UF athletic director Scott Stricklin (left) introduces Billy Napier, by way of University of Louisiana-Lafayette, during Sunday's news conference.
Notebook: Napier Takes Program Reins, Then Podium
Sunday, December 5, 2021 | Football
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By: Chris Harry and Julianna Reichenbach
FloridaGators.com writing intern Julianna Reichenbach contributed to this report.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Scott Stricklin knew the name Billy Napier, but the manner in which the Florida athletic director became more and more familiar with his future head football coach was purely organic.
As a member of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee, Stricklin got weekly intel on the University of Louisiana, a Group of Five program that kept showing up toward the bottom of the rankings. In time, Stricklin was one of two committee members assigned to study teams from the Sun Belt Conference, meaning the Ragin' Cajuns were always on his radar.
Stricklin did a deep dive into the program that had gone from a sub-.500 team to competition for league championships as soon as Napier arrived. He called up articles, watched YouTube videos and asked around about the ULL coach.
"It was interesting," Stricklin said. "I kept hearing certain descriptions over and over again. Words like, 'genuine,' 'authentic,' 'organized,' 'detailed,' 'disciplined,' 'methodical,' 'caring,' competitive,' 'hardworking,' 'thoughtful.' "
Throw "winner" in there, as well. In four seasons, Napier went 40-12 and Saturday night won the SBC Championship Game with a 24-16 defeat of Appalachian State that served as a walk-off and celebratory sendoff.
Less than 24 hours later, Napier was at the podium at the Gator Room in the southwest corner of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium laying out his vision as the 29th coach in UF history. Judging by his remarks — seemingly genuine, authentic, organized, etc. — the new Florida coach checked all the boxes his new boss envisioned.
"We're going to build the best football team in the [Southeastern] Conference. We're going to build the football program in the [Southeastern] Conference. We must have a championship approach in everything that we do to accomplish this goal. Every choice, every decision, every habit that we build along the way, we're going to begin with the ending in mind and that is to be a champion," said Napier, whose coaching track includes stints as an offensive coordinator with Clemson's Dabo Swinney (two national titles) and as an analyst and position coach for Nick Saban (seven national championships). "I've seen this done. I've experienced it myself. And I can promise you that we will all reap the benefits of this. It's important that everybody take ownership in their role, whatever that may be."
Billy Napier is greeted by a throng of fans Sunday outside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. (Photo: UAA Communications)
The Napier business model — and that is exactly what it will be — will be implemented, he said, because of a mega-commitment from the administration to provide the resources needed to chase and develop elite players.
As Napier put it: "This is a talent-acquisition business."
Finding the kind of talent that can compete with the likes of, say, Alabama and Georgia will require additional manpower to work in the $85 million Heavener Football Training Center currently under construction and scheduled for completion next summer.
Lots of extra manpower
"We're going to hire an army of people here. We're going to create an infrastructure not only in the personnel department but also in on-campus recruiting, creative media, Name, Image and Likeness. We've got a great vision for the organization that we're going to create here," he said. "We're the University of Florida. We've got a lot lot to sell here. I think the timing is right. I think the administration's willingness to invest in our vision and this organization that we're going to create, if you combine that with the resources that they're providing to hire an exceptional staff, I think that the new facility is going to give us an advantage that maybe we haven't had before here."
MODELING AFTER THE MASTER
Napier was fired from his post as offensive coordinator at Clemson in 2010, a turn of events that put him in a "very humbled place." His words.
But Saban offered a lifeline. A chance to come to Tuscaloosa and see how that machine operated. In time Napier not only was awed by amount of people and the production, but the efficiency of it all.
"I'd been in college football for 10 years at that point that [first] year I learned more than in learned in the previous 10, if that makes sense," he said.
It does. It's Alabama.
Eventually, Napier got a chance to implement the plan himself, albeit on a smaller scale at Louisiana.
"With less resources and putting your name on it, your spin on it, your brand on it," he said. "I think we've refined that process. Each year, we've gotten a little bit better at it, so I'm excited about applying those things we learned here."
On a bigger scale.
NEW FIRST FAMILY OF FLORIDA FOOTBALL
"She's the real MVP," Napier about his wife Ali. The Napier Family
Ali and mother Pam Napier sat in the front row. In between them sat Billy and Ali's three children: Annie, Sammy Nelson and Charlie. Despite being just 9, 7 and 5, respectively, the kids put on great (and quiet) performances as they colored "Florida" with crayons. Or, took a nap on Grandma's lap.
Someone in the audience remarked how well behaved the children were.
"This is an exception to the rule here, so you know," the coach snapped back.
Ali Napier described the past week as nothing less than a whirlwind. She's thankful for how kind the ULL community has been to them the last four years. Something she appreciates because not all teams may be so gracious toward a coach that is bolting town.
"We're leaving a really special place and coming to another special place," she said. "It's going to be a special holiday this year. We've got a lot to celebrate."
Billy said his mom Pam has played an instrumental role in his life. "I certainly wouldn't be here today without her and all that she's done for me."
The proud mom spoke about how growing up, her son, always a go-getter, spent immense time with football. Because head of the house was a football coach, the sport was always a topic of conversation with the dad and the three brothers.
"Dinner wasn't until 8:30, 9 o'clock every night because of football, which was fine," Pam said.
One brother might have a game on a Thursday, and Bill Napier may be coaching his team on Friday.
Every July, the family would take a summer vacation. One year there was a chopping board in the kitchen with X's and O's written all over it. Pam would always overhear them discussing football plays.
No, that won't work.
What about this play?
The little kids would eventually clip their photos to the bottom of the board too.
Then along came the brothers' younger sister Whitney, who the family joked could play quarterback for their team.
Pam said she has been blessed with Billy and all of her children.
"A great kid. All of them. God was good."
Through challenging times, Billy would pray every night upon Pam's advice, and now things have fallen into place.
The elder Napier died of ALS in 2017. When asked about his father Sunday, Billy chose his words carefully, trying his best not to get emotional. His dad taught Billy about about people, and that football is a great game that's about the people who play it.
What would his father, if he was here, say about this incredible day? About his son taking questions about his vision for Florida football with a giant Gator logo in the background?
Before meeting with the media, Napier had a meeting with his new players. It lasted about 30 minutes, which the coach admitted was not enough time to get their buy-in. No, that'll take consistency, an element of fairness across the board, and building trust and respect from both sides.
"I know they went through a tough time. That there's uncertainty, [and] that they've been through a very difficult experience. There's nothing easy about this. They're young people and that makes it even more difficult," he said. "I just wanted them to know we're going to work hard for them and that I want them to know a little bit about me. I told them that I think football is a game of people, strategy and competition. The most important part of the game is the people. That starts with the players."
He wasn't done.
"Everything that we do is going to be about helping them, serving them, trying to help them improve as people, prioritizing their education. And helping them develop as football players. Chase their dreams and accomplish the things as individual players and certainly as a team."
