Billy Napier Addresses Florida's Change in Week 1 Travel Plans

Florida has shifted its Utah travel schedule as Hurricane Idalia strengthens in the Gulf of Mexico.

Photo: Billy Napier; Credit: Zach Goodall

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Expected to continue intensifying in the Gulf of Mexico and make landfall in Florida on Wednesday, Hurricane Idalia forced the Gators to adjust their meticulously planned trip to Salt Lake City, Utah, for this week's season-opener against the Utes. 

Head coach Billy Napier shared on Monday that Florida will fly to Dallas, Texas, following the team's practice in Gainesville on Tuesday. The team will stay in Texas overnight, then travel to Utah on Wednesday on a schedule similar to its previous plan.

"A lot of moving parts here, when you start talking about moving 100-plus people across the country," Napier said. "So, we will practice tomorrow, we will fly the Dallas and spend the night in Dallas, execute our Friday routine in Dallas, and then fly into Utah. We anticipate arriving at the exact same time that we planned originally." 

Florida's initial itinerary called for landing at approximately 5 p.m. MT in Salt Lake City, less than 24 hours ahead of the pre-game warmup window for Thursday's Week 1 matchup, in an attempt to skirt the theorized 10-day elevation acclimation process to the area. The University of Utah is 4,783 feet above sea level. 

RELATED: Florida's Plan to Deal With Utah's Altitude? "Get In, Get Out" 

Napier thanked Florida's director of football operations, Josh Thompson, and several members of the University Athletic Association for quickly shifting the Gators' travel schedule back a day and establishing a connection city roughly halfway to the destination.

At one point, finding a hotel suitable to house an entire football program on 48 hours' notice presented logistical issues, but those were resolved according to Napier, and the team will rely on football connections to locate a practice facility for Tuesday. 

"This could end up being a positive," Napier suggested. "We break the flight up. We get the players and the staff into Dallas, get a good night's rest, a little extra focus, and then obviously get to spend some more time together. So, [I] see that being positive." 

Although the Gators will be out of the state when Idalia touches land, unlike the last event, Napier and his squad have recent experience editing their game-week schedule due to extreme tropical weather.

Florida was forced to move its Week 5 matchup of the 2022 season, a home game against Eastern Washington, back 24 hours as a result of Hurricane Ian's acceleration toward the state at the time. It was played Sunday, Oct. 2.

The typhoon made landfall in Cayo Costa and the Fort Myers area as a Category 4 hurricane on Sept. 28, 2022, and ravaged its way across the state, causing 161 fatalities. 

"All of our thoughts and prayers are with the people that may have exposure to the hurricane that's heading this way," Napier said about Idalia. "Obviously, you know, not only our guys and our players and staff and their families, but people across the state. 

"Having been to Fort Myers this past spring, there's no question that we understand the implications of that."

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