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Florida

Billy Napier seeking better intensity early in games

Screen Shot 2024-05-28 at 9.09.17 AMby: Kaiden Smith11/21/22kaiden__smith
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(Gilbert/Getty Images)

Florida suffered from a big upset loss this weekend, losing to Vanderbilt 31-24 and snapping an eight-game winning streak against the Commodores. The Gators got off to a slow start in their game this weekend, a problem that they’ve faced on various occasions this season. Head coach Billy Napier was asked about the slow start of his team and agreed with it being an issue.

“I agree with you, I think about that at times,” Napier admitted. “Until you get in the middle of the fight, I think that’s one of the things kind of like we’re talking about Mark’s question relative to performing with consistency.”

The Gators found themselves down 14-6 at halftime, and then down 28-12 headed into the fourth quarter on Saturday before making a late rally that wasn’t enough to secure them a win. Napier elaborated on his team’s sluggish starts and the factors that contribute to them.

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“Handling success, handling failure, being a consistent competitor, and I think ultimately when you see that you kind of flip that switch at times when you get behind or maybe you’re behind the eight ball or it’s a closer game than you expected,” Napier said.

This was surely a matchup that the Gators did not expect to be close as they entered the game 14-point road favorites. The Commodores broke a 26-game conference losing streak last week in a win over Kentucky, then followed it with their first back-to-back conference win since 2018 with their win over the Gators.

It’s safe to say that Florida may have underestimated their opponent last weekend, and hopefully for them, they don’t do the same this week as they face rival Florida State at Doak Campbell Stadium. The Seminoles are currently ranked No. 20 in the country and have put together four straight wins, and will definitely require a fast start if the Gators want to leave Tallahassee with a win.

“Those are the things that I’m talking about from a maturity standpoint as a team I think that’s a little bit of where we’re at. I think it’s a great question and one that I think about often,” Napier said.

The Gators face the Seminoles this Friday, in a matchup that kicks off at 7:30 p.m. and will air on ESPN.