- Jun 18, 2014
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The Zooker has weighed in:
Ex-UF coach Ron Zook: Gators must ‘have patience’ with Billy Napier | Commentary
When Billy Napier was hired, AD Scott Stricklin gave him 7-year contract instead of the standard 5-year deal. Why? Because Stricklin knew Napier was taking over a mess and wanted to give him ample …www.orlandosentinel.com
None other than former UF coach Ron Zook, who was fired after only 2½ seasons (but not before recruiting 21 of the 22 starters on successor Urban Meyer’s first national championship team in Gainesville), had a message for Gator Nation when I talked to him on Wednesday.
“If you want the program built the right way, you’ve got to give the guy [Napier] some time,” Zook said. “I know Gator fans don’t want to hear it, but you’ve got to have some patience.”
The bottom line is this: Unless the Gators finish with, say, an abysmal 3-9 record and the bottom completely falls out of the program in Napier’s third year next season, I believe Stricklin will give him four full years.
Stricklin, although he hasn’t spoken publicly in recent weeks about the progress of the program under Napier, hinted during the summer that he expected this would be a trying season.
“I don’t see any way that Billy won’t be successful,” Stricklin said then. “It just may take a little longer than some people want it to take.” …
Mood:
