I am not that confident either though we are in better shape than most with experience. If he goes 8-4 with this schedule he deserves another year. My guess is 6-5 coming off a home loss to Ole Miss would finish him off unless Lagway took over mid-season and was showing promise as a true freshman. Then he might survive a 6-6/7-5 season. 7-4 after the Ole Miss game and he gets another season even if Lagway hasn't became the starter.
Football Thoughts on this Florida team......
- Thread starter Gator Fever
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I am not that confident either though we are in better shape than most with experience. If he goes 8-4 with this schedule he deserves another year. My guess is 6-5 coming off a home loss to Ole Miss would finish him off unless Lagway took over mid-season and was showing promise as a true freshman. Then he might survive a 6-6/7-5 season. 7-4 after the Ole Miss game and he gets another season even if Lagway hasn't became the starter.
Florida lands commitment from blue-chip 2026 cornerback
Florida picks up a commitment from a blue-chipper in the 2026 cycle who was a one-time Florida State pledge.
www.saturdaydownsouth.com
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Yep TT, those are some great highlights of Heisman quality QB play, an excellent Spread Option Offense, offensive team wide blocking, and game day coaches play calling.... I'm very impressed! 😉
Where would we be if Sickley Strickley had been fired, and the fevered-brains was now in charge of the football programs hiring and firing.... 😁
Laud-hav-merccccy, yet another new HC fired after just 3 years..... 😏
You would probably keep a coach who can't even master counting to eleven players In his 3rd year here even if he went 5-7 or 6-6 again.
Muschamp was the hire everybody wanted. He was, at the time, coach in waiting at Texas and was the guy just about everybody said was the next great head coach. Not so fast - just didn't work out. McElwain was a stupid hire who became a joke. Mullen was the coach virtually everybody said was another great hire, the OC hero under Urban Meyer coming home to bring back the golden years. But then he became his own cartoon with his idiotic press conferences and quirky nature. After the huge contract he was given he just got lazy, IMO, and quit working like a head coach at a major university should. Recruiting suffered, team discipline fell apart and I think he was almost begging to be fired at the end. His heart wasn't in it anymore it seemed. I'm still not sure about Billy Napier, but while being initially optimistic I've been disappointed in the on-the-field results up to this point. With this year's schedule, I just don't expect much in 2024 so will be ecstatic if we win 8 games. I actually expect another losing record. We shall see.
With all of that said, the ultimate blame for the state of the Florida football program lies at the feet of our fund-raising focused Athletics Director, Scott Stricklin. While we are going to finish 4th in the Learfield Director's Cup standings this year, virtually all the success is from coaches already in place when Mr. Stricklin got here. His hires, IMO, have been a drag on the department and the university, at least so far. Change needs to start at the top.
With all of that said, the ultimate blame for the state of the Florida football program lies at the feet of our fund-raising focused Athletics Director, Scott Stricklin. While we are going to finish 4th in the Learfield Director's Cup standings this year, virtually all the success is from coaches already in place when Mr. Stricklin got here. His hires, IMO, have been a drag on the department and the university, at least so far. Change needs to start at the top.
The 'New & Improved' WOKE Socialist-U is at your service sir.
(they sent Dan into the toilet because of what he said after the @ aTm game imo,,, all down hill from there, and yes, I believe that he was more than ready to GTF outta here)
And their message for the fan base is this.
We know what we're doing, so the rest of you should just sit back down,,,, and STFU!,,,, but do keep those $$$ funds flowing in so we can continue to do as we wish....
(they sent Dan into the toilet because of what he said after the @ aTm game imo,,, all down hill from there, and yes, I believe that he was more than ready to GTF outta here)
And their message for the fan base is this.
We know what we're doing, so the rest of you should just sit back down,,,, and STFU!,,,, but do keep those $$$ funds flowing in so we can continue to do as we wish....
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I was satisfied with the hire when made but I think my preferred candidate was Kiffin if I remember right. The agent really did a good job having people think LSU was actually after him also when they weren't in reality. I am still hoping but could see things ending this season. If he let's Miami come in and beat us in the Swamp he is basically gone short of Lagway taking over at some point and showing promise and going 6-6 with that. We improved but so have many of our opponents and Mertz isn't a QB to carry you to many upset wins if the defense isn't playing decent. On paper Miami looks like a slightly better team if this was a neutral field game.
Mullen dug his own grave along with ours. Trask just covered it up in 2020.
And now, back to football talk.... 😉
Lagway has a long wind-up throwing motion, somewhat like Tebow's.
Always vulnerable to quick rushing DE's to slap it out of your hand.
Palm down with a grip on the ball, even much worse in wet conditions imo.
(see the pic of DJ in the article)
https://www.si.com/college/florida/football/dj-lagway-s-path-to-the-field-for-florida-gators-in-2024-01j0b7aptg36
Does no one ever study the throwing motion of a Dan Marino?
Arm up with the football beside the head, then gun it down field with a snap.
I believe that Dan with his throwing motion, had the quickest release in football.
And he seemed to have pretty good passing results using that motion....
Edit -- You can use - Dan Marino passing highlights - search to see the blocked vid.
You gotta have a strong arm to use the Marino release, but DJ has that with no problem.
Lagway has a long wind-up throwing motion, somewhat like Tebow's.
Always vulnerable to quick rushing DE's to slap it out of your hand.
Palm down with a grip on the ball, even much worse in wet conditions imo.
(see the pic of DJ in the article)
https://www.si.com/college/florida/football/dj-lagway-s-path-to-the-field-for-florida-gators-in-2024-01j0b7aptg36
Does no one ever study the throwing motion of a Dan Marino?
Arm up with the football beside the head, then gun it down field with a snap.
I believe that Dan with his throwing motion, had the quickest release in football.
And he seemed to have pretty good passing results using that motion....
Edit -- You can use - Dan Marino passing highlights - search to see the blocked vid.
You gotta have a strong arm to use the Marino release, but DJ has that with no problem.
You never know but I think Lagway will be the real deal after a few starts. Just don't see Mertz beating the better teams on our schedule. Things might change but it's hard to picture wins against @TX, GA, Ole Miss, @TN, LSU and @FSU. Then you have Miami, A@M and KY which you have to hope home field pulls out wins. Heck even @Miss State and UCF are not overwhelming lock games.
Dano had no off switch between his brain and mouth. As Charlie Chan once quipped “To speak without thinking is to shoot without aiming. “
Football is the engine that drives the UF Athletics Department train and it's got to get going or all the other programs will suffer. 2024 is the year that shows whether or not Billy Napier is a legitimate conductor. I have serious doubts, but hope he proves me wrong. Goooo Gators!
Spurrier said it while he was at USC. I believe after Percy torched them for about 200 on the ground. I like Wilson a lot, but like TT said, there’s only one Percy.
I don't get all the Toney love. He had 1 really good year but prior that he barely played. By most accounts he didnt' know the playbook, routes etc. Straight being lazy.
The 1 year was great for sure but when ppl talk about him in the same breath as Percy or even others, I don't get that.
The 1 year was great for sure but when ppl talk about him in the same breath as Percy or even others, I don't get that.
Toney also had the benefit of having Pitts, Grimes and Copeland as the other receivers defenders had to account for.
Back in the 2019 season vs FSU, I cringed at the thought of Toney returning punts.
Really not trying to dig on the guy. Just saying - looking at his career as a whole, he doesn't really compare to any
Gator Greats imo. Was a special talent but production wise was never there. Yet fans seem to talk about him like he was an all time guy. Just weird to me is all.
Final record prediction: 6-6, 3-5
Projected SEC finish: 11th
Not to overreact here, but it's starting to feel like the opener against Miami is the biggest game of Billy Napier's tenure up to this point. Starting off on the wrong foot against college football's most grueling schedule may be impossible to overcome when Texas A&M awaits two weeks later as the tip of the massive iceberg in front of the Gators. The wins in this 6-6 overall projection include Miami, Samford, Texas A&M, UCF, Kentucky and LSU. Napier gets to bowl eligibility if he beats one of the following opponents over the final five weeks of the regular season — Georgia, Texas, LSU, Ole Miss and Florida State. Call the LSU rivalry battle as the upset.
SEC football final record predictions, projected order of finish for 2024 season
Predicting every SEC schedule's wins and losses and which teams will be playoff-bound.
247sports.com
You agree no matter the schedule 6-6 in the 3rd year is unacceptable I hopeFinal record prediction: 6-6, 3-5
Projected SEC finish: 11th
Not to overreact here, but it's starting to feel like the opener against Miami is the biggest game of Billy Napier's tenure up to this point. Starting off on the wrong foot against college football's most grueling schedule may be impossible to overcome when Texas A&M awaits two weeks later as the tip of the massive iceberg in front of the Gators. The wins in this 6-6 overall projection include Miami, Samford, Texas A&M, UCF, Kentucky and LSU. Napier gets to bowl eligibility if he beats one of the following opponents over the final five weeks of the regular season — Georgia, Texas, LSU, Ole Miss and Florida State. Call the LSU rivalry battle as the upset.
SEC football final record predictions, projected order of finish for 2024 season
Predicting every SEC schedule's wins and losses and which teams will be playoff-bound.
With the schedule this year,I just don't see 6 wins.I believe the Swamp Kings would have a struggle with this lineup.JMO.
Well even if you mostly write off TX and GA barring a big upset it's still bad if UF can't pull off 5 wins out of 8 games: Miami, KY, A&M, LSU, Ole Miss, @ Miss State, @TN and @ FSU. The no name school and UCF should be wins barring a real big upset giving a 7-5 record.
Off season speculation and opinions rarely hold for an entire football season.
Injuries to either team playing can change outcomes, and that's just one of the many variables.
The W/L record is not my main criteria on Billy's 3rd season coaching.
There are many other factors that will go into my own judgment concerning his job performance.
That said, none of us posting here has squat to say that matters on his job security.
So as always, we'll see......
Yes fans do at top SEC schools. You think the noise level wouldn't be crazy high if Napier went 5-7 or 6-6 a 3rd straight season with 3rd year+ starting QBs. It would show he is clearly bad on even more things than counting to 11 players on special teams.
Unless he wins like 3 or 4 games- he'll be the coach in 25. Remember this - if Napier is gone in 25, so is Lagway.
Disagree 100% on the wins. Lagway taking over at QB is the only way he can survive 6-6 imo though. A home loss to Miami and its going to be very hard for him not to get canned this season.
I agree if there is change at QB we will be struggling at that point but maybe Mertz will surprise me and play differently this season and not just play it safe 90% of the time which gives a good completion % but doesnt change the outcome of many games. Lagway has a lot of potential but I think Napier knows 6-6 won't save his job if Mertz is starting the whole season.
Been away from this thread for a while. In 2024, UK does NOT play MissState for the first time in 40 years. I can tell you at least based on last year's team, they were Vandy level bad. I could be wrong but I just don't seem them making a dramatic improvement to be competitive. If Napier and the Gators can't beat them..... that's a really bad sign.
The UK-Florida matchup is intriguing, and I could see either team winning. I think UK has a realistic shot at a win but we'll see.....
Not sure what to think of UK but I expect them to defend the run well again. The so called experts are split on who will be the better team in that game right now. Not sure on Lebby and Miss State in year 1 but he usually had some high scoring offenses. Maybe he gets something out of that transfer QB there. We historically have had some bad games against supposedly outmatched Miss schools so its possible its not a real easy game for us.
Jackson likely just laughed about Muschamp wanting him to play a different position than QB.
Butters actually recruited Jackson. Can't blame him for going to Louisville.
Short of some massive disaster, Billy will be here for at least the next 2 football seasons imo.
I still believe that the W/L record IS NOT the main factor in him being fired in 2024.
Maybe that changes in the 2025 post season, but not likely before then imo.
Another key factor in his staying or going is who's available and wants the coach-churning job when you're ready to dump on Billy,,,, AND are the results going to be instantly better with yet another new guy>>???
NIL is not a bottomless pit from year to year. ----- The xfer portal goes both ways, and which way does it go when firing a coach that the players like and want to play for???
Here's one for ya ---- Like a divorce, 'It's Cheaper To Keep Her' 😉
Are they still paying Musclecramp - McLame - And Ole Danny-boy?
And do you/they want to add Napier to their FREE cash list???
I still believe that the W/L record IS NOT the main factor in him being fired in 2024.
Maybe that changes in the 2025 post season, but not likely before then imo.
Another key factor in his staying or going is who's available and wants the coach-churning job when you're ready to dump on Billy,,,, AND are the results going to be instantly better with yet another new guy>>???
NIL is not a bottomless pit from year to year. ----- The xfer portal goes both ways, and which way does it go when firing a coach that the players like and want to play for???
Here's one for ya ---- Like a divorce, 'It's Cheaper To Keep Her' 😉
Are they still paying Musclecramp - McLame - And Ole Danny-boy?
And do you/they want to add Napier to their FREE cash list???
🤣 🤣 Yep having started with 3 consecutive 6-6 or worse pre-bowl game seasons wouldn't matter in any firing decision or being the first coach at UF to accomplish that since about the mid 1940s. Also some big money boosters may just hold it against him that he still hasn't figured out how to get 11 players on the field consistently in many games.
I agree depending on how things go Napier might be forced to go to Lagway to try and keep his job. Even with the hard schedule there will be a big perception difference of 6-6 with a promising developing Lagway than if Mertz remains the starter the whole season and we go 6-6. If Mertz is the starter the whole season then I think a decision to fire Napier could be made if we lose to Ole Miss at home and are 6-5 or worse at that point.
If you lose Napier than Lagway is gone also. Can we afford to lose Lagway? I think Lagway's ability and talent can cover up some of Billy's faults.
I think it would need to be year 2 instead of year 3 for that to save Napier though as said before I think he can survive 6-6 possibly with Lagway getting some starts.
100% correct. Outside of winning only like 3 games in 24' the administration seems to really support him and honestly as much as fans want instant wins, I'm personally on board to allow for more time. I'm kind of tired of firing a coach every 3 years.
