Billy Napier breaks down Hurricane Milton prep as Florida prepares for Tennessee game

As Hurricane Milton bears down on the western Florida coast, Gainesville is getting ready for tropical storm type impacts. Billy Napier and the Florida Gators are adjusting their practice schedule a bit as a result.

The third-year Florida coach broke down the changes on Wednesday during an SEC teleconference call.

“Well our guys don’t have school today or tomorrow,” Billy Napier said. “You know, I think we’ve moved the schedule up today to try to get everyone here sheltered before the arrival of the storm. Then tomorrow is a little bit to-be-determined based on what type of situation we have when we wake up in the morning. Overall just moving things up today and then tomorrow I think we anticipate sliding things back slightly.”

Florida will be on the road this weekend, which means the Swamp won’t have to ready for a game during the primary impacts of the storm. Gainesville itself, should current forecasting tracks hold, should be spared of the worst.

Still, there are going to be impacts for the Gators.

“Obviously a lot of thoughts and prayers for all involved with the hurricane,” Napier said. “Our team, obviously we have a number of players with families that are going to be right in the middle of the storm. So certainly thinking about all involved here.”

Billy Napier described some of the changes that have already occurred due to the storm.

“We’ve had a huge influx of people into Gainesville from all the evacuations, so all the hotels are full,” he said. “We’ve got quite a bit of people that are evacuating that are coming north here, so right now we’re outside the eye of the storm and we’re anticipating getting more tropical storm type weather.”

As far as his players, particularly the ones who live a little further south where the brunt force of the storm will hit, Napier is simply trying to keep everyone informed.

In a situation where reports can vary, he wants them getting accurate information. He also wants to be available should anyone need help.

“I’d say you try to keep them up to date as much as you can,” Billy Napier said. “A couple times a day providing them with the most up-to-date information. Obviously we have our athletic department, our operations people meeting with the university leadership, so a couple times a day we’re able to give them kind of the latest news and information.

“Probably the most challenging part which you described there is a lot of these guys’ families are right in the thick of it down south. So I think we’ve been touching base with them throughout the entire week, trying to provide them with the most up-to-date information we have. Done quite a bit of planning in terms of what they need to be doing here to anticipate what’s coming. Then we’ll be there as an organization and athletic department to fully support the players and any family situations where we can help. But there’s no question that we’ll have a lot of people that will be significantly affected by this hurricane.”

In the meantime, those in Gainesville will attempt to stay focused ahead of a key road trip to Knoxville, Tenn.

“Our team is excited about the opportunity to go play in this historic game,” Billy Napier said. “We’re right in the middle of the preparation here and it will be slightly different over the next few days, but overall excited about our team and their attitude. I think we’ve improved. We need to continue to improve. That is what our current focus is.”