Billy Napier attributes Florida's rallying ability to the ‘human element’
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Following the loss to Georgia, Florida coach Billy Napier said he believed the Gators might have turned a corner as a team with their second-half comeback.
UF had rallied against rivals Tennessee, LSU and UGA, but ultimately lost all three games. The Gators finally completed a comeback at Texas A&M, winning their first SEC road game since 2020.
“I think what I’m seeing is kind of what I described after the game, that human element,” Napier said Monday. “We’ve spent a ton of time on scheme, fundamentals, situational football. We lift weights. We run. We focus on all different forms of development physically.
“But I think that team dynamic, the culture or brotherhood, however you want to describe that — the expectation from each other, the accountability at the player level, I’m not necessarily worried about my coach getting on me, but I’m worried about letting my teammate down — I think there’s a place in this game, for an elite team, you’ve got to have that.
“We’re getting closer. Really believe that.”
The Gators have now outscored opponents 38-14 in the second half of the last two games, including a 21-0 shutout in College Station. The goal now is to execute at that level for a full 60 minutes.
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“I woke up thinking about that,” Napier said. “That’s who we are. That’s where we’re at. I think we’re still chasing that. Can we put it together, possession after possession? I think we are taking care of the ball better on offense. If you look at our team, that’s the way we play. We’re getting takeaways.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do. And I really believe — I know you guys don’t like to write about this — but it’s the human element part of the game. That’s just who we are right now. We’re working on that component of our team. The football I think will take care of itself as that becomes more of who we want to be.”
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In other Florida football news
- Fifth Quarter: Gators Online’s in-depth breakdown of Florida’s win over Texas A&M.
- How the Florida secondary grades out in coverage, according to Pro Football Focus.
- Florida starting guard O’Cyrus Torrence is named SEC offensive lineman of the week.
- Two Gators from the Lone Star State show up big in their Texas homecoming at A&M.
- The kickoff time and TV broadcast has been revealed for UF’s final SEC game at Vandy.
UF recruiting roundup
- Gators Online’s Mock 2023 Class and the latest Florida Recruiting Intel: Nov. 7 edition.
- No. 1 JUCO interior offensive lineman in constant communication with UF’s Rob Sale.
- Four-star commit Sharif Denson schedules his official visit with Billy Napier’s staff.
- Scoop: No. 1-ranked 2024 offensive tackle Kam Pringle sets return trip to the Swamp.
- Elite 2024 cornerback Charles Lester III all set for another up-close look at the Gators.
- Another Florida home game means another visit for a local defensive lineman in 2024.
- Gators commit Will Norman is scheduled to take an official visit to another SEC school.
Gators sports roundup
- The Todd Golden era opened on Monday with the Gators’ 81-45 win over Stony Brook.
- WATCH: Todd Golden reacts to his first win as Florida’s coach and his team’s showing.
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