Napier's time leading the Gators is running out, but questions have emerged over who ultimately decides on the replacement

Before Florida Gators coach Billy Napier became embattled coach Billy Napier, he strolled into Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in December 2021 with a deep understanding of his new program’s championship aspirations.

The former Florida coach revealed a conversation about his replacement he had with Florida administrators after they let him go.

Florida coach Billy Napier was supposed to have answers. Or at least some new ideas. Napier was hired in Gainesville in 2021 partly because he had a detailed plan for the Gators to close the gap on Alabama and Georgia in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference and become a legit national championship contender after being mostly an afterthought over the previous decade.

We are in the Alabama '06/'07 mode. They made a commitment to hiring a proven winner. That's what the University of Florida will do.'

It might be too late now for Dan Mullen’s suggestion to work, but the ex-Florida head coach presented an idea to Gators athletic director Scott Stricklin after getting fired in 2021. He wanted the Gators to get Lane Kiffin from Ole Miss — where he was just finishing a 10-3 campaign — as his replacement,

Namely, Mullen believed the Gators should have gone and hired Lane Kiffin away from Ole Miss once Stricklin elected to dismiss Mullen. "You know what's pretty funny is when I got