Billy Napier baffles Louis Riddick, ESPN broadcast with timeout, saving Texas time for comeback

A bizarre sequence in the game between Florida and Texas in the fourth quarter confused the ESPN broadcast crew. And countless numbers of Gators fans watching the game. After a player lost his helmet on a play late in the quarter, coach Billy Napier opted to call a timeout to avoid a 10-second run-off.

However, Florida was leading 29-21 at the time and was trying to kill the clock. Presumably the run-off would have greatly benefited the Gators. Even the announcers were confused with Napier’s decision.

“A player lost a helmet on the field, under two minutes to go,” commentator Bob Wischusen said. “A timeout has been called now by Florida. Florida is using a timeout here to avoid the 10-second run-off and that gives more time to Texas? And it’s third down?”

The booth sat stunned for a second, then commentator Louis Riddick also chimed in. He was equally confused.

“I wonder what Billy Napier is thinking here,” Riddick said. “I don’t understand any of that,” Wischusen replied.

Riddick would further go into an explanation about the players involved. He continued.

“I think it was Austin Barber, the left tackle, saw him hit the ground and he was kind of like reaching for his face,” Riddick said. “You can see him there on the sideline now putting his helmet back on. Time is something that is not on Texas’ side. You don’t want to preserve it for them.”

“They just did!” Wischusen said incredulously. Riddick immediately chimed back in.

“I know, that’s what I’m saying,” Riddick said. “This doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. It will be interesting to see what Billy Napier’s thinking is here. Unless he’s just so confident he’s going to pick up this third down here and seal the game that way. He wants to talk it over maybe and come up with the right call. Say, hey, look, we want to preserve our field position. We think we’re just going to end this game right here.

“I don’t know. That’s an interesting one. That’s an interesting one. That’ll be something I’m sure he’ll be asked about.'”

Florida would not convert on the third down in question, having to punt the ball back to Texas. Instead of Texas getting the ball back with about 44 seconds remaining, it got the ball with 54 seconds.

Regardless, Florida held on. The Gators won 29-21 upsetting the Longhorns in the Swamp. But Billy Napier is likely to face some questions afterward about his confusing clock management decision.