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Billy Napier: ‘A lot of fun to come to work’ with new culture at Florida

On3 imageby:Zach Abolverdi•11/17/22•

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James Gilbert / Contributor PhotoG/Getty

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Throughout his first year in Gainesville Billy Napier No. 1 priority has been creating a culture of success at Florida. He inherited a program coming off a 6-7 season and a team that lacked togetherness.

Through the offseason and his inaugural season with the Gators, Napier’s winning culture has been established not just throughout the locker room, but the entire organization.

“Man, I tell you. It’s a lot of fun to come to work right now,” Napier said Wednesday on the SEC teleconference. “I’m really very pleased with the staff’s approach. The players as they get more comfortable, I think they are really trying to play the game with the right intent. I think the chemistry, the team dynamic and the morale is much better. Obviously winning helps that, but overall, just a lot of momentum.”

The Gators are coming off their best game of the season, their rushing offense has been dominant, and their defense has allowed zero points in the last six quarters. In the 38-6 win over South Carolina, Florida rushed for a season-high 374 yards and held the Gamecocks to a season-low 237 yards.

“I think the thing that I’m probably most pleased with is I see our systems getting better,” Napier said. “All the in-house protocol, all the best practices. I think you’re always thinking about your process of getting your team ready to play. And I think that we’ve seen the intangibles improve leadership and ownership at the player level, attention to detail, practice habits and just an overall commitment to being at your best for the team. So, all these things are part of what you’re trying to create.”

Although team morale is high and a new culture has been instilled, the job isn’t finished for Napier’s Gators in Year One. They have two more road games before going bowling, and their goal is to keep the momentum rolling into 2023.

“We need to continue to establish what we expect from everyone that contributes, and then confront anything that’s out of place,” Napier said. “I think one of the great things is we’re observing a lot of good things and promoting those behaviors and complimenting the things that we see being done the right way. So, a lot of fun to come to work right now and I think that’s a good sign.”

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