I do not think Napier is the guy to win national championships, but he is the guy that needs to learn how to clean up the guts of the program so the next guy can win national championships. In a perfect world, Kerwin Bell is that guy. Instead of paying $38M to fire Napier plus $60M to bring in the next head coach, offer Kerwin Bell $2M to be offensive coordinator and head coach in waiting. Tell Kerwin to have his own staff on standby in 2024 and be prepared to negotiate a $40M contract for him if Napier falls below 0.500 in 2024. It would be an uncomfortable situation for Napier to have a head coach in waiting breathing down his neck, but enough money with a solid succession plan is worth the pain. Even at $2M as OC, that would be his best salary ever and would compensate him for not being head coach as he likes— especially with understanding that he would be next head coach. His love of his alma mater would be a selling point.
@Leakfan12,
@Escambia94,
@Leakfan12,
I don't know if the above can happen...
For one thing, no matter WHAT the buy-out, I'm doubtful Napier would accept a situation he would see developing the moment it was proposed.
I would see its sense and eventual practicality, but there is some question as to how it would sit with the players: Would this mess with the very real "Team-as-family-as-ONE" that is truly building? Cause it to falter, begin to evaporate?
However, SOMETHING (or things) need to change, and soon, or Billy will NOT make it here.
It won't be THIS year--but NEXT season's schedule is shaping up even more difficult than 2023...Regardless of continued recruiting prowess, another losing record PLUS a failure to correct the bulk of the numerous self-inflicted damage and onfield carnages WILL lead to the lines of sinking ticket sales and rising frustration to meet SOONER than otherwise--and if there is ANYONE who may "fit the bill" available he could be gone by 2025 after ALL.
Frankly, as a strong supporter of Billy Napier, AND a practical analyst of the various factors currently amounting to his ongoing "protection" as our Coach, I am a little surprised to see you bluntly disown your appraisal of his chances to "win Championships", E--.
Now, I'M lately beginning to approach a similar conclusion. I must tell you: in any "final analysis", the key moments of failure have to be ultimately pinned on our Coach. I won't bother rehashing all the ways that was true--See Ali Peaks' excellent (if unusually angry and frustrated) postgame podcast for a fairly concise (as in unblinkingly frank and open) recitation of all that was and IS BROKEN on our side--but I have to agree and echo her outrage regarding Special Teams, it's direct effect on our not making the fg to win the thing (which by-the-way might not have been necessary in the FIRST place if not for a bad snap/missed point-after earlier!), and our COACH'S continued direct responsibility for it ONCE AGAIN: We get a 5-yard penalty because of the vague way special teams is run, and wattayaknow? Our reliable kicker barely MISSES a 44-yarder that probably squeeks INSIDE the right upright from 39!
HEY--We are NOT alone in our deteriorating confidence in Billy: Ali isn't the only normally clear-eyed Gator SUPPORTER who is nearing the "throw up our hands" point.
So: having said all of that, we ARE perhaps nearing that same old place again after all...and I too would love to see Kerwin Bell at LEAST a PART of this team. Given the circumstances, bringing him in as OC might make a lot if sense--IF it were something that our current Coach could well accept and function with. I am unaware of any kind of relationship between them. Do they even KNOW each other? Because if there's going to BE a new OC brought on board, it will have to happen by shortly after this season winds down (if we happened to somehow make it to a bowl game after all, it'd be a bonus to bring one in BY THEN and begin the eventual "shakedown process". God knows THIS team NEEDS all the help and practice it can get in such situations.
But by January or so at the LATEST, I think, whomever it will be (IF it will be!) Would best be in place.
Yesterday's game really WAS a "microcosm of our ongoing failures". For all frustrations and disappointments this season has brought, THIS particular Sunday morning is the first where I awoke to little yet in the way of relief, of at least the START of "rational reevaluation".
I woke up MORE FRUSTRATED STILL!
For most of the first couple of hours I have done little but replay the failures and breakdowns--and that is DESPITE efforts to move on, gain insight and perspective from others who are normally more knowledgeable and circumspect than I.
Not THIS time. They are clearly at LEAST as, if not MORE, battered, confused, even FED UP than I. Nothing a surprising (if unlikely) WIN wouldn't cure at this point--but suppose one isn't forthcoming, as is entirely possible, my friends?
What happens then?
I ask this because I feel perhaps a damn is building, an impasse behind which tremendous pressure will continue to build.
Strange things can come of such forces.
One more weird outcome, courtesy of a season's worth of frustration and one more poor decision-- "ONE MORE BAD PLAY"!
This Head Coach cannot keep answering the same old questions the "same old way", seemingly dismissing their underlying validity.
He needs to face and answer certain of them in a straight and forthright manner, one where HE takes responsibility--NOT try and throw it back in the asker's face with that wide-eyed, "What are you talking about?"-attitude..."That's not what I saw..." cannot continue to BE his go-to response.
Not the way this team keeps messing up out there. Now they face nothing but hot, well-functioning teams playing for the post-season.
Not the best time to be flounderingly still trying to "find yourselves".
Though I normally watch at least ONE game replay, win or lose, at present I cannot envision doing so for this one. Not saying I WON'T--but at present I just cannot bare to relive all the moments I am already starkly replaying in my HEAD...I know that's at most only a PORTION of the misery in store come a proper "re-watch" (sound off, for sure), so it will have to wait (maybe forever--LOL...Is this one of those "Throw the film AWAY!" moments?).
No matter what I do, nothing will change whatever ensues these last few games, nor the fans' likely vicious vocal reaction to it.
The players will blame themselves--NOT "each other", mind you: This IS more and more developing into "a good TEAM", one that is SUPPORTIVE of those around them, a true "brotherhood". With time, talent, and organized discipline this can, WILL make a huge difference.
For the moment, though, it is currently at COACHING where the strength and "winning edge" must originate.
I guess we are all now beginning to wonder if it is indeed forthcoming.
