Gators football coach Billy Napier is greeted by fans at the O'Dome on Wednesday night. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)
Napier Urges Fans To Join Gators On Road Ahead
Wednesday, January 5, 2022 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — On the one-month anniversary of his introductory press conference, UF football coach Billy Napier walked across Gale Lemerand Drive on Wednesday night to Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center.
Napier had a halftime appointment to keep during the Gators-Alabama men's basketball game.
The crowd roared when the 42-year-old Napier was introduced and gave him a standing ovation. When it was time for Napier to say a few words, he urged the fans in attendance to keep the energy up in the second half, and when football season arrives, to make their way over to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium to help out in his first year on the job.
"That's enough about me. Listen, I want everybody to know how humbling that is. I want you to know how important it is to me to represent you the right way,'' Napier opened. "I wish that my wife Ali and my three kids could have been here to experience that moment right there.
"You will quickly find this out, it's not about me. It's going to be about our football team. Why am I here today? I'm here to encourage you. I want you to know you have a role. You're a member of the team. You're going to contribute to our success. We are going to need the same energy next fall in the Swamp."
Since taking over the program Dec. 5, Napier has been busy assembling his coaching staff and extended support staff. He met with the team Tuesday afternoon and urged the players to forget about the past and focus on building a better program one day at a time.
Napier said the Gators start Phase I of their offseason program in 12 days and that he and his staff plan to put in the work to succeed.
"It's important for you to understand we are going to do things with class,'' he said. "We are going to do things with integrity. We are going build young men with character. We're going to try to have a place where we change the future of young men's lives."
Napier was hired to replace Dan Mullen after going 40-12 in four seasons at Louisiana. He led the Ragin' Cajuns to a victory over Appalachian State in the Sun Belt Conference Championship Game on Dec. 4 and the next day, flew to Gainesville with his family to be introduced to Gator Nation.
Napier shared part of his message to the Gators with the crowd Wednesday.
"We wake up every day, we have a choice to make,'' he said. "We get to decide our future with our habits, our work ethic, our self discipline, our effort, our toughness, our belief we can do it."
As Napier spoke, someone in the crowd yelled, "I believe."
"I believe, too,'' Napier responded.
Let the rebuild begin.
"We've got a lot work to do,'' he said. "Our staff is hard at work. We are going to work hard and enjoy this journey."
Napier had a halftime appointment to keep during the Gators-Alabama men's basketball game.
The crowd roared when the 42-year-old Napier was introduced and gave him a standing ovation. When it was time for Napier to say a few words, he urged the fans in attendance to keep the energy up in the second half, and when football season arrives, to make their way over to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium to help out in his first year on the job.
"That's enough about me. Listen, I want everybody to know how humbling that is. I want you to know how important it is to me to represent you the right way,'' Napier opened. "I wish that my wife Ali and my three kids could have been here to experience that moment right there.
"You will quickly find this out, it's not about me. It's going to be about our football team. Why am I here today? I'm here to encourage you. I want you to know you have a role. You're a member of the team. You're going to contribute to our success. We are going to need the same energy next fall in the Swamp."
#Gators HC Billy Napier talks to fans at O'Dome 1/3 pic.twitter.com/6xvCMRFP9e
— Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) January 6, 2022
Since taking over the program Dec. 5, Napier has been busy assembling his coaching staff and extended support staff. He met with the team Tuesday afternoon and urged the players to forget about the past and focus on building a better program one day at a time.
Napier said the Gators start Phase I of their offseason program in 12 days and that he and his staff plan to put in the work to succeed.
"It's important for you to understand we are going to do things with class,'' he said. "We are going to do things with integrity. We are going build young men with character. We're going to try to have a place where we change the future of young men's lives."
Napier was hired to replace Dan Mullen after going 40-12 in four seasons at Louisiana. He led the Ragin' Cajuns to a victory over Appalachian State in the Sun Belt Conference Championship Game on Dec. 4 and the next day, flew to Gainesville with his family to be introduced to Gator Nation.
Napier shared part of his message to the Gators with the crowd Wednesday.
"We wake up every day, we have a choice to make,'' he said. "We get to decide our future with our habits, our work ethic, our self discipline, our effort, our toughness, our belief we can do it."
As Napier spoke, someone in the crowd yelled, "I believe."
"I believe, too,'' Napier responded.
Let the rebuild begin.
"We've got a lot work to do,'' he said. "Our staff is hard at work. We are going to work hard and enjoy this journey."
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