What Billy Napier said to the media after Gators’ Week 12 loss

I have a lot of respect for the players in that locker room. I’ve got a ton of respect. I’m proud of that group. I think we showed some resiliency tonight. And, look, you know it’s a challenge to be prepared to play physically, mentally, emotionally, when you come up short a couple weeks in a row.

To have the team ready to play, I have to compliment the leadership. I talked to the team Friday about, leaders on a team — the best leaders — make the other people around them better. They raise their level of play. They’re really good teammates. They’re invested in the other people in the organization.

Ultimately they make everyone around them better.

I think we had some guys that did a really good job in a tough week. A tough couple of weeks here being consistent in their example, the words, the actions and certainly having them ready to play. I think defensively in particular we bounced back and played a good half of football to start the game.

We’re going to see when we watch the tape, we’re going to see that there are opportunities, things we could have done better as a staff and certainly opportunities for players to make plays. But they battled. I know what’s inside those kids in there. I’m proud of that.

Credit to Missouri. I think the game ultimately came down to a couple of turnovers. Certainly a heck of a drive by a veteran quarterback there to end the game.