Napier Comments on Graham Mertz at SEC Media Days

[lagator]

Also transcript of entire press conference.

Florida's Napier speaks at 2024 SEC Football Media Days - Southeastern Conference

Comprehensive coverage of SEC football, basketball, baseball and more, including live games, scores, schedules, standings and news

www.secsports.com

 

[Spurdog98]

I think Mertz has a chance to be the best QB in the SEC this year and maybe the country.

 

[AuggieDosta]

I think Mertz has a chance to be the best QB in the SEC this year and maybe the country.

 

[Gatormac2112]

The first 11 paragraphs were Billy on his knees

 

[soflagator]

The positives:

—He’s not shying away from saying this is a really good team, similar to last year. Now, obviously he was wrong then, but he’s not making excuses in advance(not there at least). I respected it then, and I respect it now.

—I didn’t catch one “right?” In all his sentences. That may seem minor, but it gives me the impression he is losing the nervousness and is becoming comfortable. Hopefully that translates to his coaching as well.

—I do think Mertz can be really good this year, and as crazy as this would’ve sounded 18 months ago, if Napier ends up being successful here, it will likely be because of him.

The negatives:

—Saying O’Hara has done a good job with the QBs and works hard is more disingenuous speech. That guy is less useful than the person pouring Gatorade. There’s video evidence of AR going to the sidelines after a bad series and O’Hara just handing him an IPad, not saying a word and going back to sitting and watching with his feet up. I think he’s on IG most of the game.

—The “extra layer of expertise” comment about STs is also a joke. There wasn’t one to begin with and he’s still insisting on taking that argument to the mat, which isn’t a comforting sign.

—Talking about building culture and infrastructure at this point is silly. We’ve lost nearly as many players he brought in as we’ve retained. That’s not building culture, and whatever it is it seems too many kids aren’t buying in. Either way, no one cares about that at this point. It’s nearly 3 years since you first hit us with that and it’s time for results. That, as I mentioned above, does feel like a measure of preemptive excuse making.

 

[Spurdog98]

The girl over his R shoulder, who is her grandfather?

 

[lagator]

The positives:

—He’s not shying away from saying this is a really good team, similar to last year. Now, obviously he was wrong then, but he’s not making excuses in advance(not there at least). I respected it then, and I respect it now.

—I didn’t catch one “right?” In all his sentences. That may seem minor, but it gives me the impression he is losing the nervousness and is becoming comfortable. Hopefully that translates to his coaching as well.

—I do think Mertz can be really good this year, and as crazy as this would’ve sounded 18 months ago, if Napier ends up being successful here, it will likely be because of him.

The negatives:

—Saying O’Hara has done a good job with the QBs and works hard is more disingenuous speech. That guy is less useful than the person pouring Gatorade. There’s video evidence of AR going to the sidelines after a bad series and O’Hara just handing him an IPad, not saying a word and going back to sitting and watching with his feet up. I think he’s on IG most of the game.

—The “extra layer of expertise” comment about STs is also a joke. There wasn’t one to begin with and he’s still insisting on taking that argument to the mat, which isn’t a comforting sign.

—Talking about building culture and infrastructure at this point is silly. We’ve lost nearly as many players he brought in as we’ve retained. That’s not building culture, and whatever it is it seems too many kids aren’t buying in. Either way, no one cares about that at this point. It’s nearly 3 years since you first hit us with that and it’s time for results. That, as I mentioned above, does feel like a measure of preemptive excuse making.

Good points. But when it comes down to it he sounds like the same loser talking about process vs outcomes and hoping to be close in the 4th Q. In addition to being a subpar coach, he has no killer instinct. He’s very comfortable losing which guarantees he will always be a loser.

“I think you've got to get consumed with the process, not the outcome, to some degree, and the thing that I would say with conviction is we have been very close. We've played in a lot of close games. We've got to learn how to close those games out, and I think that's where the leadership and experience of this team -- we have to leverage that experience, the lessons that we've learned, get in position in the fourth quarter and close those games out consistently.”

 

[AuggieDosta]

The girl over his R shoulder, who is her grandfather?

With eyes like that, gotta be Elvis.

 

[soflagator]

Good points. But when it comes down to it he sounds like the same loser talking about process vs outcomes and hoping to be close in the 4th Q. In addition to being a subpar coach, he has no killer instinct. He’s very comfortable losing which guarantees he will always be a loser.

“I think you've got to get consumed with the process, not the outcome, to some degree, and the thing that I would say with conviction is we have been very close. We've played in a lot of close games. We've got to learn how to close those games out, and I think that's where the leadership and experience of this team -- we have to leverage that experience, the lessons that we've learned, get in position in the fourth quarter and close those games out consistently.”

Now do Spurrier’s comments during the Gridiron Greats replay of the famous ‘97 fsu game. While everyone else is rightly celebrating how much of an epic upset it was and talking about the final two series, he quickly pivots to our not win any championships that season as a result of losses to Lsu and uga earlier in the year. Or listen to his onfield interview moments after winning the SECCG in ‘94 where he’s critical of Eddie Lake for intercepting the game sealing 4th down pass, then returning it(with Spurrier visibly yelling to “get down”) instead of just batting the pass down. Thats what a winner sounds like.

As has been said, it’s 2024 and we’ll know shortly what we have. Maybe it all works and we spend the year praising Napier while Ox gives us all the business, dredging up old posts(another move frowned upon here). Not sure I see that yet, but if that’s trade-off, I’m in.

 

[TheDouglas78]

Now do Spurrier’s comments during the Gridiron Greats replay of the famous ‘97 fsu game. While everyone else is rightly celebrating how much of an epic upset it was and talking about the final two series, he quickly pivots to our not win any championships that season as a result of losses to Lsu and uga earlier in the year. Or listen to his onfield interview moments after winning the SECCG in ‘94 where he’s critical of Eddie Lake for intercepting the game sealing 4th down pass, then returning it(with Spurrier visibly yelling to “get down”) instead of just batting the pass down. Thats what a winner sounds like.

As has been said, it’s 2024 and we’ll know shortly what we have. Maybe it all works and we spend the year praising Napier while Ox gives us all the business, dredging up old posts(another move frowned upon here). Not sure I see that yet, but if that’s trade-off, I’m in.

No one in the history of this board has kept receipts on previous posts. Ever... I mean it's like someone would remember that Sofla's favorite Eagle was Carson Wentz. Or Urg was 6th in line for plowing Snow White on a nightly basis. I mean no one remembers DG's love of Homeless ass tasting beer, or the fact that our resident skin-flutist asked him "how does he know what homeless ass tastes like". No one on this board every keeps the receipts.

 

[revgator]

I have to point out one of the dumbest group of words that came out of Billy's mouth ...

"Look, the great thing about our schedule, we don't have to take this on as individuals. We get to do this as a team."

...Seriously? First of all that's a non answer and secondly it's a freaking Team Sport! It's not like he's a gymnastics coach or a golf coach and the success of the "team" is based on each individual performance. It's literally a team sport, which requires the coordination of multiple individuals working together.

Billy remind me of the "mysterious" character in Mystery Men:

• [Mr. Furious tries to balance a hammer on his head]
  Mr. Furious : Why am I doing this, again?
  The Sphinx : When you can balance a tack hammer on your head, you will head off your foes with a balanced attack.
  Mr. Furious : And why am I wearing the watermelon on my feet?
  The Sphinx : [looks at the watermelon on Mr. Furious' feet] I don't remember telling you to do that.

 

[soflagator]

I have to point out one of the dumbest group of words that came out of Billy's mouth ...

"Look, the great thing about our schedule, we don't have to take this on as individuals. We get to do this as a team."

...Seriously? First of all that's a non answer and secondly it's a freaking Team Sport! It's not like he's a gymnastics coach or a golf coach and the success of the "team" is based on each individual performance. It's literally a team sport, which requires the coordination of multiple individuals working together.

Billy remind me of the "mysterious" character in Mystery Men:

• [Mr. Furious tries to balance a hammer on his head]
  Mr. Furious : Why am I doing this, again?
  The Sphinx : When you can balance a tack hammer on your head, you will head off your foes with a balanced attack.
  Mr. Furious : And why am I wearing the watermelon on my feet?
  The Sphinx : [looks at the watermelon on Mr. Furious' feet] I don't remember telling you to do that.

I saw that too.

Though the optimist in me says that maybe previous schedules were in fact different and had to be taken on as individuals, therefore the results.

Either way great post from you. The best part about it was that it wasn’t blank. It contained words.

 

[Spurdog98]

With eyes like that, gotta be Elvis.

Have you seen her in The Girlfriend Experience?

 

[AuggieDosta]

Have you seen her in The Girlfriend Experience?

No, I haven't. But now I'm looking fwd to watching that. Thx.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Though the optimist in me says that maybe previous schedules were in fact different and had to be taken on as individuals, therefore the results.

Yes...... And no. If that makes sense, right?

 

[Silverback Gator]

Good points. But when it comes down to it he sounds like the same loser talking about process vs outcomes and hoping to be close in the 4th Q. In addition to being a subpar coach, he has no killer instinct. He’s very comfortable losing which guarantees he will always be a loser.

“I think you've got to get consumed with the process, not the outcome, to some degree, and the thing that I would say with conviction is we have been very close. We've played in a lot of close games. We've got to learn how to close those games out, and I think that's where the leadership and experience of this team -- we have to leverage that experience, the lessons that we've learned, get in position in the fourth quarter and close those games out consistently.”

Meh, kind of sounds like he's blaming players. I realize he doesn't mean it that way but would rather hear him echo something that indicts his staff for their ****ttty game management that cost his players a couple of wins. Still want to know WTH Mark Hocke's value is to our success or if he took a major pay cut to be a cheerleader in the weight room. Billy is a weird dude. Don't think he really gets it. But, okay.

 

[Durty South Swamp]

Good points. But when it comes down to it he sounds like the same loser talking about process vs outcomes and hoping to be close in the 4th Q. In addition to being a subpar coach, he has no killer instinct. He’s very comfortable losing which guarantees he will always be a loser.

“I think you've got to get consumed with the process, not the outcome, to some degree, and the thing that I would say with conviction is we have been very close. We've played in a lot of close games. We've got to learn how to close those games out, and I think that's where the leadership and experience of this team -- we have to leverage that experience, the lessons that we've learned, get in position in the fourth quarter and close those games out consistently.”

The fact that he really believes "we've been very close" is by far the most concerning issue. We have absolutely sucked like t's mom on 2 dollar Tuesday for the last 2 seasons. The only thing we've been very close to is the bottom of the drain.

I'd have slight hope if he had said, we've been abjectly awful the past few seasons and that's heavily on me, but that time has come and gone. Instead we get the same crap as before, oh we're right where we expect to be, trust the process.

His process blows ass.

 

[TheDouglas78]

The fact that he really believes "we've been very close" is by far the most concerning issue. We have absolutely sucked like t's mom on 2 dollar Tuesday for the last 2 seasons. The only thing we've been very close to is the bottom of the drain.

I'd have slight hope if he had said, we've been abjectly awful the past few seasons and that's heavily on me, but that time has come and gone. Instead we get the same crap as before, oh we're right where we expect to be, trust the process.

His process blows ass.

She makes you pay $2? I mean most of us it's a nickel. Except Donkey who is still paying child support for T.

 

[Silverback Gator]

The fact that he really believes "we've been very close" is by far the most concerning issue. We have absolutely sucked like t's mom on 2 dollar Tuesday for the last 2 seasons. The only thing we've been very close to is the bottom of the drain.


His process blows ass.

I don't disagree his "process" is slow and sometimes feels like an excuse to quell the non believers. But we really did lose several games by less than a TD. So, last season close to 8 wins is true. This season? Have to play the games.

 

[Gatorbait25]

The fact that he really believes "we've been very close" is by far the most concerning issue. We have absolutely sucked like t's mom on 2 dollar Tuesday for the last 2 seasons. The only thing we've been very close to is the bottom of the drain.

I'd have slight hope if he had said, we've been abjectly awful the past few seasons and that's heavily on me, but that time has come and gone. Instead we get the same crap as before, oh we're right where we expect to be, trust the process.

His process blows ass.

Under Billy our offense has been average. The defense has been among the worst in CFB and the special teams has been as poor as I’ve seen at any level of football. Kimber was the worst college football player I’ve ever seen so while I expect moderate improvement from a terrible defense it’s hard to imagine these guys forcing more than 1-2 punts a game . I expect Billy to be fired after his THIRD straight loss to the wildcats .