Billy Napier path out of Florida

[RedBug58]

I will offer one more thing up on the Des situation, and do not want to put this on the Fire Des thread because i dont agree with that. This is where i think psychology plays a role on why I think we are not progressing.

At the high school level, coaches have far more freedom to experiment. They can try new formations, unconventional playcalling, and creative schemes without the same level of scrutiny. The stakes are lower, the media pressure is minimal, and the community tends to be more forgiving. It’s a developmental environment, where trial and error is part of the process.

But at the college level especially Division I everything changes at UL. The margin for error is razor-thin. Every play is dissected. Every loss is magnified. Every decision is judged by the fans. When he tries something new and it doesn’t work, it’s not seen as experimentation it’s seen as incompetence. That kind of pressure can box a coach in.

A coach may want to evolve the offense, test new wrinkles, or adjust his approach but the environment doesn’t always allow it. He’s not just coaching a team; he’s managing expectations, protecting his credibility, and trying to maintain trust in a results driven business. Unlike high school, where a coach can afford to fail forward, college football demands immediate success. And when you’re trying to build a program, that demand can stifle creativity. He may need that creativity.

So when people say “just try something different,” they need to understand the cost. At this level, experimentation isn’t just risky it’s political. It affects recruiting, staff morale, and public perception. A coach might feel trapped not because he lacks ideas, but because the system punishes boldness unless it delivers instant results. That’s the paradox of college coaching: the very innovation that could elevate a program is often the first thing criticized when the scoreboard doesn’t cooperate.

That is my perspective.

I think you are too smart to be on this board.

[SlickRick]

I think you are too smart to be on this board.

Ohhhhh, duh! You're right.

[Ragin9221]

Two things Napier and Des have in common - both have been head football coach at University of Louisiana and both are Hard Headed M’frs . . .

Well i think for him to succeed he better humble himself, and figure it out, because if he is to hard headed we done!!

[ronnied]

If I were Napier, I’d be looking at Desormeaux from the outside in. I don’t know him personally, and I’m not going to pretend I do but I can still recognize what he represents. From my perspective, he’s a man deeply committed to UL. The players respect him, the coaches trust him, and he’s clearly passionate about Ragin’ Cajun football. He’s not just a coach he’s an alumnus who played for this university. That matters.

So if I’m Napier, and I’ve just accepted a $7 million job at Florida, I’d be thinking: “Who can carry this program forward? Who understands the culture, the locker room, the community?” Desormeaux checks a lot of boxes. He’s loyal. He’s invested. He’s someone who might not just maintain what we built but elevate it.

Desormeaux’s Positives:

• Passionate about UL football
• Loyal to the university and its mission
• Alumnus with firsthand experience as a player
• Current coach with internal credibility
• Willing to stay and build long-term
• Respected by staff and players alike
• Player retention and growth

But let’s be honest there are areas where he’s still growing.

Areas of Concern:

• Limited experience at the collegiate head coaching level
• Playcalling may need refinement under pressure
• Adaptability in high-stakes, fast-changing situations
• Depth of strategic knowledge compared to seasoned coaches
• Evaluating Talent

Those areas of concern playcalling, adaptability, and deep strategic knowledge, evaluating talent, represent the core of what we’re currently struggling with. They’re not just weaknesses; they’re the hardest traits to develop and the rarest to find. Only the best of the best truly elite coaches can master those dimensions consistently.

I’ll be the first to admit I’m not in a position to judge, and it’s not really my place to make sweeping declarations. I’m just offering an armchair analysis, trying to make sense of the situation from the outside looking in. And let me be clear: I want someone like Desormeaux. I want someone who loves this program, who’s invested in the culture, and who genuinely wants to see UL succeed.

That said, I’m not going to sit here and crucify the man or call for his job over something I couldn’t do myself. Coaching at this level is incredibly difficult. It’s easy to criticize from the stands or behind a screen, but leading a program managing players, staff, recruiting, game planning, and everything in between that takes a level of skill and pressure most of us will never fully understand. So while I might point out areas that need improvement, I do it with respect. Because at the end of the day, I’m rooting for Des. I want him to succeed. I just hope he grows into the coach this program needs.

That is my perspective!!

Very well said.

[HoustonCajun]

Read that Napier is expected to be named the head coach at UNT.

[HelmutVII]

Good for him.

[ZoomZoom]

There’s plenty of talent in Texas that gets missed. No excuse North Texas can’t dominate G-7 in time.

[ultracajun]

Who's going to pay him UNT or Florida?

[HelmutVII]

UNT pays him a salary and Florida pays the difference is how it usually works.. I wonder how many of his coaches follow him.

[MarlinMan3]

I guess he will bring a QB..... hope it isnt one named after a meal