Florida Head Coach Billy Napier Respects Mark Stoops and Kentucky

Section one of many Billy Napier in Gainesville went down a deal with final Saturday, as his Gators upset No. 7 Utah 29-26 inside The Swamp. 

Behind star quarterback Anthony Richardson, Florida picked up a monumental win to open the season, proving that it is able to contending within the SEC in 2022. 

From one powerful sport to a different, the Gators now flip their consideration to No. 20 Kentucky, who will look to win its second sport in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in as many journeys. 

Napier had this to say about Mark Stoops and the Wildcats throughout his game-week press convention on Monday: 

“I’ve obtained a number of respect for Coach Stoops and what he’s been capable of do there. The consistency, their enchancment as a program to win 10 video games final yr. I’ve at all times had a number of respect for his groups as a result of I believe they’re sound. I believe they know who they’re on offense, protection, and particular groups. I see a superb set of fundamentals in all three phases they usually do a superb job of evaluating gamers they usually’ve obtained some top, size, and velocity. They’ve obtained some distinctive gamers that perhaps weren’t highly-regarded however they’re pretty much as good as anyone within the nation, so this can be a good developmental program that I’ve nothing however respect for. You gotta beat Kentucky as a result of they’re going to make you beat them. I believe they’re a well-coached group and I obtained a number of respect for the intangibles, the trouble, the basics; all of the issues that coaches respect, they do these issues.”

There wasn’t a lot else mentioned relating to the Wildcats, however it’s clear that Napier acknowledges that this rivalry has come a great distance over Stoops’ tenure in Lexington. 

Stoops had this to say about heading to Gainesville this weekend:

“Within the SEC, each SEC sport is essential, and once more, you recognize this from masking a very long time – inform what sport is much less essential than the opposite? I acknowledge generally through the years when sure issues are available in right here and the best way issues play out, it’s a giant sport, yeah. However that is the subsequent one, we’re gonna have fairly a couple of massive video games and we at all times embrace that – you higher. You higher embrace the challenges which can be in entrance of you and that is actually one among them however you need to have a look at it. It’s enjoyable. For us, and once more I discussed this by means of the years, however getting on the aircraft with a smaller group, deal with what we’ve to focus, go on the highway and take that problem is one thing we’ll embrace.”

Wildcats Right this moment may have updates on accidents, sport notes and extra all through the week as Kentucky prepares for its matchup in opposition to the Florida Gators.

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