Billy Napier explains where Florida stands entering its bye, why 'humility' is important moving forward

Florida might be performing a bit better than expectations at the moment. Heading into the bye week, Billy Napier has his team sitting with a 5-2 record and 3-1 against SEC opponents. Sure, the Kentucky loss was disappointing but winning can cure a lot, especially in comeback fashion on the road vs. South Carolina.

While the Georgia game is on the horizon, Napier is focusing on Florida this week. His goal is to make sure everybody is able to stay humble, citing a quote from UCLA men’s basketball coach Mick Cronin. There are a few tough games remaining on the schedule and getting big-headed would not be the right mindset.

“We’re right in the middle of that growth is what I would say,” Napier said during Wednesday’s SEC Coaches Teleconference. “We’re going to find out what we’re made of here in the back half. It’s important that we keep humility. I was reading earlier today — Mick Cronin, the UCLA basketball coach, said ‘Show me a guy that’s not humble and I’ll show you a guy that’s getting ready to be humbled.”

There has maybe already been some humility handed out to Florida this season. Continuing a long winning streak against Tennessee at the Swamp was not a game many expected them to come out victorious. Just two weeks later, Kentucky won convincingly and took any confidence in the program Napier built up.

One moment, Florida could be on top of the world. And then the very next, they are back to having struggles and questions popping up. Napier is trying to make sure his players focus on the “big picture approach.”

“I think it’s important for us — we have to view where we’re at based on the entire experience and not just the last week’s experience,” Napier said. “Keeping the big-picture approach, your team is close to being below average and really close to being really good.

“I think we’ve proven that this year. So, we’re yet to play a complete game and I think we’re still pursuing that.”

Billy Napier evaluates Florida’s chemistry through seven games

Florida could have a bit of a run of them. Of course, the Georgia game is going to have a ton of eyeballs, potentially setting up to be a program-defining win for Napier. But once past Jacksonville, there are still huge tests against LSU, Missouri, and Florida State — three current top 20 teams.

If the Gators are going to win any of those, they are going to have excellent chemistry down the stretch. Thankfully, Napier likes where that stands at the moment, with the bye week providing the opportunity to only grow.

“We have a bunch of new faces and new players that are in their first year at Florida that I do think are getting better at preparing and practicing,” Napier said. “I like this group. They’re fun to be around, fun to coach.

“And I think the key is that we continue to work hard, that we stay humble, that we continue to seek improvement, continue to learn. We got to think big and I think this group is close-knit. They got chemistry and I think those are qualities of a good football team.”