Napier Fired

[CajunVic]

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 . . .

[zephyr]

Des was not leaving Louisiana

Yeah, because Billy wasn't taking him....lol

[MarlinMan3]

Wasn’t it reported CBN recommended CMD?

He didnt have time to do a search either, and he was going to recommend the people he was taking

[Ragin9221]

Yeah, because Billy wasn't taking him....lol

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!!

[CajunVic]

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!!

+1

how funny that the same posters who want Des gone because he may not excel in play calling and is too hard headed to hire an OC what Napier back who was just fired because he may not excel in play calling and is too hard headed to hire an OC

and I will say it again - Levi Lewis made Napier the rich man that he is - he was the biggest driving force in the successful years which Louisiana had under Napier - absent a miracle to get another QB like Levi again, Louisiana is probably relegated to the types of seasons we have had under Des less last year . . . No NIL and free transfer without sitting out are the other two things besides Levi that have resulted in the current situation Louisiana finds itself in which Napier did not have to deal with in his years here . . . get used to these facts of Louisiana football life or you will relegate yourself to a life of Louisiana football misery . . . because basketball, baseball and softball may not need nearly as many NIL type players to support conference championship level play and because our conference piers are dealing with the same limitations, Louisianan may occasionally catch enough lightning in a bottle to compete for championships in those sports every once and again . . .

[CajunVic]

BREAKING: Tensions are erupting inside the Florida Gators as former head coach Billy Napier takes a sharp jab at Billy Gonzales, who was just appointed as interim head coach — accusing him of “buttering up the administration to steal my seat.”
Sources close to the team say Napier was furious after learning Gonzales would be taking over. In a private exchange that reportedly turned heated, Napier allegedly called Gonzales “a snake who plays politics instead of coaching.”
👉𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲: https://chihub.blog/.../breaking-ten...rupting-inside...
The shocking remarks have sent shockwaves through Gator Nation — with players and staff caught in the middle of an intense internal feud. Some insiders claim the locker room is now “split in two,” while fans are flooding social media demanding answers.
As the Gators prepare to take the field under Gonzales’ leadership, one thing’s for sure: the real battle might not be on the field — but behind closed doors.

[Ragin9221]

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.

[babysitter]

Wasn’t it reported CBN recommended CMD?

Yeah, and there's a reason why Napier didn't take Desormeaux with him. You're witnessing it right now.

[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.