As we’ve expressed over the past five weeks at Hail Florida Hail, it’s always a good time to suggest that Billy Napier should no longer be the head coach of Florida Football. Despite much of Gator Nation drawing up a list of desired changes after last season, Napier implemented almost none of them, leaving fans with disappointment to start the 2024 season.
However, even if you’re eager for Napier’s departure and believe that removing the source of Florida’s problems is the only path to recovery, you should still hope for a Gators victory today—even if a loss might ultimately lead to his dismissal.
Florida Football: The Emperor Has No Clothes
At 7:45, the University of Florida Gators face off against the University of Central Florida Golden Knights in what promises to be a lively football matchup.
Officially, Florida is playing UCF. But don’t ask the Knights what their name stands for—UCF insists on being referred to only by its initials, which fits their brand. As they’ve risen from a Division 3 program to Power 4 status, they’ve also developed a habit of constantly seeking the spotlight.
They’ve turned their aluminum stadium into a symbol, latched onto a random comment about winning a national title as part of their identity, and even embraced the fact that Cape Canaveral is nearby. If they beat Florida today, that too will become part of their story.
Make no mistake: if you’re hoping for Billy Napier’s firing, a loss to UCF will be remembered forever. And unlike the Gasparilla Bowl, this time Gator fans can’t dismiss it as just a meaningless game.
The fact that Florida is the underdog in this matchup is a sign of how far they’ve fallen in the Napier era. Last year, UCF lost by 29 points to Kansas, 13 to West Virginia, and also to Texas Tech, Georgia Tech, and most recently by 27 points to Colorado. Yet Florida, with a roster ranked 12th in the nation by 247 Sports, is a 1.5-point underdog.
A win today might fade into memory as the Gators prepare for a likely drubbing in Knoxville next week. Perhaps that will be the final straw for Napier. But a loss today? That would join the ranks of infamous defeats like the one to Georgia Southern, forever meme-worthy.
So cheer wisely.
