How do you change the entire culture of a college football program?
“One day at a time, one person at a time,” is the answer according to Florida head coach Billy Napier.
The Gators are preparing for one of the biggest games of the year against the Georgia Bulldogs, and Napier knows his team is a two-score underdog at best.
“I think it’s important as you approach a game like this, you’ve got to have a belief and a system in how you prepare,” Napier opened his Wednesday press conference. “We believe in preparation. I think it allows the players to play with poise and have confidence. I think if you’re intentional and you’re detailed in everything you do as you approach a game like this, it gives you the opportunity to be that kind of player.”
Napier also noted that “attitude is a choice,” and that he believed his team has approached Georgia Week with the right attitude. While it may sound like a whole lot of coachspeak, Napier does believe that the team is better prepared to face Georgia than last year’s group.
“I think we’ve grown a lot,” he said. “In particular, I think this group, we have a leadership element that I respect. I think we have leadership at lots of different levels of our team. We have some veteran players that are doing a really good job setting an example. Within each class, I think there’s a very good voice there.”
With most of the roster bought into Napier’s plan, there are fewer distractions in the locker room.
“I believe in football for a lot of reasons,” Napier said. “I think it gives us an opportunity to teach a set of values. I think, ultimately, that’s what we’ve done — tried to improve the player experience, try to improve our product relative to recruiting. I think the players see that, that we care about them as people.”
Napier praised his coaching staff for playing an instrumental role in the culture shift at Florida. The job is not done, but there’s a lot more confidence heading into Round 2 versus Georgia than there was a year ago.
Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.