Swamp Things: A podcast about the Florida Gators

Florida’s head coach is squarely on the hot seat. Another poor showing could spell the end early in his third season. The good news for Napier’s Gators is Samford visits the Swamp Saturday. It’s the only gimme on the nation’s toughest schedule and a chance for a feel-good win. Gator Nation is going to need a lot more to feel warm and fuzzy for Napier. During the latest Swamp Things, Mark and Edgar discuss yet another regime that has gone off the rails, this time at an unprecedented clip.

• Ready to move on from Billy Napier (:00)
• Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer speak out (3:10)
• Betting on Napier (6:02)
• September firings (9:11)
• Graham Mertz injured (12:48)
• Need to have an edge (17:09)
• Does Napier make it to Week 3? (19:15)
• DJ Lagway takes field (23:06)
• Win or lose, Napier gone? (24:46)
• Scott Stricklin’s fate (27:43)
• Players dropping (30:52)
• Looking the part (34:40)
• 3 things to see (42:54)
• Jeremy Foley’s Corner (47:23)

Florida’s third season under Napier could not have gotten off to a worse start than a 41-17 drubbing in the Swamp by in-state rival Miami. The Gators were beaten on both sides of the ball in every way possible. Napier’s offseason overhaul, optimism and assurances fell as flat as his offense. Talk of a much-improved defense proved to be false hopes and empty words. During the latest Swamp Things, Edgar and Mark keep it real discussing Napier’s worst loss and potentially the beginning of the end of his time in Gainesville.

• Billy Napier over sold and under delivered (:00)
• Turning point (7:15)
• Thumbs up (11:45)
• Thumbs down (14:14)
• Second guess(19:53)
• Biggest concern (27:51)
• Reason for optimism (30:20)
• On the spot (32:40)
• Billy’s banter (35:07)
• Defining move (39:49)
• Final thought (42:24)
• Jeremy Foley’s Corner (46:25)

The stakes and emotions will be high when Billy Napier’s Gators and Mario Cristobal’s Hurricanes square off Saturday in the Swamp. The game matches once-proud programs in need of a strong start to pivotal seasons. Predictions, speculation and a long offseason will soon be over. During the latest Swamp Things, Mark and Edgar chop it up one last time before talking season 2024 mercifully comes to an end.

• Intrigue and the unknown (:00)
• Reason for optimism (6:33)
• Reason for pessimism (11:08)
• Offensive matchup (16:23)
• Defensive matchup (19:03)
• Wild card (21:46)
• What are you hearing? (25:36)
• Florida/Miami rivalry (30:10)
• Final thoughts (45:15)
• Jeremy Foley’s Corner (49:20)

The Gators’ season-opening visit from Miami will begin to answer the questions swirling around coach Billy Napier and his program. Besides Napier, what players and assistants are on the spot? Is Miami the biggest game of a pivotal season? What has Napier done to impress and what does he have to do to survive? During the latest Swamp Things, Edgar and Mark provide some answers.

• Biggest non-conference game (:00)
• Biggest conference game (10:00)
• Offensive player (12:56)
• Offensive assistant/analyst (18:18)
• Encouraged by Billy Napier’s… (24:12)
• Want to see out of Napier (25:40)
• Final record prediction (32:09)
• Men’s basketball (35:59)
• Join Billy Napier’s Army (38:41)
• Jeremy Foley’s Corner (40:55)

Florida enters the final days of fall camp with competition at its highest level under Billy Napier. The Gators’ depth has helped them weather top tailback Montrell Johnson Jr.’s knee injury. The team’s leading rusher in 2022 and 2023 is on the mend, but will he be ready for Miami? Having more options also requires difficult decisions. Napier calls it a “good problem to have.” In the coming week, he and his staff will have to put together the pieces to position the Gators to beat the Canes. During the latest Swamp Things, Mark and Edgar try to keep pace during the homestretch of the preseason.

• On the mend (2:00)
• Defensive line (11:11)
• QBs Graham Mertz & DJ Lagway (18:13)
• Tim Tebow interview (21:00)
• Offensive line (25:11)
• Billy Napier on scrimmage (29:47)
• Steve Spurrier on limiting access (32:39)
• Biggest curiosities (35:28)
• Hardest schedule in the country (39:47)
• Jaden Rashada lawsuit update (42:45)
• Jeremy Foley’s Corner: Olympic gold (48:20)

The Gators are entering the throes of preseason practices as competition heats up for starting roles. Tailback was a position already locked up, but top rusher Montrell Johnson Jr. is sidelined by a minor knee injury. His timeline is TBD a little more than three weeks before a season-opening visit from Miami. The Gators’ depth and talent will be tested at a critical spot, but Billy Napier is confident he has the roster and culture to overcome obstacles. During the latest Swamp Things, Edgar and Mark catch up on the opening week of camp and what lies ahead.

• DJ Lagway (0:00)
• Key injury (4:40)
• Fighting for starting positions (9:52)
• Elijhah Badger factor (14:00)
• Challenging the team (16:27)
• Bill Napier’s culture (32:57)
• Billy Donovan visit (40:32)
• Jeremy Foley’s Corner: Olympics (43:36)

College football season has officially arrived. Florida staged Media Day Tuesday on the eve of the opening of fall camp Wednesday. Billy Napier sent out four coaches, two of them in new roles and two staff newcomers. More than 30 new players hit the field a day later as the Gators pushed to capitalize on the many changes after a 5-7 season. During the latest Swamp Things, Mark and Edgar weigh in on how all the moves might translate to the field.

• Media Day: Billy Napier sets tone (:00)
• Fresh faces: New coaches (4:36)
• Napier starting over in Year 3 (6:45)
• A humble start (8:40)
• Coach Callaway yin yang (15:31)
• Bigger, stronger, faster (20:32)
• Coach Roberts: The Godfather (28:05)
• Joe Houston to revive special teams (32:22)
• Open practice takeaways (39:58)
• Best program in country coming after UF (42:49)
• Jeremy Foley’s Corner: Olympics (45:48)

Florida football practice opens July 31 during a pivotal Year 3 for Billy Napier. Expectations rarely have been this low, but the Gators are eager to prove nay-sayers wrong. Meanwhile, the Paris Olympics begin with a record 40 athletes with UF ties at the Games. During the latest Swamp Things, Edgar and Mark discuss whether the Gators’ high hopes ring true or are fool’s gold.

• Gators: Doom and gloom (:00)
• Gators: On the brighter side (3:44)
• Calling the plays (5:30)
• All-SEC team and Graham Mertz (8:16)
• Gators are stronger, faster, bigger (13:25)
• EA Sports with DJ Lagway, Montrell Johnson (18:20)
• Practice starting but little media access (22:44)
• Breaking down Gator potential (27:13)
• Jeremy Foley’s Corner: Olympics (44:11)

The 2024 football season unofficially began at SEC Media Days. Billy Napier and the Gators were optimistic and stuck to the script amid a sea of skeptics. But the week’s big surprise was the sudden retirement of UF president Ben Sasse because of his wife’s health issues. The native of Nebraska quickly became an ardent Gators fan and was sure to have a say in Napier’s future. During the latest Swamp Things, Mark and Edgar returned from a hiatus, ready for the start of fall camp at month’s end.

• SEC Media Days takeways (:00)
• UF players present (6:05)
• Will Billy Napier be hero or zero? (9:00)
• Trevor Etienne and MontrelllJohnson (14:15)
• Texas & Oklahoma to SEC (19:18)
• SEC experts on UF (26:80)
• Breaking down Florida’s schedule (28:57)
• UF president stepping down (33:25)
• MLB Draft (39:44)

Florida’s slow progress on the recruiting trail picked up pace with the commitment of West Broward receiver Joshua Moore, who credited DJ Lagway with luring him to Gainesville. Billy Napier does not shun a helping hand, positioning the Gators to capitalize on the NCAA ruling to allow analysts to coach the field. Meanwhile, the Florida-Georgia game will have to find a home in 2026-27, but it won’t be Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. A Gators-Bulldogs matchup in the Swamp would be something to see. Where does the Gators’ home field rank in college football? During the latest Swamp Things, Edgar and Mark stand up and holler about a variety of topics.

• Florida beating out instate rivals (:00)
• DJ Lagway (6:10)
• Billy Napier’s army of support (12:11)
• Beyah Rasool (18:33)
• Learfield Directors’ Cup (23:08)
• Code Red: Lawsuit settlement (30:19)
• Future of Florida/Georgia game (32:31)
• EA Sports ranks stadiums (37:50)
• Baseball (45:15)
• Jeremy Foley’s Corner (50:18)