Coach Napier's EXit

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Originally Posted by HelmutVII

I never met Coach Napier. He always seemed like a very decent person who is a straight shooter and a genuinely likeable person. Very low key and down to business. I liked that. He kind of reminded me of Russ Faulkinberry. Ricky Bustle was a fine person too. He was exactly what we needed after the abomination that was Baldwin.

HUD was different, something about him just didn't set right with me. The rah rah rah was all a show. I didn't know why at the time but I do now. He sure could bench press a lot though.

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I met coach Napier the second weekend he was in town after getting the job. Ran into him at Starbucks early in the morning while I was on a mild hangover. He, I and a few other people were sitting in the waiting area and he just strolls over to me and starts talking. I knew who he was. I recognized him from his photos obviously and he was wearing a cajuns shirt but I didn't want to approach him as I didn't want to bother him on a lowly Sunday. We ended up talking for 20 minutes and I had to get the girls to heat up my coffee but it was great. I know he doesn't come off as having this crazy energy and you may not label him "exciting" especially when listening to an interview but his willingness to just come over and start talking cajuns to a regular guy in the local starbucks struck me and I can believe it when I hear how he's a guy who wants to build relationships with players, families and the community. He's not gonna get you to run through a brick wall doing a speech like Hud could do but he spends more time just genuinely connecting with people.

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Originally Posted by zephyr

I met coach Napier the second weekend he was in town after getting the job. Ran into him at Starbucks early in the morning while I was on a mild hangover. He, I and a few other people were sitting in the waiting area and he just strolls over to me and starts talking. I knew who he was. I recognized him from his photos obviously and he was wearing a cajuns shirt but I didn't want to approach him as I didn't want to bother him on a lowly Sunday. We ended up talking for 20 minutes and I had to get the girls to heat up my coffee but it was great. I know he doesn't come off as having this crazy energy and you may not label him "exciting" especially when listening to an interview but his willingness to just come over and start talking cajuns to a regular guy in the local starbucks struck me and I can believe it when I hear how he's a guy who wants to build relationships with players, families and the community. He's not gonna get you to run through a brick wall doing a speech like Hud could do but he spends more time just genuinely connecting with people.

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Great story about a first class guy.

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Originally Posted by zephyr

I met coach Napier the second weekend he was in town after getting the job. Ran into him at Starbucks early in the morning while I was on a mild hangover. He, I and a few other people were sitting in the waiting area and he just strolls over to me and starts talking. I knew who he was. I recognized him from his photos obviously and he was wearing a cajuns shirt but I didn't want to approach him as I didn't want to bother him on a lowly Sunday. We ended up talking for 20 minutes and I had to get the girls to heat up my coffee but it was great. I know he doesn't come off as having this crazy energy and you may not label him "exciting" especially when listening to an interview but his willingness to just come over and start talking cajuns to a regular guy in the local starbucks struck me and I can believe it when I hear how he's a guy who wants to build relationships with players, families and the community. He's not gonna get you to run through a brick wall doing a speech like Hud could do but he spends more time just genuinely connecting with people.

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Had a similar experience with him during the Coach's Show at Pete's last season. After he was done speaking with Jay, he made it a point to speak with everybody that came. You would think given the fact that he's got a family at home and a game to prepare for, he would have been ready to get out of there and get on with his night but that was far from the case. I chatted with him briefly and took a picture with him, one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. Saw him again at Pete's the following week and he remembered me and my name. I'm gonna miss him.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">��Gainesville, FL <a href="https://t.co/WrG6KdMLim">pic.twitter.com/WrG6KdMLim</a></p>&mdash; Gators Football (@GatorsFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/GatorsFB/status/1467537114011037710?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

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Originally Posted by IdeaL

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">��Gainesville, FL <a href="https://t.co/WrG6KdMLim">pic.twitter.com/WrG6KdMLim</a></p>— Gators Football (@GatorsFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/GatorsFB/status/1467537114011037710?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

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…….I know we can outdo this welcome for our guy…..well let’s start planning! Parade …..all the extras….add some guys!!!

Gainesville is a happy place today for sure, CBN will be back in La. this evening for the Banquet. Hate that you guys lost him, but happy we were the ones that got him.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Billy Napier is here <a href="https://t.co/48oyEx0yTq">pic.twitter.com/48oyEx0yTq</a></p>&mdash; Nick de la Torre (@delatorre) <a href="https://twitter.com/delatorre/status/1467544926439280655?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

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Originally Posted by IdeaL

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">��Gainesville, FL <a href="https://t.co/WrG6KdMLim">pic.twitter.com/WrG6KdMLim</a></p>— Gators Football (@GatorsFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/GatorsFB/status/1467537114011037710?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

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With all those cheerleaders lined up I was kinda expecting coach Hud to sneek in there somewhere....

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Originally Posted by Cajun90

With all those cheerleaders lined up I was kinda expecting coach Hud to sneek in there somewhere....

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Laughed at that harder than I should have. Touché

Billy is probably honored by the reception but that's not who he is. His family looks a little scared.

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Originally Posted by Bankruptcyman

Billy is probably honored by the reception but that's not who he is. His family looks a little scared.

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He seemed very Honored, but more importantly humbled.
One thing that struck me as very telling of CBN was when exiting the plane his wife and kids exited first, Tells me he puts Family first and that is a lacking quality in people these days

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Originally Posted by Bankruptcyman

Billy is probably honored by the reception but that's not who he is. His family looks a little scared.

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He is playing with scary money now . . .

Presser at 3:30 on ESPN SEC digital media.

Anyone can translate the chant in the welcome video.

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Originally Posted by CajunEXPRESS

Presser at 3:30 on ESPN SEC digital media.

Anyone can translate the chant in the welcome video.

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It's great to be a Florida Gator

Pretty sure nobody heard anything like the UF fight song so many thought our band would be playing for Napier gratitude. Y’all recall that thread surly.

Coach Billy Napier is now the head coach of the Florida Gators, but a large part of his heart remains in Lafayette, Louisiana. Continue reading&hellip;

The rest of the story
ESPN 1420

So Billy on Jim Rome about his new job. He repeated his comments about how well Louisiana and it’s fans supported him. He also praised the supporting staff for their expertise. Just another positive opportunity for Billy to share his success with UL.

Time to move on. NY6 next year.

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Originally Posted by LaCajunsFan

Agreed. I had no doubt that BN would 'rob us blind' once he made the move, and I don't begrudge him one bit for it. But it does sting.

But I also believe that this will be the first real test for CMD, and it will a tough one for him. I think he will do a good job, but am not counting on repeating quite the success that BN had with this, at least in the short run. Hope I am wrong.

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Think of it like this; did you think BN would have the success he had here when he was first hired?

The cULture is here to stay for a while longer!

So we have lost 4-5 athletes to P-5 schools, the latest being Lacy to LSU(LMAO!).

My question is why weren't we competing with Cincinnati for a Top 10 ranking? Seriously. With the guys that graduated and these guys that are leaving, you would think Napier would have been better.

We play close with stAte, we play close with S. Al among others. Was he that dynamic?

Fresno St, SD state, Utah State, they weren't as talented as we were, yet they scalded some P-5's.

We got our zzzzzz handed to us by Texas.

You think I'm being facetious? I'm not.

Z

I think Napier is actually way more intentional in his actions than he gets credit for. Florida was THE target for him. Saban is now 70-71…Father Time ticking. Other SEC jobs open prior years were non starters. Auburn could of been if they gave him control. LSU is up and down. UGA the only eastern hurdle is yet to get past Alabama (could tonight) but like everyone cannot consistently do it. Aggies spend a lot to be 8-4. Saban goes away in a few years, Florida on upswing…Billy Napier, the premier coach of the SEC. We all underestimated his personal loyalty to those who work with him, we shouldn’t underestimate his resolve.

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Originally Posted by ZZeebart21

You think I'm being facetious?

Z

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Yes

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Originally Posted by ZoomZoom

I think Napier is actually way more intentional in his actions than he gets credit for. Florida was THE target for him. Saban is now 70-71…Father Time ticking. Other SEC jobs open prior years were non starters. Auburn could of been if they gave him control. LSU is up and down. UGA the only eastern hurdle is yet to get past Alabama (could tonight) but like everyone cannot consistently do it. Aggies spend a lot to be 8-4. Saban goes away in a few years, Florida on upswing…Billy Napier, the premier coach of the SEC. We all underestimated his personal loyalty to those who work with him, we shouldn’t underestimate his resolve.

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Wishing he gets canned in a few years and wishing he don't win a game!

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Originally Posted by ZZeebart21

So we have lost 4-5 athletes to P-5 schools, the latest being Lacy to LSU(LMAO!).

My question is why weren't we competing with Cincinnati for a Top 10 ranking? Seriously. With the guys that graduated and these guys that are leaving, you would think Napier would have been better.

We play close with stAte, we play close with S. Al among others. Was he that dynamic?

Fresno St, SD state, Utah State, they weren't as talented as we were, yet they scalded some P-5's.

We got our zzzzzz handed to us by Texas.

You think I'm being facetious? I'm not.

Z

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We didn't have a Desmond Ridder

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Originally Posted by ZZeebart21

So we have lost 4-5 athletes to P-5 schools, the latest being Lacy to LSU(LMAO!).

My question is why weren't we competing with Cincinnati for a Top 10 ranking? Seriously. With the guys that graduated and these guys that are leaving, you would think Napier would have been better.

We play close with stAte, we play close with S. Al among others. Was he that dynamic?

Fresno St, SD state, Utah State, they weren't as talented as we were, yet they scalded some P-5's.

We got our zzzzzz handed to us by Texas.

You think I'm being facetious? I'm not.

Z

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I hope you're being facetious. That's better than coming across as stupid. If the Cajuns play Texas the 7th or 8th game of the season, they probably win.

So the Cajuns won some games by a few points. So did Alabama. They're playing tonight for a national championship.

Don't be surprised if Billy, the coach you don't have much respect for, is playing for one in the near future.

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Originally Posted by ZoomZoom

I think Napier is actually way more intentional in his actions than he gets credit for. Florida was THE target for him. Saban is now 70-71…Father Time ticking. Other SEC jobs open prior years were non starters. Auburn could of been if they gave him control. LSU is up and down. UGA the only eastern hurdle is yet to get past Alabama (could tonight) but like everyone cannot consistently do it. Aggies spend a lot to be 8-4. Saban goes away in a few years, Florida on upswing…Billy Napier, the premier coach of the SEC. We all underestimated his personal loyalty to those who work with him, we shouldn’t underestimate his resolve.

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From what I understand after the addition of Tx and Oklahoma he will have Auburn and Alabama to contend with in the east as well every year.