The Florida Gators capped off the 2024 season with a dominant win over the Tulane Green Wave, 33-8, in the Gasparilla Bowl.
Quarterback [autotag]DJ Lagwa[/autotag]y, wide receiver [autotag]Chimere Dike[/autotag] and defensive lineman [autotag]Desmond Watson[/autotag] joined head coach Billy Napier at the podium for a post-game press conference. Here’s everything they said following the postseason victory.
Opening Statement
Napier: “First of all, what an incredible event. I thought that the staff with the Gasparilla Bowl was first class. I’ve been a part of a lot of these bowl games, and I would say that — just a great week, great experience for the staff and the players, and very efficient.
“A ton of credit to Tulane. They’ve got a really good football team. I think for them to play in a conference championship and bounce back and come in, and obviously they didn’t make it easy at times, especially in the first half. I have a ton of respect for Coach Sumrall and their team and how they competed.
“It was an awesome environment. For our fans to come out the way they did, it felt like a home game in there. To be in Tampa, to see Gator Nation out there in full force was special.
“The last thing I would say is obviously this senior group, we’ve overcome some things early in the year. We would have not been able to do that if we didn’t have an incredible group of seniors. And I do think for our team, just talking to them last night, there was an obligation. You could feel it in the room like, hey, let’s make sure that we handle our business here and send these guys out the right way. We did.
“We were sloppy early. I know you have some questions about that. Obviously, red-zone struggles, few too many penalties. We had a lot of different pieces in different spots. I think overall, we created some takeaways, played really good defense, and in general just weren’t able to capitalize in the red zone possessions.
“So, great week, great to finish the right way and just really proud of our team and these players.”
On first-half struggles
Napier: “I just think we were a little rusty on offense. I think we had some miscommunications and then we had a few penalties. We had some procedure penalties, and then ultimately the game came down to the red zone, where Tulane did a good job.
“But also, I think we could we could do things a little better. We had the penalty. We had the sack. But yeah, just a few mistakes here and there. And then, the penalties obviously were a factor.”
On finishing the season out strong
Napier: “When you’re in these leadership positions, you realize you’re only as good as the people you surround yourself with. We’ve got good people, and I think obviously the staff did a great job. Go back to the first month, I think we came out of that, the collaboration between the staff and the players.
“Hey, look, I would tell you I was so impressed with how the players were transparent and how they took ownership, how they were critical of themselves, coming to the table with solutions, with ideas, and I think we learned a lot about ourselves. I think that could have easily went sideways multiple times throughout the year, but I think they stayed the course.
“I was having a conversation with a good friend of mine last night. The roster gets in the right place, the development, the football piece starts to work and then culturally it starts to look the way you want it to. Then all of a sudden, you’ve got confidence and belief and you feel like you can play with anybody. Ultimately, that’s what happened, probably halfway through the year this year.
On four-game win streak
Napier: “Momentum is a real thing in college football. It’s real on game day and it’s real throughout the calendar. To win four in a row, and in impressive fashion, especially the two home games in the second half of the year against two really good teams. I’m thankful for our seniors, man. I mean, you just go down this list.
“I just spent two minutes embraced with Montrell Johnson. We got Graham Mertz, Jeremy Crawshaw, Ja’Markis Weston, Ja’Quavion Fraziars, Chime Dike, Des Watson, Brandon Crenshaw-Dixon, Derek Wingo, RJ Moten, Cam Jackson, Jason Marshall, Elijhah Badger, Triwkeze Bridges.
“There’s some talent on that list, but that’s not what I immediately think about. When I say every one of those guys, I think about who they are as people and what they brought to the table every day, the example that they set. So, sending them out the right way, I think it was really important.”
On coaching change rumors early on
Napier: “You got an obligation to the people you lead, and we weren’t doing that good enough. We weren’t doing that well enough. Ultimately, this is a production business. They love you when you win, and they hate you when you lose, right? So we learned that a long time ago.
“I think for me, it really causes you to recenter daily on purpose, and I think the purpose is the players and obviously for me there’s a faith foundation that I think has been an anchor for me throughout my career. But in the most challenging times, it’s probably what keeps you focused on the things that are most important.
“From a leadership standpoint, you have an obligation to make decisions and try to correct. And I think ultimately that’s what I would say.”
On first-half turnovers
Lagway: “I was just playing bad football and not taking care of the ball, seeing plays that I thought to make, just forcing it. So I just came out in the second half, my guys rallied around me. It’s just a blessing to have amazing teammates, the coaches and everybody rally behind me and fix things in the second half.”
On near 100-yard receiving day
Dike: “I wanted to be a part of it and finish it off the right way. I think that the adversity we went through in the beginning of the season really brought this team close. Guys like DJ are the reason I want to play in this game, and I’m so excited for their future.
“Coach Napier has done a great job of leading our team. He’s somebody that is a role model for each and every person on our team. Not only the coach he is, but the leader he is and the man he is.
“Obviously, I just want to go out there and play well and I think I was able to do that, and I’m just glad we’re able to win.”
What did you bring to the press conference?
Dike: “A Jake Slaughter jersey. That’s another dude like, I mean, selfless guy. Works his tail off. Committed to the program. He asked for a jersey swap and it was instant. Got it up off me. So, I’m gonna be hanging this up in my house one day.”
On Desmond Watson lifting Tulane runner up
Napier: “One of the reasons we’ve been able to turn it around is we’ve played really good defense down the stretch. Today was no different. We stopped the run, we made him one-dimensional, we kept the shots in front of us. I thought we did a good job tackling on the perimeter.
“Look, it starts with guys like this, right? Have you ever seen a 400-plus guy run the ball before? To be a consistent championship contender, you got to play really good defense and I think we struggled to do that, probably the first two years and a month.
“Then I think we went to Tennessee, and probably that from that point forward started to play really good defense and that obviously starts up front with these guys striking blocks. And Des has been right in the middle of that run defense.”
How did Des coming in on offense come about
Napier: “Final game of the year. We’re going back home to Tampa. Plant City right down the road. Been thinking about it the whole year, and Des has played really good.
“So, bowl games are, you’re looking for buttons to push, right? I think this one helped our team. You saw that sideline light up when he ran out there. Yeah, a lot of fun and he did a great job. I think the guys rallied around him and all those were successful plays.”
Would you have put him in near the end zone?
Napier: “It was actually a goalline package. We just never quite got there, and I finally made a decision. I was like, look guys, the next time we have a short yardage situation, we’re running the package, the hawk package tonight — that’s his high school mascot.”
Watson: “It was great. Since I came to college, every time I go on the internet I see somebody saying I should be on some type of package getting the ball, especially because I wear 21, a running back number. I never really looked too much into it. I never went to Coach Napier about it, but I feel like he seen it too. It’s a great moment to finish off my career as a Florida Gator like that.”
Napier: “I sent Des a picture of the play. We started out, we just had a run where he was a blocker and we had a play-action pass where he was kind of the decoy. And then just watching our players, when we put that package, the guys were like, hey, give him the ball, coach, give him the ball. And we literally put the play in on the field at practice. So, yeah, a heck of a way to finish his career.”
What’s more fun, running the ball or picking the runner up on defense?
Watson: “I think running the ball. That’s something I haven’t done in years. I feel like tackling people is routine, or picking people up like that is something that is routine. So I feel like something I haven’t done in year is more fun.”
What was DJ’s reaction to the play?
Lagway: “We already knew what it was when we got third-and-short, so we already knew. We were happy and excited to see what he was going to do.”
Can you catch the ball?
Watson: “I can do it all. I like to tell my teammates when I do something more athletic than they expect me to. I just look like this. I can do it all.”
On younger players contributing
Napier: “It was one of the exciting things about the game is you had a lot of players that were going to play a bigger role in the game. Kam Waites, Bryce Lovett, and obviously KD Daniels.
“I do think on defense, like my Machai Boireau, D’Antre Robinson, Tarvorise Brown. I think LJ (McCray) got more snaps. Myles Graham. I thought Aaron Chiles flashed a lot today. And in the back end, I think we were able to get some guys some reps.
“So, not only the ones that have been playing a bit of a big piece of the puzzle like DJ, Jadan, those guys, but I think a lot of those freshmen and young players played big, had good days and. It’ll be important for them. The experience is so important going forward today.”
On defensive performance
Napier: “You look and have really six takeaways (three interceptions, three turnovers on downs), and I think we could have had control of the game earlier if we played cleaner on offense, if we get touchdowns in the red are. But look, you’re going to have days like that. It’s why you play complementary ball.
“Trey Smack was outstanding, right? If I’m right I think he kicked four field goals. I told DJ, I said, listen, what if we score touchdowns on all those possessions? We’d have a lot more points right now. But it’s good. I think it’s been part of the way we found a way to win. All three parts of the team have to contribute and today was no different.”
On Slaughter and Austin Barber returning
Lagway: “I feel really good about that. Just having veteran O-lineman blocking for me. It’s always great. Just have that chemistry already. When I heard about it, I was really excited to get back to work with those guys and just build on where we started.”
On first year as a Gator, ups and down
Lagway: “It’s just a blessing to be in Orange and Blue. Having an amazing fanbase as we do and just being coached by Coach Napier and coach O’Hara on the developmental side. I’m just excited for the future.”
Did this game motivate you for next year, expectations for 2025?
Lagway: “It gave me an edge, definitely. It’s a bad taste in my mouth, you know, that performance. So, it’s going to be straight working this offseason. I’ve got to come harder than I did last offseason. So, I’m going to have some goals, personal and for the team. It’s going to be a great offseason.”
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