Tim Tebow delivers message to Gator Nation after loss to Utah

Florida fans offered plenty of reactions to the season-opening loss to Utah Thursday night. The Gators struggled mightily in the 24-11 loss as Billy Napier started his second year at the helm.

Tim Tebow understands fans’ frustration, though, and he offered a message to them Friday afternoon, less than 24 hours after the game.

Tebow said Gator Nation has every right to have high expectations for their team as Napier tries to bounce back from a 6-7 record in his first season. But he also said the fan base has to stand by their team throughout the season and continue to be supportive of the process.

“I think the great thing about Florida fans and Gator Nation — and it’s truly all over the world — is that they’re passionate,” Tebow said on The Paul Finebaum Show. “They love their teams and I’m so grateful for that. I think what’s really important, though, is how can your support of Gator Nation be helpful? And I think it’s continue to encourage these players, but also cheer for them and it’s okay for you to want more.

“It’s okay for you to want them to be efficient and not make some of the silly mistakes. I think sometimes for us, as fans and diehard Gators, that hurts more than if you get beat. Sometimes, talent gets beat right? You don’t win them all. But I think sometimes the little things … I think that can be a little bit hard for Gator Nation.”

Billy Napier: Florida will ‘respond the right way’ after loss to Utah

Graham Mertz threw for over 300 yards, but that didn’t really capture how much the Florida offense struggled against Utah. Pre-snap penalties were a big reason for that, as Napier said after the game, and the noise from the fans at Rice-Eccles Stadium certainly didn’t help.

But the Gators headman sounded confident the Gators will be able to respond in a big way next week against McNeese State.

“I told the team that I think adversary presents a choice, right? You can choose character or you can choose to compromise,” Napier said. “One thing that I know about this group is I think that we’ve worked hard on building some intangibles. And, already, I can see that this group will respond the right way. I believe that.”

Florida will try to get things back on track against McNeese Sept. 9 before a big matchup against Tennessee in The Swamp Sept. 16.