Billy Napier on Nick Saban, Jimbo Fisher dustup: 'People tuned into that'

Florida‘s new head coach Billy Napier said that he doesn’t have a preference in who the Gators are scheduled to play regarding SEC opponents – including Alabama and Texas A&M. Napier, just like the rest of us, turned a keen eye toward the argument between Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher that took place last week, though.

“People tuned into that,” Napier said. “That was worth the price of subscription.”

Napier is referring to Saban criticizing Fisher and his Texas A&M Aggies, saying that he bought his entire team and even went as far as to say Deion Sanders and Jackson State paid five-star-plus recruit Travis Hunter $1 million to play for the NFL great at the FCS powerhouse. 

Fisher and Texas A&M called an impromptu press conference the following morning, where the Fisher and Aggies denied any wrongdoing regarding Saban’s accusations. Fisher slammed his former co-worker, saying that someone should have slapped him as a child on top of calling him a narcissist and his comments despicable.

Napier certainly doesn’t want to be involved in the drama between the two fellow SEC coaches. Instead, is focused on turning the Gators program around after a disappointing 6-7 season last year.

“So everyday, each opportunity that we have to improve in the offseason program this summer – every meeting, every walkthrough rep, every practice rep – we have to take full advantage of,” Napier said. “Players, they all want to play good when they’ve got a lot of eyes on them. … But more importantly, what we’ve gotta learn is it’s about what we do when nobody’s watching.”

Florida’s season will kick off on Saturday, Sept. 3 with a home game against Utah. ESPN will begin its broadcast at 7 p.m. ET as the Gators start the season under the lights of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.