Herbstreit: “Florida’s Struggles Doesn’t Make Sense to my Brain”

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Gators are mired in some of its hardest stretch of football since the Jimmy Carter administration. That’s how long it has been since Florida has stumbled through a football season.

Florida coach Billy Napier’s job seems to be the topic of college football dating back to the end of last season when the team dropped its final five games after starting 5-2. Sitting 1-2 overall, Napier is coaching on borrowed time, per Friday report by CBS Sports.

College Gameday analyst Kirk Herbstreit can’t wrap his mind around the struggles in Gainesville was perceived a destination job considering the amount success coaches like Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer had for a stretch of nearly two decades. Herbstreit was surprised by Florida’s lack of facilities during a recent visit of the football program.

“You start to think about a little bit more because consistency and guys understanding what the offseason program like, what the schemes are like, that continuity is so important to have with Florida,” Herbstreit said. “It’s amazing. I didn’t realize, I just assumed Florida has great facilities. I didn’t realize they just finished their facilities just a couple of years ago.”

“I go back and I think about the Dan Mullen era. What was so bad about the Dan Mullen era? They were they were winning a lot of games they played against him in the SEC championship. I’m sure they would love to have that era back. It just looks like a team that, right now, the last couple years, they don’t have the athletic ability you expect to see in the SEC, especially at the line of scrimmage. They don’t have the defense, and I think they’ve just lost their confidence overall. Think about this program, in the last 10 years, they average [an overall record of 7-5]. It just doesn’t make sense to my brain. My brain still thinks Florida competing for the SEC, winning a division and getting to the SEC title.”

The current state of @GatorsFB “doesn’t make sense to my brain” 🤔#CollegeGameDay pic.twitter.com/g4UUGzbv3K

— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) September 21, 2024

The state produces high school talent in the high school ranks each season. Whether there is a need for speed, size or quarterback talent there the Sunshine State has no shortage for gridiron standouts.

Florida has struggled on both sides of the ball in its two games against power conference teams Miami and Texas A&M. The Gators are averaging 398 yards per game due to its 632 yard explosion against FCS Samford. Against Power Four competition, Napier’s team is generating a lowly 281 yards of offense and only 18 points per game.