Billy Napier is a native of Tennessee and the son of a football school.
Florida’s first-year coach, who was born in Cookeville, Tenn. and grew up just 20 miles south of the Volunteer state line in Chatsworth, Ga., shared Wednesday that he’s long been familiar with the Florida-Tennessee football rivalry — mostly in name only , as the Gators own wins in 16 of the last 17 meetings – but found a turnaround.
His father, Bill Napier, who coached his son at quarterback at Murray County High School, is a longtime Vols fan.
Napier’s Gators (2-1, 0-1 SEC) visit No. 11 Tennessee (3-0) on Saturday at Neyland Stadium (3:30 p.m.).
“Even before I got the job, growing up where I grew up right in the heart of SEC country, had family in Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama, coached at the University of Alabama,” Napier said, “and at one time ( growth ), especially Florida had good teams.
“My family on my father’s side were and still are Tennessee fans. It was a huge game for as long as I can remember. I know it well. Of course, our fans will soon note that.”
Even through coaching changes, from Urban Meyer to Will Muschamp, Jim McElwain and Dan Mullen, the Gators have found ways, regardless of their head coach, to annoy the Vols every year; only McElwain’s team, which blew a huge lead in 2016, has lost to Tennessee in the past decade and a half.
Napier said those are the points that raise the SEC.
“The biggest thing is when you’re a competitor that you love and you take advantage of those opportunities,” Napier said. “One of the reasons you want to be in this league is because you want to be in these kinds of games and opportunities. I have a lot of respect for Tennessee and this rivalry.”
Napier laughed off the possibility that members of his family could turn against him this weekend.
“Well, I don’t know if they would say that to my face,” Napier said. “But I have a lot of people in my family and I come from Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama (fans).
“Hopefully they find a little soft spot for the Gators Saturday. We’ll see.”