Florida coach Billy Napier, left, and Utah coach Kyle Whittingham shake fingers on the sector earlier than sport, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. The 2 coaches will meet up once more on Aug. 31 within the season opener, however this time in Salt Lake Metropolis. Phelan M. Ebenhack, Related Press
Florida second-year coach Billy Napier received his Gators profession off to a robust begin when his group upset then-top 10 Utah at The Swamp final season.
The Utes may have the possibility to return the favor when Florida visits Rice-Eccles Stadium for each groups’ season opener on Aug. 31.
Napier was complimentary of Kyle Whittingham’s program when requested in regards to the Utes throughout a session of SEC soccer media days on Wednesday.
“We’ve received a novel schedule this 12 months, and that begins with a Thursday evening opener at Utah, and it’s a difficult place to play,” Napier informed reporters.
“... We’ve received a ton of respect for his or her program, the model of soccer that they play. It’s much less about the place we’re taking part in and extra about their model of soccer. There’s no query, they're one of many extra established and profitable applications within the nation.”
The Gators rallied with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to beat Utah 29-26 within the season opener for each groups final season in Napier’s first sport as Florida’s head coach.
Utah practically rallied for the win, however Florida capped the victory when Amari Burney intercepted Cam Rising in the long run zone with 17 seconds left.
Napier is a bit accustomed to the challenges of dealing with Utah within the excessive elevation at Rice-Eccles Stadium, as he spent the 2017 season at Arizona State because the Solar Devils’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
That 12 months, Arizona State beat Utah 30-10 in Salt Lake Metropolis.
“I've a little bit little bit of a really feel for what that’s going to be like,” Napier stated. “... I do assume we spent loads of time with our efficiency group within the offseason researching the altitude.
“We’ve finished loads of work with NFL groups and undergo that course of constantly. We’ve received a great plan. All of that's already mapped out and able to go. It’s going to be an excellent problem and one which we sit up for.”
The Thursday evening contest between Utah and Florida is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. MDT and be televised on ESPN.