GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Gators could use a hug on homecoming.
The question is whether Vanderbilt will cooperate like so many times in the past when the Commodores visit The Swamp on Saturday afternoon.
Florida (3-2, 1-1), coming off a 33-14 loss at Kentucky, needs a win to regain its footing and quiet a fan base that has spent the past week harping on what ails the team. Second-year UF coach
Billy Napier hears the criticism and knows there is only one way to turn it off: a victory.
"At this point, it's all about action,'' Napier said following Wednesday night's practice. "We can talk about all these things until we're blue in the face. We want to see actions and we want to see the right attitude."
Napier liked what he saw Wednesday, crediting the Gators for the competitive nature and energy. The Gators had built momentum heading into the Kentucky game with a three-game winning streak, their first since Napier took over the program in 2022.
However, the Wildcats controlled the game from the start for a third consecutive win in the series. Both Florida losses have come on the road, so a return to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium comes at the right time.
The Gators are 8-2 at The Swamp under Napier.
Napier is ready to return to the sideline and put the past week to rest, once again acknowledging the criticism in perhaps his most challenging week since he arrived at Florida.
"It's part of the job. It's what you sign up for," he said. "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 watch Napier's entire press conference, check out the video below:
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