Prior to the season’s first game, Miami’s Cristobal discusses his friendship with UF’s Napier.
There’s more to the relationship between Florida Gators coach Billy Napier and Miami Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal than just their Saturday season-opening encounter. Because of a previous coaching stint, the two know each other rather well. From 2013 to 2016, Cristobal and Napier served as Alabama’s head coaches under Nick Saban. At the time, Napier was the wide receiver coach and Cristobal was Saban’s assistant head coach, offensive line coach, and recruiting coordinator.
Cristobal described Napier as a “very good person and hard worker.” “You know, back then [at Alabama], the group of coaches was really quite interesting. We all had a great deal of satisfaction in the work we did for Coach Saban and were very successful as a team. I definitely have a great deal of respect for him. fantastic family man in addition. After that, the two parted ways, yet they took comparable paths to arrive at their current places.
After moving to Oregon in 2017 to take on the role of co-offensive coordinator, Cristobal eventually became the Ducks’ head coach from 2018 to 2021 before taking a job in Miami in 2022. After serving as Arizona State’s offensive coordinator for a year in 2017, Napier took over as head coach of Louisiana for four years before joining the Florida staff in 2022. And now, following two difficult seasons to start their careers, both are heading into crucial third seasons at their current stops. Cristobal has two years of Miami record of 12–13. Napier has two years of 11–14 at Florida. IDENTITY THAT IS OFFENSIVE
Although quarterback Cam Ward naturally receives the majority of the attention when discussing the Hurricanes offense, offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson has made it clear that his main goal is to ensure that the squad isn’t overly one-dimensional. With the depth the Hurricanes have at running back and receiver, that should be simple for him to do.
“There are numerous ways we can attack,” Dawson stated. “Multiplicity is essential. We intend to run with the football. We are upfront and honest. We are corporeal. Both our tight end and running back rooms have talent. It is quite important to be able to perform many tasks from the same personnel group. We hope to attack you at a variety of angles and at a wide range of speeds. That’s the crucial element. A GUIDE TO FRIERIQUE
Throughout autumn camp, one underappreciated freshman caught everyone’s attention inside the program: OJ Frederique, a three-star recruit from Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, is a defensive back. On Monday, defensive coordinator Lance Guidry responded, “probably his competitive nature,” when asked what about Frederique stands out.
“I recall him going up against a wide receiver on one of his first days here at fall camp, covering him, and not coming back down there,” Guidry said. “It seems like your eyes opened up. Just being able to play the ball down the field without being terrified or glancing back to find the ball. He possesses a certain flair. He is large. He’s more muscular than you may imagine. It is therefore unusual for a freshman to enter and not blink at all. We’re therefore really happy with him. HE SAID IT
“Consistency over time wins in this business, which is something individuals frequently don’t want to acknowledge. Repetition is how you learn things from day one if you keep things constant, the schemes are sound, and the individuals become accustomed to working together. guys are the same way; you have guys running the same plays banking repetitions over time. Since you’ve been doing it, you know that you can tie your shoes more easily today than you could when you were a child, don’t you? – Shannon Dawson, the offensive coordinator, on the value of consistency within the Hurricanes’ coaching staff.
Forever In Our Hearts.
‘The Paul Finebaum Show’ presenter Paul Finebaum, who appears frequently on ESPN Radio, is not afraid to voice his thoughts to the college football community. After the Florida State football team’s 24-21 defeat to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in Dublin, Ireland, on Saturday, Finebaum took aim at the team’s supporters on Monday. Before the Seminoles’ season opener, Greg McElroy of McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning questioned the ESPN commentator on whether the Florida State football coaching staff was negatively impacted by ACC championship expectations.
Finebaum blamed Florida State supporters for the defeat, saying he didn’t think the Mike Norvell-led coaching staff at FSU was impacted in the slightest. Related: Robert Griffin III Makes A Major Declaration Regarding His Plans After ESPN Firing “You know who’s to blame?” Finebaum struck a pose with McElroy on Monday night. “The Florida State supporters are the problem, not the coaching staff. Even throughout the pregame show, they continued to act foolishly, according to Finebaum. “They continued to show their rear end and that’s why I haven’t stopped laughing.”
Several supporters of Florida State University expressed dissatisfaction at the team’s exclusion from the 2023–2024 College Football Playoffs following an unbeaten regular season marked by Jordan Travis’s late-season injury. Finebaum claimed that the FSU fan community is now alienated and hated. “I don’t know about you guys, you hate to be cruel like that, but this is a program that has isolated itself, that is on an island whose fanbase is disliked and disrespected,” Finebaum said. “Not only by people just walking down the street in Birmingham (Alabama), but by its own league.”
