In a twist of irony, just two days after Florida AD Scott Stricklin voiced full support for head coach Billy Napier, the Gators endured their most crushing loss under his tenure—a 32-point blowout by the Texas Longhorns.
Despite the Gators missing 14 key players, including both quarterbacks, the timing of Stricklin’s commitment left many fans questioning whether Napier’s leadership truly moves the program forward. Though Stricklin and Napier supporters point to recent improvements, Saturday’s defeat cast doubt, reigniting concerns around Napier’s 15-19 record, 8-14 in SEC play.
This scenario parallels Texas AD Chris Del Conte’s 2020 declaration to retain head coach Tom Herman, only to fire him shortly after. For Stricklin, who may not get another chance to hire a head football coach, the stakes are high. Whether betting on Napier pays off remains to be seen, but with Florida’s history, skepticism lingers.
