Steve Spurrier on start of Billy Napier era, takes shot at Dan Mullen

Former longtime Florida head coach Steve Spurrier weighed in on how the end of the Dan Mullen era hasn’t bled over into the tenure of new Gators coach Billy Napier, who Spurrier believes can reestablish the standard Florida has been know for over the years.

“I don’t think it’s my position to look over Billy’s shoulder and watching him coach, stuff like that,” Spurrier said on this week’s edition of the GatorsOnline podcast. “But I’ve been to a few practices and I just think attitudes matter. I think guys are more accountable, discipline, effort attitude, you know, that seems like last year that slipped, and I don’t blame [Dan] Mullen so much, but you know, the assistant coaches are also responsible for the players but also the head coach is responsible for everything, so he’s slightly to blame.”

Spurrier had a problem with the lack of effort he saw on the coaching staff and from the roster. He could tell something wasn’t clicking on either side of the field — Spurrier knew a change was needed.

Florida fired Mullen back in November, and over four seasons he put together a 34-15 record, but finished just 13-10 during the last two seasons. Shortly after the season ended, a new staff was put in place and Napier gave the Florida coaching staff a much needed face lift.

One week after Mullen’s firing, Florida poached Napier from Louisiana, who over his career has worked under Dabo Swinney and Nick Saban. During his time at Louisiana, Napier has led the Ragin’ Cajuns to double-digit victories in each of the past three seasons, and Spurrier believes he can do the same with the Gators sooner rather than later.

“So hopefully, these guys with Billy’s the staff here will really give us a team to be proud of,” Spurrier said. “I think that’s going to happen.”