WATCH: New Florida head coach Billy Napier throws out first pitch for Gators baseball season opener

College baseball has finally arrived, with the SEC expected to be one of the top conferences in the sport once again. The Florida Gators are expected to compete for a championship and kicked off their season at home against the Liberty Flames.

To get things going at McKethan Field, new football head coach Billy Napier threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Napier threw one right down the middle, much to the delight of the fans in attendance. He ended up being a big motivator for the Gators, who defeated Liberty 7-2 in the first of a three-game weekend series.

You can watch the full video here.

BANG ‼️⚾️@coach_bnapier showin’ us how it’s done! #GoGators | @GatorsBB pic.twitter.com/GQnWlkrFz3

— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) February 19, 2022

Napier was hired as the Florida head coach after spending three seasons with the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns. He replaces Dan Mullen, who was fired after a rough end to the 2020 season and not getting off to the best start during 2021. A team desperate to get back on the national stage, Napier was given the reigns of the program and will be looking to compete right away in Year One.

Billy Napier expalins identity for Florida Gators

In Florida’s last four years under former head coach Dan Mullen, the Gators had their fair shares of highs and lows. Mullen amassed a 34-15 overall record at the helm and was fired after going 5-6 this year; Mullen brought the Gators to the SEC Championship game a mere year ago, but things just fell apart at the seam following that game. Now, Napier hopes to build a brand-new identity for the Florida football program, one that has a core set of values centered around integrity.

“I think that the things that we mentioned earlier, we’re trying to teach a set of values here,” Napier said of his locker room culture at Florida. “Integrity is important. I think that this program will challenge your integrity because you’re going to have to tell yourself the truth. You’re always having to answer that question, ‘Am I doing the very best that I can do? Am I cutting a corner that nobody knows about? Am I living a lie?’ Or whatever the case may be. I think honesty is a big component here.”