Since [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] tooktaken over at the University of Florida, hundreds of questions have been hurled at him about the changes he has and will make to the Gators football program. One question that’s popped up time and time again from the fans is whether or not Napier will bring black-out jerseys to UF as he did at Louisiana.
The short answer is yes, but not until 2023.
The longer answer came during a speech Napier gave on Thursday to the Northwest Florida Gator Club in Pensacola, according to On3. Black jerseys will be introduced at Florida in Napier’s second season and there will be a specific purpose for wearing them — honoring the nation’s veterans.
“We will do it in the 2023 season,” Napier said. “This will become a little bit of a tradition. We’ll do it one time a year. It will be the next to last home game and it will always be around Veterans Day, that part of the year, for military appreciation.”
Some of those game-worn jerseys will be auctioned off each year and the proceeds will be donated to a charity that helps military families in need. It’s similar to the approach Napier took at ULL when players requested black jerseys. It’s a way to make the players happy and create awareness within the community.
The news was well-received by the Gators Club, and it’s a new tradition for the school to take pride in. Blackouts are coming, Gator Nation. We just have to be patient.
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