GAINESVILLE, Fla. — First-year Gators coach Billy Napier used several of his coach-teacher phrases in the wake of the home loss to Kentucky.
Operate in truth. Consumed with improvement. Earn the right to win.
That was his message to his team, fans and the media heading into Saturday night’s showdown against USF at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The No. 18 Gators (1-1) suffered a disappointing home loss to the Wildcats in their Southeastern Conference opener. The loss was magnified by a shaky performance from starting quarterback Anthony Richardson (14 of 35, 143 yards, 2 interceptions).
“We’re going to learn from this experience… we’re going to improve… and we’re going to go back to work.” – @coach_bnapier#GoGators | #jOURney pic.twitter.com/MLNfePOvac
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) September 14, 2022
As the leader and one of the most dynamic players in college football, Richardson took the brunt of the criticism.
“And he’ll use that,” Napier said. “This guy’s a competitor. He’s motivated, and I think he’s going to take full advantage of the experience he’s had, both good and bad, so far. Again, it’s important to evaluate each game and each performance and each play independent of the outcome. Are you doing everything that you were supposed to do the right way?
“Sometimes you get a great outcome and you didn’t do what you were supposed to do. Sometimes we sack the quarterback and we busted the coverage over here and we could have given up a touchdown. So, sometimes I think in this game you can get two consumed with the result. What you’ve got to do is control the things that you can control, get consumed with preparing, and go execute and do your job for the team.”
That will be imperative for Richardson against the Bulls (1-1), overmatched on paper but pumped for an opportunity to play on a big stage against the state’s flagship program.
Despite what happened a week ago at The Swamp, USF coach Jeff Scott has not lost any respect for the Gators — or their quarterback.
“We saw him up close and personal last year,” Scott said. “It’s difficult when you’re playing a dual-threat guy that can throw it. He has an incredibly strong arm and he’s got wideouts that can stretch the field, but also if it’s not there, you’ve seen it in a couple of those games he takes off and runs a 50-yard touchdown just like that.”
For more on Saturday’s game between the Gators and Bulls, here…
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