Steve Spurrier reacts to Florida firing Billy Napier

Florida made the move to fire coach Billy Napier even after beating Mississippi State this weekend. While the move wasn’t necessarily a shock, many around the Gator Nation reacted differently. Including Steve Spurrier.

Spurrier took little joy in the move, though he seemed to understand it. He opened up on the firing.

“It was sad to hear, but it wasn’t a shock I don’t think,” Spurrier said on Another Dooley Noted Podcast. “Coaches, they’re as good as their record, and unfortunately Billy’s record wasn’t all that good. In four years, not just this year. Our management, our AD and president, whoever, thought it was time to go ahead and make a change.”

Following the 23-21 win, Napier was greeted with chants for his firing as he walked off the field. Steve Spurrier was blunt about that.

“That’s not good after a win,” he said. And there were some errors to pick apart in the win.

Perplexingly, Florida opted to call a rollout behind the line of scrimmage for quarterback DJ Lagway on a key third-and-1 late in the second half while trying to run the clock out on the win. That, despite the fact that running back Jadan Baugh was having a huge game.

Lagway was taken down for a loss and Florida had to punt it away. It gave Mississippi State a chance at the win.

“Jadan Baugh, 150 yards and we don’t give it to him third-and-1,” Steve Spurrier said. “Some kind of play, not necessarily up the middle, but around the ends or whatever. I would hope he could have made some first downs there to eat the clock up. But anyway, it’s history now. We got a win. We’ll be looking for a new coach.”

Florida secured the win a few minutes later, but not before giving fans a near heart attack. Mississippi State quickly drove into field goal range, trailing by only two points.

Only then did quarterback Blake Shapen drop to pass. And he missed a defender, Florida defensive lineman Michai Boireau, dropping into coverage.

“I don’t think their quarterback saw him, but they threw it right to our guy who made a nice catch,” Spurrier said. “Got down, didn’t try to run and fumble or anything. So that saved our victory.”

Steve Spurrier was happy enough to focus on the positives from the weekend, despite the Napier firing. And any time you win, that’s a pretty big positive.

“We did beat Mississippi State, although we made some errors during the game that almost cost us,” Spurrier said. “Fortunately Trey Smack, a field goal guy, made three in a row, and we won by two points. Then fortunately they threw the ball to our defensive tackle to end the game. That was a heck of a play by him. He dropped. Good call by our D-coordinator, I guess, also.”