Analyzing whether Florida Gators, Billy Napier are 'on schedule' entering Year 3

At SEC Media Days on Wednesday, Florida head coach Billy Napier said that the Gators are ‘on schedule’ heading into his third season at the helm in The Swamp. Phrasing that grabbed the attention of On3’s Andy Staples and many Florida fans.

Staples took to Twitter on Napier’s messaging and asked his followers if they believe Florida is on schedule. An interesting topic that he discussed at media days with On3’s J.D. PicKell.

“Their responses were really interesting because it kind of tracks with what I was thinking, that the fan base is basically split 50-50 on this situation,” Staples explained. “Where 50% of them are like, ‘Oh God, what is going on here? Doesn’t he knows what you’re supposed to win and being on schedule is not being under .500?'”

“And then the other half is like, ‘Yes, this is what we’ve been saying all along, stop changing for change sake, let someone build a foundation. Let someone build a program here.’ And I don’t know which side is right and I think this season is going to tell us.”

“The troubling part about saying we’re on schedule is you’re like okay, so was going 5-7 part of the plan?” PicKell added. “Surely not, like that wasn’t actually a part of what we’re on schedule to do.”

Florida finished 6-7 in Napier’s first season at the helm followed by a 5-7 record last season, achieving just three SEC wins in each of his two seasons with the Gators.

It’s no secret that programs aren’t built over night, but at the same time in today’s college football landscape time is of the essence. Putting a tremendous amount of pressure on Napier to show improvement this upcoming season in a year where many are tabbing Florida’ schedule as the most difficult in the SEC and potentially the entire country.

“Here’s what I will say, the crowd that says you need to give people time to build, this is not 2015. Because you can give people all the time in the world back then, every player you signed was gonna stay with you for at least three years. That’s not the world today. Your best players can just leave,” Staples explained.

“So if they don’t feel like you’re building that foundation fast enough, your foundation just sort of rots away from underneath you. And Florida, remember, lost its most talented running back and its best edge rusher to the transfer portal. To teams that are on its schedule that are expecting to make the playoff.”

25 Florida players entered the transfer portal this offseason, including seven that will continue to reside in the SEC. Only making things even more challenging for the Gators as they look to win and establish a strong culture.

But this season is the final one in Gainesville for quarterback Graham Mertz, who’s mindset and mentality slightly differed from Napier’s at media days in Dallas.

“I appreciated what Graham Mertz said when we sat down with him a little bit earlier. He said, ‘We are who our record says we are right now.’ He went straight to it,” PicKell said. “He’s like listen, that was our record last year. Now at the same time, we’re 0-0 right now.”

“So last year was last year, but at the same time reading between the lines here, I feel like it was implied there’s gonna be a different Florida outfit this year. So I don’t know, I’m with you. It’s a little bit troubling to the ear, but maybe when you unpack it there’s a little bit more than meets the eye.”

Regardless, Florida being on schedule will be tested with a challenging schedule this upcoming season. Which starts with a primetime home game against Miami on August 31 that kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET and airs on ABC.