Last night should tell everyone to be patient with Napier and his staff. With the talent available on the field, do you think Napier was outcoached by Drinkwitz? Almost to a player Mizzou had more talent, best running back in SEC, great receivers, really good OL and outstanding DL. Name one player for the Gators that would start for Mizzou and would make Mizzou a better team? Pearsall and Wilson as third or fourth (or fifth) options as receivers? Do you think Etienne and Johnson would improve Mizzou's running game? And the Gators were playing with tons of true freshman, redshirt freshman, 2nd and 3rd stringers trying to patch up an OL. On paper Mizzou should have blown Florida out on senior night in Columbia.
Drink is in his fourth year at Mizzou, prior to this year he had a 17-19 record, and was 11-15 in SEC. He followed Barry Odom (a damn good defensive coach) at Mizzou who was 25-25 at Mizzou with a 13-19 SEC record, the Mizzou cupboard wasn't nearly as empty as the Gators regarding players when Drink took over and it has taken him 4 years to get where he is now. He has recruited well, used the portal well, etc. But which team do you think has the better future? Remember Mizzou honored 27 players on senior night (6 starters on offense (3 seniors as 2nd stringers on offense depth chart), six starters on defense (and six players second stringers on defense depth chart) as well as their place kicker. So they will be replacing 22 players on their two deep depth chart. This year was the year for them to be really good. Next year will be much tougher. The gators lose one senior starter on offense (Pearsall and 2 players on second team on depth chart). On defense the Gators have zero senior starters (but Umanmielem may go to NFL, and Mitchell is the only second string senior on defense. A total of 5 players on two deep depth chart that will be leaving).
If Kirby is not SEC coach of the year it will be Drinkwitz, but he has to almost totally reload for next year and his recruiting class is currently 46th in the country. Meanwhile the Gators have a ton of underclassmen that have gained a great deal of experience and have a much better recruiting class at # 13 than Mizzou.
So who do you think has the better future for the next two years, Drinkwitz or Napier? I will take Napier and his army any day. The Gators will be much better next year but with the brutal schedule it may not be reflected in their record. If last night did not inspire a bunch of hope for the Gators future, then I don't think you are a real Gator fan.
Disclaimer: I think the Gators will be 2nd best in SEC east in 2025, but they may be years away from catching Georgia talent wise. But when the Championship series goes to 12 teams, I think the top three or four teams will be from SEC and the Gators should have as good a shot as anybody not named Georgia or Alabama in 2025.
Drink is in his fourth year at Mizzou, prior to this year he had a 17-19 record, and was 11-15 in SEC. He followed Barry Odom (a damn good defensive coach) at Mizzou who was 25-25 at Mizzou with a 13-19 SEC record, the Mizzou cupboard wasn't nearly as empty as the Gators regarding players when Drink took over and it has taken him 4 years to get where he is now. He has recruited well, used the portal well, etc. But which team do you think has the better future? Remember Mizzou honored 27 players on senior night (6 starters on offense (3 seniors as 2nd stringers on offense depth chart), six starters on defense (and six players second stringers on defense depth chart) as well as their place kicker. So they will be replacing 22 players on their two deep depth chart. This year was the year for them to be really good. Next year will be much tougher. The gators lose one senior starter on offense (Pearsall and 2 players on second team on depth chart). On defense the Gators have zero senior starters (but Umanmielem may go to NFL, and Mitchell is the only second string senior on defense. A total of 5 players on two deep depth chart that will be leaving).
If Kirby is not SEC coach of the year it will be Drinkwitz, but he has to almost totally reload for next year and his recruiting class is currently 46th in the country. Meanwhile the Gators have a ton of underclassmen that have gained a great deal of experience and have a much better recruiting class at # 13 than Mizzou.
So who do you think has the better future for the next two years, Drinkwitz or Napier? I will take Napier and his army any day. The Gators will be much better next year but with the brutal schedule it may not be reflected in their record. If last night did not inspire a bunch of hope for the Gators future, then I don't think you are a real Gator fan.
Disclaimer: I think the Gators will be 2nd best in SEC east in 2025, but they may be years away from catching Georgia talent wise. But when the Championship series goes to 12 teams, I think the top three or four teams will be from SEC and the Gators should have as good a shot as anybody not named Georgia or Alabama in 2025.
