It’s not looking good for the University of Florida football team. And even that might be an understatement. Head coach Billy Napier came into the season on the hot seat, and it only got hotter after a 41-17 home loss to in-state rivals Miami in week one. Not only was it a bad loss, but Napier went on the offensive calling out fans who live in their basement. I learned last week that there are no basements in Florida.
Napier’s starting quarterback went out in the third quarter. However, Florida recruited (something Napier’s been great at) DJ Lagway, the number one overall quarterback in the 2024 class according to 24/7 Sports.com.
Unfortunately, the biggest thing going against Napier is the schedule. Florida still has to play Texas A&M, Tennessee, Georgia, Texas, LSU, Ole Miss, and Florida State. All of those teams were ranked in the preseason AP Top 25 poll. Fans are already upset and with plenty of tough games on the horizon, let’s look at the guys who could come in and do a better job in Gainesville.
Jimbo Fisher-Unemployed
Jimbo Fisher won 10 games every season but two in his eight years at Florida State. He won a National Championship in 2013 and made the College Football Playoff the following year. Despite what many people think, Jimbo Fisher’s time at Texas A&M wasn’t a disaster, he had 45 wins in six seasons. Fisher never lost a bowl game at A&M.
The problem with Fisher is that A&M expected him to live up to his contract, which wasn’t his fault. A&M paid him $75 million to leave Florida State in 2017, and then in 2021 they extended him and guaranteed him $95 million. With that type of commitment, Fisher should’ve got more time at A&M to turn it around.
Fisher recruited one of the best classes of all time in 2021, and will only improve Florida’s already talented roster. He’s a quarterback whisperer, he got Kellen Mond drafted. If Fisher could avoid a transfer portal exodus and keep Florida’s young QB Lagway, he could be on the right track.
Billy Napier had only four years of prior head coaching experience, so if Florida needs another coach they could opt for someone with more experience. Fisher fits this mold.
Gus Malzahn-UCF
Does he know the SEC? Yes. Does he know the South and Florida in terms of recruiting? Yes. Gus Malzahn will get a chance to audition for the Florida job on October 5th when the Gators visit UCF.
Malzahn is a proven winner. He’s been to a National Championship, wins 65% of his games, and is great in the first year at a program. He won nine games twice in his first seasons at Arkansas State and UCF. In his first season at Auburn, he took them to the National Championship. Malzahn spent eight seasons coaching in the SEC, he knows the landscape and what it takes to win in The South.
Malzahn, like Fisher, is an offensive guru. I’m pretty sure he invented motion. He’s great with quarterbacks and always develops a strong running attack. Malzahn might not be the sexy big-name Florida fans want, but he is a steady, gettable option.
Jamey Chadwell-Liberty
Before someone says, “Billy Napier 2.0” let me ask you this, how many times did Billy Napier go undefeated in regular season play? How many 90 overall-rated quarterbacks did Billy Napier ever have in video games?
It’s easier to win at smaller schools such as Coastal Carolina and Liberty, but Chadwell has proved himself enough to warrant a big job. Chadwell is an offensive guru who, like the previous two guys, could immediately improve the Gator’s on-field play. Liberty was fourth in yards per game in the country last year. During his time at Coastal Carolina, he had another prolific offensive attack that ranked fifth in yards per game in 2021
Chadwell will certainly get a chance at a Power Four school next season. Liberty is projected to be a contender for the College Football Playoff this year as one of the group of five teams. If this happens, a team will try and nab him, and Florida would be foolish not to consider it. The only question is would they take another risk on a coach who hasn’t coached in the SEC like they did with Napier?
Urban Meyer-Unemployed (Coached Florida 2005-2010)
Now it’s getting fun! Urban Meyer is ONLY 60 years old. That is the same age as Jim Harbaugh, who is beginning his first year with the Los Angeles Chargers. The idea that Urban Meyer is done coaching is insane. He is doing the typical coach break exercise where he is talking about football on TV to stay in the headlines and on people’s minds.
College football has never had THIS much money in the sport. Paying players is legal and it’s awesome. A product of this is coaches are making more than ever. Boosters at Florida will look at the three National Championships Meyer has won and make him an offer he can’t refuse.
Meyer’s time in the NFL with the Jacksonville Jaguars didn’t go as planned. That’s probably the nicest thing I can say about it. Meyer surely doesn’t want the last memories of him in the football world dancing with a young woman at a bar and kicking a kicker.
Florida would welcome him back with open arms and the pressure for his first couple of seasons wouldn’t be high. Meyer could build the program back to what it was under him and further his legendary status at the University of Florida.
Coach Prime-Colorado
Deion Sanders as a coach is a phenomenon. Love him or hate him, you still watch. Those eyeballs translate to more applications for the school, better recruiting despite the lack of resources at his school, and an “in” with many top coaches. It reminds me of Deion Sanders the player, flashy, fun, and speaking his mind. Now he needs the wins to come.
If Deion can get the wins rolling at Colorado this season, even if they get to eight or nine wins, that’ll be enough for top schools to be interested. Deion is already pulling in top guys to come play for him at Colorado and Jackson State. Imagine how well he could do at a recruiting powerhouse like Florida.
If Deion can follow the coaching blueprint of Ed Orgeron at LSU, where he fills the “CEO” role. Then hires great coordinators and positions coaches to do the main coaching, then he will be successful.
Now comes the elephant in the room, would Deion Sanders, who attended Florida State, coach the University of Florida? It’s hard to tell, mainly because he’s recently claimed he isn’t a “Nole”. That would solve the problem it seems, but could he be waiting for the Florida State job? That is unlikely considering that Florida State signed Mike Norvell to a huge extension last offseason.
Sanders would take the Florida job and college football would be a lot more fun if he took the job.
If you enjoyed “Five Guys Who Could Replace Billy Napier at Florida,” then check out Belly Up Sports. Also, follow me on Twitter/X @NikGable37
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