UK receivers Dane Key, Ja'Mori Maclin and Barion Brown could be a huge test for Florida, a team many have predicted will beat UK this year. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Most college football analysts have thought Florida would be a much better team this year under coach Billy Napier and many preseason predictions have the Gators beating UK in Gainesville.
That’s why even though the game is a long way off, it was insightful to see the Gators get thumped 41-17 by Miami in the season opener.
Napier admitted it was an “embarrassing” effort by his team and I am guessing Florida fans 100 percent agreed to make his seat even hotter. He was only 11-14 his first two seasons at Florida and did not make a bowl game last year and Florida certainly looked outreached and outplayed by Miami,
“It’s embarrassing, to be quite honest with you,” Napier said after the game. “That’s how I feel. That’s how our kids feel. There’s no excuses. Keep our mouths shut, show up and work. We have to do better. I do think that our players will show up and they will respond.
“I felt strongly that we would perform better. But I’m not here to make excuses. We’ve got to get it fixed. We’re going to get another opportunity next week, and we’ve got to play better and coach better.”
Fans left the Swamp early in the third quarter and Napier knows the negativity about him and the program is going to keep growing.
We’ll have to navigate it. We’ve got to be men and we’ve got to show some maturity. Ultimately, if you care about the team, you’ll show up and work hard at your job,” Napier said. “I think this group will do that. But we can’t control that. It’s part of the job, and it’s part of their responsibility to the team.”
Napier emphasized during the offseason Florida would be better this year and many believed him. Florida had 139 yards rushing — 75 came on one play — and 91 yards passing against Miami. The Gators failed to convert on third down eight out of nine tries.
“We’ll prove over time that we can play better than that,” Napier said. “I still have confidence in our team. I think we’ve made progress. Today is disappointing, not only for myself but for the entire team and organization and for our fans and for all the people that care about this place.
“Like I said before, I’ve got conviction about the young men that we have on our team. I think we have better football in us. But we have to go prove that.”
