Week 11 Epilogue: Napier Walking And Chewing Gum, Momentum, Final Predictions

The Florida Gators football team (now 6-4), have won two games in a row and set many first-year milestones under head-coach Billy Napier. Florida, in week 10, bombarded the Texas A&M Aggies in College Station with a 41-24 tromp against Jimbo Fisher. Before this game, Fisher held an 8-1 record vs the Gators with seven of those wins being at FSU. So, obviously, it feels good to defeat a rival coach whose owned your program for many years. Adding on to the feel good moments; a week later, Florida absolutely trounced South Carolina 38-6 in the Swamp's final home game.

Both of these wins weren't just quality SEC victories sprinkled in with spurts of domination and player improvement, they were feel good wins that can help jump start the confidence and trajectory of a program. This program started 1-4 in the SEC with these two games expecting to likely be losses. The players and coaching staff could've mailed in the season and go all in on next year, but that's not how they did it. Billy Napier and the coaching staff did make some changes for the future as edge rusher Brenton Cox was released from the team on Halloween morning. Also a couple of Gators hit the senior day festivities early like WR Trent Whittemore, who hasn't had a catch since Oct 2nd.

Adding to the fact of the matter, linebacker Diwun Black was just dismissed from the team on Wednesday. Of course these aren't impulsive choices made by coach Napier, these are decisions that sting right when you do them but end up bettering and thinning out a program with a lot of weeds. Napier is just simply pulling the weeds with care, enough so they still have their roots to grow under.

But the fact that the Florida Gators, under a first-year coach, can clean out a mess left by the previous coach and acquire two quality wins at the same time shows plentiful progress. It's very rare for a new coach to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time, and it really makes me think; What would our record be if we had zero waste to clean out? Furthermore, Napier is walking, chewing gum, AND talking on the phone at the same time. (with your friendly neighborhood recruit) Which, being completely honest, this is something I can't think of a coach doing in year one.

The first couple months may have been frustrating, heartbreaking, and overall disappointing. But it should feel even better to see a team and coaching staff that is trending upwards during the final month of the season. This carries tons of momentum into the signing days in December and February, which adds a pile of excitement into next season. Momentum takes a lot to gain but not much to lose. So when the Florida Gators enter Doak Campbell Stadium on Black Friday to face the Florida State Seminoles, they need to realize how big this game is for the season to feel like something more was accomplished.

Obviously Florida has bigger aspirations than an 8-4 season, we know that. But to me, 8-4 sounds a lot better than 7-5, especially having a win against a rival under the belt. This season would not feel like a success with another loss to a cutthroat rival like the Seminoles furthering the losses to include Tennessee, Georgia, LSU, and Kentucky. But it's also imperative the Gators don't overlook Vanderbilt in the cold weather of Nashville.

Last time Florida faced Vanderbilt under a first year coach in Nashville was in 2018 and the Gators started off down 21-3 with it looking like Vandy would pull off the upset. Thankfully Florida made the comeback and ended up winning 37-27. I know this was Dan Mullen, but this performance shows how you can't prepare less for an SEC road game. Though I do trust Napier and the fact that this game won't end up as such; give me the Gators 34-20.

As with Florida State, a team we have handled since 2018, this game will be a lot more physical and intimidating for Florida. This really depends on what Gator team shows up. Anthony Richardson has gone four games without a turnover, the Gators running game has vastly evolved with long and physical rushes, and the defense has stood its ground the last six quarters. I don't see the Gators backing down; Florida wins in a sloppy game at Tallahassee, 31-30.

BOTTOM LINE: Here we go, the home stretch. The time of the year where every game is cherished but also sweated out. November should at least be decent for the Gators, but it can be great with two more wins to make this a "November to remember." How many fanbases can the Gators silence this month? Let's make it three, ensuring Florida as state champions. Anyway, we'll see what happens in the Week 13 Epilogue, the final countdown.

NEXT EDITORIAL: Week 13 Epilogue: The Final Countdown - Nov 27 or Dec 1