Urban Meyer gives Billy Napier advice on dealing with pressure from Florida fans
Things are tense in Gainesville following Florida‘s third straight losing season, the second under coach Billy Napier.
Fans are on edge, wondering when the program will get back to competing for SEC and national titles. After all, it wasn’t that long ago that Florida was in Atlanta playing for an SEC Championship.
That happened in 2020 before the wheels fell off late in the Dan Mullen era. And the way things are going, it feels like something similar could happen to Napier if not for a fairly swift turnaround.
“Billy Napier and his staff, is there pressure on him?” FOX analyst and former Florida coach Urban Meyer said. “Hell yeah there is, but that comes with the job. I would not panic if I’m the coaching staff.”
Meyer provided a lengthy blueprint of the advice he’d give to Napier and his staff on an appearance on the Buddy Martin Show recently. One thing he isn’t doing? Making excuses for Napier.
“First of all Florida fans have the right to be upset,” Napier said. “They’re fans. Florida is an elite place. Ohio State fans are really upset they’re 11-1. Florida State fans are losing their mind because they’re not in the playoff. That’s what makes this great.”
Still, there’s a considerable deal of angst for a program that has done reasonably well in the NCAA transfer portal since Napier took over and currently sits with the nation’s No. 5 recruiting class in 2024.
That just goes to show the intensity of the job at Florida. Even when things are going well there are often criticisms thrown at the coach or the program.
Meyer explained how he dealt with that as a coach.
“I would always try to temper myself and make sure our players and everybody knew, say there’s a reason why we have these nice facilities, I guess there’s NIL now, it’s because of fans,” Meyer said. “Just be careful. Just take it and deal with it because no one’s making the coaching staff stay at Florida, if you know what I mean. There’s plenty of places where you can go and mediocrity is accepted. And that’s not, Florida’s not one of them.”
Meyer got better later on in his coaching career at tuning out the noise. He admits that was a bit of a problem for him when he was coaching the orange and blue to multiple national championships.
He had to constantly remind himself that the outside noise was just that. Outside.
“And I would always tell myself that, but as I’m reminding myself that I would share with our team, saying, ‘I will help you go wherever you want to go if you don’t like this, this is too much for you,'” Meyer said. “‘If it’s too much for you I’ll sign your transfer papers right now and you can go. That includes our coaching staff. But as long as you’re here you’re expected to be the very best in the country at what you do. If that does not fit your job description, you can leave, and I’ll help you. That does not make you a bad person. Pay your taxes, be a good guy, but get out of here because this is what’s expected if you’re not the very best in the coaches at what you do.’
“That would be my message to the Florida Gators.”
So for Billy Napier and company, it’s all about sticking to their vision and grinding forward. Eventually the wins will have to come, no doubt. Until then, though, a steadfast resolve is required.
“I keep hearing about the process, the plan that he has,” Meyer said. “It’s got to at some point get going, but I would not panic if I’m him. I’d just keep grinding. Just keep your head down and do the very best you can.”