'Tired of Talking About It': Billy Napier, Florida Moving On From Letdown Loss

Billy Napier and the Gators are moving on, setting their sights on Florida vs. Vanderbilt after UF's letdown loss to Kentucky.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Billy Napier doesn't want to talk about Florida's loss to Kentucky anymore.

The extent of the Wildcats' dismantling of the Gators in Week 5 has been an elephant in "the Gator Room" where Napier addresses reporters twice weekly during the season. His Monday press conference was littered with questions not only pertaining to the defeat, but also the direction of the program under his leadership, to which Napier suggested, "When we win, nobody asks us questions." 

Hoping to secure his sixth win against a Power 5 opponent in what will be his 15th try as the Gators' head coach, Napier on Wednesday tried to steer the conversation toward Florida's Saturday homecoming matchup with Vanderbilt. 

"Ultimately. tired of talking about it. I know you guys are too," Napier remarked in his opening statement. "So at this point, it’s all about action, and it’s about our attitude. 

"We can talk about all these things until we’re blue in the face, right, we want to see actions and we want to see the right attitude, and ultimately Saturday at 4 o’clock we play Vanderbilt and it presents that opportunity."

Although — understandably from his position — Napier wants the Gators to put the beating behind them, he admitted to his understanding that facing questions and criticism from the outside for the team's performance comes with a head coaching gig, especially following showings like Florida's in Week 5.

“It’s part of the job. It’s what you sign up for," Napier acknowledged. 

"Look, we get to coach football for a living. We’re well compensated. If we don’t do well, we deserve to be criticized. Did we think it wasn’t going to be that way? I think ultimately, it is what it is. I would like to think my standards and our standards are more demanding than anyone from the outside to some degree."

But talking about the past, Napier believes, won't aid the Gators in their future endeavors. "This is 2023," Napier rebuffed a reporter who referenced Florida's 2022 loss to Vanderbilt on Monday, and his same thought process applies in the short term as Florida turns the page to its matchup with the Commodores in Week 6. 

In describing the loss to Kentucky previously, Napier stated his belief that Florida's issues — like missing tackles, not executing in the rushing game and committing penalties and special teams mistakes — are "technical" and correctable with his consistent football evaluation and development process. 

Napier has made similar comments about Florida's shortcomings displayed in other games this season and last. He reiterated the idea on Wednesday and shared his appreciation for the team's approach to practice earlier in the day.

"Good energy out there today," Napier described the Gators' Wednesday practice. "I thought we flew around. Certainly finished strong, thought it was competitive, especially the good-on-good periods. We had some four-point play work, we did some team run, 7-on, some move-the-field at the end. It was a spirited day.

"We control our work and we control our attitude toward the work," he added. "We need to come up with solutions. We have to be solution-oriented. I’m hopeful we can do that.”

Napier aims to stack spirited days in advance of the Gators' homecoming bout.

"We play Vanderbilt Saturday at 4 o’clock," Napier depicted. "That’s our next opportunity, so that’s what we’re focused on.”

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