Billy Napier reveals how Hurricane Idalia has impacted Florida's travel plan to Utah

As Hurricane Idalia bears down on the Florida panhandle and portions of southern Georgia, Billy Napier and the Florida football team got out of town early. Destination: Dallas, Texas.

Napier explained on the SEC coaches teleconference on Wednesday that Florida headed part of the way to their Week 1 destination because of the weather. They’ll do their “Friday” of prep on Wednesday in the lone star state before finally traveling to Utah at the end of the day.

“We’re currently in Dallas. We flew here yesterday. We’ll execute our Friday here and then we travel to Utah this evening,” Napier said.

Florida and Utah are scheduled for an 8 p.m. kickoff on Thursday, Aug. 31.

The Gators got out of Gainesville in due time, as the storm made landfall on Wednesday. A return to Florida after the game on Thursday night could potentially be delayed, depending on the severity of the weather.

Either way, Napier is happy to have dodged any hurricane-related travel delays so he can keep prepping for a strong Utah team to start the year.

“Really like our football team. Renewed sense of accountability. Really proud of the players, how hard they’ve worked. I think the staff’s done a really good job. Really good leadership. Really good morale, chemistry’s really good with this group. Fun group to be around and we’re excited about obviously a really good opponent. Formidable opponent,” Napier said. “Playing in a tough place against an opponent that we respect relative to the brand of football they play.”

One key Gators offensive lineman is questionable for Thursday vs. Utah

The biggest injury currently in question for Florida revolves around starting center Kingsley Eguakun. Napier previously mentioned Eguakun was listed as questionable and said the same on Wednesday. To this point, there has not been too much change in the offensive lineman’s status.

“We listed him as questionable and that’s what he is,” Napier said via the SEC Coaches Teleconference. 

Napier originally gave out the status of Eguakun on Friday, just under a week before the Utah game. “Day-to-day” was used by the Florida head coach and progress was being made. Based on Napier’s comments on Wednesday, nothing has changed as we are closer to kickoff.

“Kingsley is to be determined,” Napier said on Friday. “I think he’s day-to-day. We do like the progress that he’s making. He’s gotten a little bit incrementally better as we go here, and certainly he’s a very veteran player, too. I think that’s part of the equation.”