Success for the Florida Gators in 2024 | Can Florida, Billy Napier make an IMPACT in the SEC 2024?

The Florida Gators are looking at a grueling schedule for the 2024 season, and in this week's edition of #DearAndy, two fans ask about the Gators ahead of this season. Andy takes a look at Florida's schedule and the trajectory for the Gators in 2024.

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Host: Andy Staples
Producer: River Bailey

[blameitonkj]

Billy addressed the issues from last year with an improved roaster and staff hires. This roaster is way more experienced than last year with better position coaches. As far as the schedule goes, it’s unlikely all those teams leave up to the hype. 7-8 wins is the expectation

[rodsmith]

Staples you went to UF, and you're the main Debbie Downer of the Gators, Napier gonna shock the world this year, Go 🐊!!!

[adamb]

A question no one can seem to find the answer to. What is the process for the SEC schedule. What are the factors and influences? Is there any form of oversight to ensure bias isint involved? Especially in a place like Birmingham. Is it because everyone knows Stricklin isn’t strong enough to say something? Because it’s not just the schedule but also account for this: UGA, Texas, and Ole Miss get a bye week before Florida. Kentucky gets Vandy, FSU get Charlestons Southern, TAMU get McNeese St. Miss St get Toledo. That’s means 7 of the schools will absolutely be fresh and healed before facing Florida. The extremity of this schedule begs the question and the SEC should have to speak to it.

[curly]

i disagree. i think florida is aware of the coaching carousel we have been on and how hiring and firing coaches every couple years doesn’t work. he came into this program and had absolutely nothing and to think that last year we were a few plays away from being 7-5. There is a lot of talent on this team and I’ve gotta believe that Florida will give him 1 more year after this one if things don’t work out especially after landing such a good recruiting class

[AARon-femo]

8-4 is not only reasonable this year, that should be the minimum standard for keeping his job past this year. The talent and experience that’s on this team is more than capable of going 8-4. Anything worse than that in my opinion is a coaching problem.

[rolandopinder]

Miami, Texas, ole miss, LSU, FSu and Texas Am all over hyped.

[bradk]

I admire Andy Staples. I had the privilege of facing him in the batters box at Lake Mary HighSchool. The dude was a flame thrower but had no control. Also, I loved his segment in the Florida Alligator while at UF..."Heaven is a buffet".

[synitarthrax]

It seems everyone is judging Florida's win-loss totals based on the last 2 years but Florida has the pieces in place and the depth they didn't have the first 2 years. The freshman have grown up and the coaching staff has been revamped along with the talent level. Florida should be able to beat any team in the country and Florida shouldn't be a ":gimme" for any team. If Napier is a good coach, Florida will make noise this year and end up being the Cinderella team. If he fails he will be gone which brings up another question ... who will Florida get to replace Napier? Florida goes through coaches so fast no decent coach worth the name wants to be there knowing they have very little time to make the playoffs. After all, why do you think they went with Napier to begin with? We will see.

[xliquidflames]

According to people on the inside, he is safe barring some catastrophic meltdown. They could just be saying that for optics but that's the word around the program. Then again, they may give him one more year just to keep DJ Lagway on the roster. Plus, if Billy is fired, there's no way Scott Stricklin gets to hire another football coach. So, they'd be looking for an AD and then that person would be looking for a head coach. So, maybe there is some truth to him being safe for at least this year and next.

[StevenRyan]

These teams that we play are not the same as last year. Theyre just Logos until we play these games stop with the negativity and hype your gators up!

[williepeterson]

Good evening Gators Nation we’re going to shock college football this year

[shadowclone]

Billy is being in talent that we have not had in Gainesville in a long time. I want too see us do better as much as the next person but fire him too early and you risk losing that talent too the portal

[LiveFreeorDieTryinG]

Im calling 9-3. The oline will be better than recent memories. The running game is key. Hopefully freshman Jaden Baugh gets some tread. Mertz is more than capable of being better than JJ McCarthy or Bo Nix. The defense is the concern. Ron Roberts should help sure it up.

[CameronSeverance-tjrt]

12-0 in 2024 I’m a time traveler from 2028

[Gunmetalgator]

The standard at UF has become it’s ok you tried your best… my opinion discipline has left the program you can see it at the games

[justinadonis]

This will be the last year we will see Napier at UF

[raychapman]

Some of these high elite rated teams can't be as good as the last few years.
But, Florida has to play

better.
And coach better.
Period.
But, they have to have the players to do better. Not just look better. We shall see.
If they jump out and play like, Real Gators . And with seven home games,
They can and should pull out @ least seven win's.
DANG IT.
COME ON, BILLY. I FOR ONE BELIEVE IN YOU. AND LIKE HOW YOUR GOING ABOUT THINGS.
YOU KNEW WHAT YOU WERE GETTING INTO TIME WISE WHEN YOU TOOK THE JOB!
THIS IS IT. IT'S ALL YOUR TEAM.
MAY THE, GATOR BALLERS ON DEFENSE,
DO THEIR DAMN
THE REST WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF.

[Hurricane]

BILLY IS COOKED ! 🔥🥵
😂😂

#GOCANES 🙌

[qlee]

Scott stricklin and Billy Napier will be gone book it. No way in hell napier can survive 2024 he’s not good enough as a 🏈 head coach on the sec level

[armanijones]

This season will either be shocking or an absolute disaster lol the boys could be 1-7 going into the Texas game or somehow be like 4-3 or 6-1 going into the UGA game. It’s really hard to say at this point.