Napier urges fans to show up early and create a hostile environment
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Billy Napier is the son of a high school football coach. He dreamed of followimg in the footsteps of his father on the sidelines. He appreciates the intricacies of coaching and loves the tradition of college football.
It’s what makes the sport special, and he eagerly anticipates the tradition at Florida. He’s been the head coach of a team more than 40 times but never for the Florida Gators.
“We really look forward to our fans showing up,” Napier said Monday of Utah week. “We all understand Gainesville transforms on game day, and I’m certainly excited about experiencing that for the first time being on this side, right?
“We’re obviously excited about it being game week. We really look forward to our fans showing up. We all understand Gainesville transforms on game day, and I’m certainly excited about experiencing that for the first time being on this side. So be there early, know that you’re a part of the team and that you can contribute and help our team in terms of the game.”
Napier and the Gators will have their hands full this Saturday night when No. 7 Utah lines up across the field. His head will be swimming with situations, chess moves to be made, and first game nerves. Still, Napier thinks he’ll have time to revel in the atmosphere that he now calls home.
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“There will be plenty of time to soak that in, I can promise you that,” Napier said with a smile on Monday. “It’s part of the reason you take the job, right, is for those special experiences in that place.”
Heat and humidity play in the Gators’ favor
The words will ring loud over the speakers inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium moments before the team hits the field:
“The Swamp, where only Gators get out alive!”
Sweat will already be pouring down the Utes’ faces with rain and 90 percent humidity in the forecast. To Kyle Whittingham’s credit, he’s taken measures to try and acclimate his team to the environment they’ll face Saturday. The team has practiced indoors with the heaters turned up. However, the average humidity in Gainesville in August is 79 percent while, on Monday, Salt Lake was a balmy 16 percent.
Heat and humidity won’t win you a game, but it’s not going to help Utah win, that’s for sure.
Napier isn’t depending on Mother Nature to be his savior, but he is calling on Gator Nation to show up early and do its part to make Utah feel less than welcome at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
