Maybe the Florida Gators just lack the horse sense to return to national football prominence.
They threw a shoe to doom one coach’s tenure. By spitting the bit, they may have doomed another.
Recall the 2020 season. Florida was 8-1, ranked No. 6 in the nation and locked in a 34-34 tie with LSU. The Gators had just stopped LSU to apparently force a punt.
But defensive back Marco Wilson had ripped off an LSU player’s shoe while making the tackle on third down. Wilson then hurled the shoe downfield to draw a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.
LSU took advantage of the second chance to drive for a game-winning field goal.
That Florida loss was the first of three to close the season. The Gators never seemed to recover. They went 6-7 the following year, and coach Dan Mullen was fired.
Billy Napier was then hired as Florida’s coach. The Gators suffered back-to-back losing seasons in Napier’s first two years.
Last year, Napier’s job was in jeopardy after Florida lost two of its first three games.
But the Gators rallied to an 8-5 finish. They closed with consecutive victories over LSU, Ole Miss, Florida State and Tulane.
Napier’s job was safe. That is, until the Gators literally spit the bit with about two minutes remaining in a stunning 18-16 loss to South Florida.
After stopping South Florida for no gain on first down, Florida defensive lineman Brendan Bett spat on a South Florida player.
That drew a 15-yard penalty to kick-start a drive for a game-winning field goal.
“There’s no excuse here,” Napier said after the game. “I’m not up here to make excuses.”
That loss isn’t being excused, either. Calls for Napier’s ouster echo throughout Gainesville. Indeed, they’re probably heard from Pensacola to Key West and all points in between.
According to news reports, the money has been raised to pay Napier’s $22 million buyout.
There will likely be more contributions if the Gators cannot successfully navigate through an upcoming stretch of four consecutive ranked opponents. Four more ranked opponents await later in the season.
Florida next faces No. 3 LSU. Then come No. 5 Miami, No. 7 Texas and No. 16 Texas A&M.
Florida realistically could lose five of the first six. By then, Gators fans would probably consider a $22 million buyout a bargain.
Napier, though, prefers to remain positive. He maintains that the loss to South Florida could ultimately prove beneficial.
“The important thing here is that we use what we experienced (last) Saturday,” Napier said. “Can we take that and use it as a catalyst to make the team better? What I do sense is a loyalty. I think guys want to do their best for each other. They are trying to take this head-on. These things make you better. They make you stronger. They make you tougher.”
The Gators must be better, stronger and tougher.
They must be smarter, too. If they don’t show more horse sense, Napier likely will be put out to pasture.
Around the SEC
This week’s games: No. 16 Texas A&M at No. 8 Notre Dame; No. 13 Oklahoma at Temple; Wisconsin at No. 19 Alabama; South Alabama at No. 24 Auburn; No. 6 Georgia at No. 15 Tennessee; Louisiana at No. 25 Missouri; UTEP at No. 7 Texas; Alcorn State at Mississippi State; Arkansas at No. 17 Ole Miss; Florida at No. 3 LSU; Eastern Michigan at Kentucky; Vanderbilt at No. 11 South Carolina
Who’s hot: South Carolina’s Vicari Swain leads the nation with a 37.4-yard average on five punt returns. He had a decisive 80-yard return for a touchdown in the season-opener against Virginia Tech, but he was just getting started. Last week, Swain returned consecutive punts 65 and 42 yards for touchdowns. Through two games, he has three returns for touchdowns. Nobody has returned more than two punts for touchdowns since 2017, and Swain still has at least 10 games to go.
Who’s not: Aforementioned Florida coach Billy Napier certainly isn’t hot… unless it’s the seat on which he’s sitting. Napier crowed all offseason about the talent and depth of his offense, but he remains the play-caller of an offense that some would say is archaic. Quarterback DJ Lagway looks sluggish after getting minimal reps in the offseason because of injuries. Eight ranked teams loom on the schedule. It may take a miracle for Napier to avoid the axe.
The pressure is on: Surprisingly, South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers has gotten off to a slow start. Sellers entered the season as a dark horse Heisman candidate, but after two games, including one against FCS foe South Carolina State, the Gamecocks are the only SEC team averaging fewer than 300 yards of total offense. Sellers is good, but he must do way too much because every other part of South Carolina’s offense is barely adequate. The quarterback matchup between Sellers and Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia will be a good one.
Keep an eye on: Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green is ranked third in the nation in total offense. He’s averaging 376.5 yards per game. Is that because Arkansas’ offense is rejuvenated, or the competition — Alabama A&M and Arkansas State — was so weak? That will be determined vs. Ole Miss. Last year, Green only accounted for 174 yards of total offense in a loss to the Rebels before being replaced by a backup. Green has been great through two weeks, passing for 561 yards and 10 touchdowns and rushing for 192 and another score. He may need a 350-yard day to Arkansas to beat Ole Miss.
Best matchup: Georgia offensive line vs. Tennessee defensive line. The Bulldogs’ rebuilt offensive front was missing two starters last week and couldn’t score on a first-and-goal from the 1-yard line against Austin Peay. Think about that: Georgia, which has — literally — tons of highly recruited offensive linemen, couldn’t score from the 1…against Austin Peay. The Vols’ defensive front is aggressive and physical. Georgia probably doesn’t want to depend heavily on the passing arm of quarterback Gunner Stockton. Therefore, Georgia, which was 15th in the SEC in rushing last season, must get some push up front to clear space for the rushing attack.
