Florida head coach Billy Napier addressed the need for his team to concentrate on on-field execution, rather than being distracted by off-field criticism, particularly from social media.
Napier stressed the importance of focusing on the fundamentals of football as the Gators aim to bounce back from a tough start to the season.
“One thing I can say is we have a group that’s working hard,” Napier said on Monday. “I do think that we have character. We’ve got to go to work on the football part, and I think we’ve got to become a more consistent team, and we have to execute better.”
Napier highlighted the importance of tuning out the noise from social media, suggesting that the team’s success hinges on their ability to focus on their performance rather than external opinions. “If we can focus on those things and not necessarily what some guy in his basement is saying in rural central Florida on social media, then we got a chance to get better, right? I think that’s the key,” Napier added.
The Gators are coming off a 41-17 defeat to Miami, where Napier’s defense struggled to contain Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward. Following the game, Napier acknowledged the lackluster performance but saw potential growth opportunities from the loss.
“There is no better learning experience than game experience,” Napier said. “I mean, there’s an old military line: We can have a lecture about bullets flying, and we can talk about that for years, but when you’re in there, and the bullets are flying, I think that’s the scenario where the consequences become real.”
Napier, who has a history of success with championship teams, pointed out that early losses can serve as valuable lessons if the team learns from them. “I played on championship teams. I’ve been a part as a coach on national championship teams, SEC championship teams, conference champions, division champions. Very rarely did we win every single game. I think, ultimately, a loss early can be a blessing if you don’t waste it.”
Florida will continue its season on Saturday against Samford. Quarterback Graham Mertz’s status remains uncertain after he suffered a concussion in the opening loss. If Mertz is unavailable, DJ Lagway is expected to start in his place.
