Can’t believe I missed this thread. This is exactly what bothers me when people preach “patience” or “they didn’t/won’t get enough time”, most people using those blanket phrases refuse to define their terms. I think it is important for us to look at what our definitions are so we can determine how to fairly judge or at least have fair conversations with each other.
Standard at UF is Championships. This isn’t Bear Bryant’s “sleeping giant” many of you grew up with. This is the giant that was awakened by Steve Spurrier. Dude then won the SEC (probation) in year one. Now, a lot has changed so I do think that while possible (anything is possible, though likelihood changes) it is not reasonable as an expectation in year one for Napier.
Recruiting: Doesn’t look like he’s going to do what many successful (and some unsuccessful) coaches have done and pull a top 5 bump class. He MUST, however, salvage a top 10 class. We can talk out of both sides of our mouths about relationships with high schools and kids while praising the breaking of “the IMG curse” in weeks to make excuses for missing so much this year, but we still have to have some standard. Can’t use this excuse for 2024.
Starting next year, top 5 classes are a must regardless of the transfer portal.
On the field: 8-4 is the floor for this season and most years the record shouldn’t touch 8-4 going forward. Yes, every so often you might have a 2007, but you better have lots of young guys playing like they did. Don’t know who needs to hear this, but LOSING SEASONS ARE UNACCEPTABLE AT UF.
Needs an SEC Title by Year 5 (if everything else shows we are heading in the right direction. Repeat after me, no coach, none, 0, zip, zilch, nada, zero have won a National Title in at least the last 50 years in the SEC without winning the SEC by year 5. And only 1 coach, Phil Fulmer, took that long. Most in 3 years or less. I know, some might be reacting right now w/ “but this coach will defy all those odds”. Heard that with Champ, Mac, and Mullen, not going to entertain that. You’ll know where we are by then. The goal is to get back to National Titles, first step is the SEC.
Other notes:
Can’t have losing records to rivals within 5 years. No 0-5, 2-3, or 1-4 against UGA, UT, FSU, LSU. I’ll give this one caveat, IF it’s 2-3 and you were 0-3 (won’t be happy), but those last 2 are multiple score wins showing a changing of the guard, I’ll bite. Have to beat Miami every time. No losses to non-power 5 teams/Vandy’s of the world. No worse than 4-1 against the UK, Carolina, and Mizzou’s. We are better, act like it.
Year One: 8-4 floor
Year Two: TBD, could Billy do what Kirby did and get a ton of guys to not go pro? This is the big question as if yes, we could be special, if no, this could be the down year.
Year Three: 10 win regular seasons need to start/need some wins against teams finishing top 5 by this point (if we face some).
Year Four/Year Five: Atlanta and at least one SEC Title.