Billy Napier says no discussions have taken place about his future

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier has been under fire. The Gators have lost seven-consecutive games against Power 4 opponents including five to end the 2023 season, as well as two blowout losses to start the 2024 campaign.

On Monday, following a 33-20 loss to Texas A&M, Napier was asked if there have been discussions with Florida Athletic Director Scott Stricklin regarding his future as the head football coach.

“None,” Napier responded.

Napier signed a seven-year $51.8 million dollar contract, which runs through the 2028 season. Napier was asked if he was given any assurances that he would have time to build the program, which is 12-16 and just 6-11 in the Southeastern Conference.

“These are all hypothetical scenarios. I think for me, I’m gonna try to model what I would expect from our players and some of those things I just talked about, I think that’s the whole key is that as a whole staff and throughout the organization, we have to model what we would expect from the players and want from the players. And that, for me, is total focus on the next opportunity to improve. We’re gonna put the game to bed today from Saturday, and then it’s about doing my absolute best to prepare the team to play next Saturday.”

“We can’t live in the shoulda-coulda-woulda, if-then, all that. I think ultimately, we’ve got an obligation to the players and our leadership at the university to do our best to play well this week. It’s all we can control. Anything else is a waste of time. Look, I think it’s that way regardless. Been doing this for a long time. The ability to hit the reset button, sometimes you’re trying to ignore the hype or the praise and sometimes, you fall flat on your face. So your approach with the players, the right mix of accountability and ownership, I think it’s critical that we don’t point fingers and that we accept some responsibility and point out where there needs to be accountability. I think that’s the key, especially with young people in the world that they live in currently.”

The Gators will travel away from Gainesville for the first time this season. Napier’s teams are just 2-9 away from Ben Hill Griffin Stadium during the past two seasons. Mississippi State is coming off of 41-17 home loss to Toledo.

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