Billy Napier started his head coaching career less than an hour away from Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette.
When the LSU Tigers parted ways with national champion head coach Ed Orgeron, there were rumors aplenty that Napier could be the next man up in Death Valley.
LSU athletic director Scott Woodward instead looked north and poached as proven a commodity that exists in college football: former Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly. Sports Illustrated’s Ross Delenger reported that Woodward and LSU never seriously considered Napier, who had spent four seasons building a Group of Five power down the road.
Napier’s focus isn’t on what could’ve been, instead relishing the opportunity he’s inherited at Florida.
“I can't imagine being at a much better place,” Napier said Monday. “There's not a day that I woke up and said, ‘Am I at the right place or not?’ I’ve got conviction about that.”
Napier brought several Louisiana ties with him to Gainesville, and that bayou influence is embedded in the Gators’ roster this year.
Junior guard O’Cyrus Torrence, sophomore tackle Kamryn Waites and sophomore running back Montrell Johnson Jr. followed their coach, swapping Ragin' Cajun red for orange and blue. Johnson and Torrence are also Louisiana natives.
The Gators signed freshman tailback Trevor Etienne — a Jennings, Louisiana, product — despite recruiting interest from LSU. In all, Florida’s roster features six players from Louisiana, who will get the opportunity to face their home state’s flagship team Saturday.
“I think we've got a handful of Louisiana kids on our team that are going to be excited about it,” Napier said. “Any player that's from the state that we're competing against is always excited about playing in front of their home team.”
Florida co-defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond has more connection to this rivalry than anybody else in the program. Raymond spent a decade in Baton Rouge, recruiting and developing some of the best defensive backs in the country.
These new ties add a fresh layer and start a new era in one of the Southeastern Conference’s strangest rivalries.
Florida holds a slight advantage in the all-time series over LSU, with 33 wins to the Tigers’ 32. LSU currently rides a three-game winning streak in the series, however, after three unforgettable games.
The teams battled in an exciting 2019 shootout during the Tigers’ championship campaign. The Tigers spoiled an excellent 2020 Florida campaign in the regular season finale after former UF defensive back Marco Wilson infamously threw a LSU player’s shoe. Last year, both teams were skirting off the rails and the Tigers ran for 321 yards in a 49-42 shootout win, only to announce Orgeron’s dismissal the next day.
On Saturday night, the rivalry turns the page from the Dan Mullen versus Orgeron era and enters a new one; one forever linked to a pair of coaching decisions and ever increasing personal ties.
Florida hosts LSU inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Saturday at 7 p.m. The game will broadcast on ESPN.
Contact Topher Adams at tadams@alligator.org. Follow him on Twitter @Topher_Adams.
Topher Adams is a fourth-year communications major and in his fourth semester with the Alligator. He previously covered football, baseball and women's basketball. He also enjoys professional lacrosse and Major League Soccer.
