2008 at Florida. From UF he went to Ohio State where he won the 2014 national championship. Meyer’s career record is 187-32. Currently, Meyer is a member of the Fox Big Noon Kickoff cast.
Why he would take the job: Donkeys might fly first.
Why he wouldn’t: He loves his Fox gig, living in Sarasota and the time he gets with his family. Coaching has taken a strain on his health and now that he’s not coaching anymore, he’s healthier than he’s been in years. However, Gator Bait has confirmed he’d pitch in and help in a consulting capacity.
SEVEN OTHER POSSIBILITIES
BOB STOOPS: The defensive coordinator for Spurrier when the Gators won their first national championship in 1996, Stoops went on to become the head coach at Oklahoma where he compiled a 191-48 record with the 2000 national championship and 10 Big 12 championships. He still dabbles in coaching in the United Football League.
Why he would take the job: He still has deep ties to the state and is best buds with both Spurrier and Meyer. In Gainesville he would be 90 minutes from his Crescent Beach condo. It’s not being a head coach but it’s football and helping rebuild the Florida football program.
Why he wouldn’t: He’s 64 and has a very organized life. He gets his football fix in the spring and summer in the UFL.
MARK PANTONI: He’s the associate athletic director and general manager in charge of player personnel at Ohio State. Long recognized as the ultimate player personnel director, no one knows recruiting and roster management better. He is the brains behind Ohio State’s recruiting classes that typically rank among the top five nationally.
Why he would take the job: He’s a Gator (2 degrees from UF), married to a Gator, and he got his start at UF working for Urban Meyer. It’s coming home to Florida (he’s from Sarasota). He was essential to two national championships at UF.
Why he wouldn’t: He’s got it good in Columbus where he consistently brings incredible talent to Ohio State.
RYAN STAMPER: He’s in his fourth year with the Jacksonville Jaguars in their player personnel department. A former Florida linebacker for Urban Meyer who played for two national championship teams, Stamper played prep football at Jacksonville First Coast. He spent nine years at Ohio State as the director of player development.
Why he would take the job: It’s Florida. He loves being a Gator and he’s ready for a GM type gig. He knows what it’s like to be a part of powerhouse programs both at UF and Ohio State. He has real presence and would command instant respect in the program.
Why he wouldn’t: Stamper is an up and comer in the NFL. He’s young, highly intelligent and knows the pro personnel business inside out. In the pros you don’t have to deal with an out of control transfer portal and NIL with no rules.
CHARLIE STRONG: He coached at Florida for Charley Pell, Galen Hall, Steve Spurrier, Ron Zook and Urban Meyer. That’s a record no one will ever break. He was the defensive coordinator for both Zook and Meyer. As a head coach at Louisville, Texas and South Florida, Strong has a career record of 74-53. He’s currently retired.
Why he would take the job: There is something about this place that keeps bringing him back. Charlie Strong is quite at home in Gainesville and his ties to high school football coaches in the state are legendary. Strong could go a long way toward keeping Florida’s commitments intact.
Why he wouldn’t: He’s 64 years old, set financially and doesn’t need any more hassles in life.
STEVE SPURRIER JR.: The name says it all. Currently the offensive coordinator at Tulsa, Bubba is 53 years old and well respected as a wide receivers coach. He’s worked for his dad, Bob Stoops and Mike Leach among others. He has a bright football mind, deals well with people and he’s an excellent recruiter.
Why he would take the job: Mom and dad live in Gainesville along with both his sisters. He’s got six kids (triplets, twins and a daughter) who the grandparents adore. It’s Florida where he got his start coaching as a grad assistant in 1994. Even though he played collegiately at Duke, his veins bleed orange and blue like all Spurriers.
Why he wouldn’t: If he still has head coaching aspirations, he needs to prove himself as an offensive coordinator working for Kevin Wilson at Tulsa.
STEVE ADDAZIO: The offensive line coach for Meyer when the Gators won two national championships, Addazio has been the head coach at Temple, Boston College and Colorado State. He’s currently doing TV work with ESPN. A well known tough guy whose energy level is legendary – called “Vitamin A” when he was at Florida.
Why he would take the job: He loves Gainesville. His kids went to high school here. He’s the kind of no-nonsense guy who the Florida program seems to need these days. Great locker room guy and considering Florida’s need to make improvements on the O-line, not a bad guy to have around.
Why he wouldn’t: He’s 65 years old and gets his football fix working in the booth with ESPN where he’s actually very good.
CHUCK HEATER: Heater coached the secondary for Meyer from 2005-10 and was the recruiting coordinator whose protégé was Mark Pantoni. A Michigan running back in his playing days, his coaching influences are Bo Schembechler, Earle Bruce, Lou Holtz, Bill McCarney, Rick Neuheisel and Meyer.
Why he would take the job: If Meyer were to call him and suggest he come help Florida he would be on the next plane to Gainesville. The same thing if Pantoni or Stamper or Strong were to take the job at UF. He’s a tremendous evaluator of talent.
Why he wouldn’t: He’s 71 and retired. Perhaps there is a time to leave football behind and watch it on TV.
RANKING FIVE POTENTIAL SUCCESSORS AS OF SEPTEMBER 20
The internet buzz is Florida is intent on hiring a power conference head coach with a consistent winning record.
1. LANE KIFFIN, OLE MISS: That ship probably sailed when Florida didn’t bother to interview him in December of 2021 when he would have crawled backward from Oxford to take the job. Ole Miss is No. 5 nationally and could win both the SEC and national championships. He isn’t going to leave Ole Miss with a championship on the line. He could be tied up until January 20.
2. JAMES FRANKLIN, PENN STATE: His buyout is only $2 million and he’s a proven winner both at Penn State and at Vanderbilt. He went to three straight bowl games and won 24 games in three years at Vandy. Nobody does that but Franklin did. Hire him and he brings former Gator All-SEC Phil Trautwein to coach the O-line and JaJuan Seider as his ace recruiter in South Florida. The Nittany Lions are currently ranked 10thnationally and they’ll have a shot at making the College Football Playoff if they go 10-2.
3. JEFF BROHM, LOUISVILLE: Yes, Louisville is his alma mater but he can coach and he’s a real offensive guru. He also has a $1 million buyout. Louisville might be more of a comfortable place to coach with less pressure, but it’s a basketball school first, last and always. He’s a very good recruiter who could be lights out with the talent in Florida to go with UF’s resources.
4. MATT CAMPBELL, IOWA STATE: Every time there is a coaching search, his name pops up, but eventually someone is going to lure him away from life among the Iowa cornfields to a place that has a chance to win championships on a regular basis. He’s only 44 years old, which is a real plus. He has never had a chance to recruit the caliber of athletes that he could land at Florida. That might be something that convinces him to put Ames, Iowa in his rearview. His buyout is approximately $7 million.
5. CHRIS KLIEMAN, KANSAS STATE: There is that old saying “winners win.” Klieman won four national championships in D1AA at North Dakota State and one Big 12 championship at Kansas State. At K-State he’s shown he can handle the pressure of succeeding a legend (Bill Snyder). The Wildcats have a very good chance to win the Big 12 and make the College Football Playoff. His teams score points and win at the line of scrimmage. He has a $6 million buyout.
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