Gators Emphasize Overcoming Adversity, Building Confidence Heading to Miami

This week, Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier discussed two aspects of his team that could ultimately be his undoing: handling adversity and confidence. Playing Miami at home is a daunting task.

Playing them at home behind the nation's best-run defense is a problem. Finding a way to execute your offense, despite playing into the relative strength of your opponent, does not make for smooth sailing. On top of that, considering how the last two games went for the Gators, Napier's charges are truly up against it.

Without flowery sentences or deft turns of phrase, the Gators need a win in Miami. Perhaps more than ever, Napier could be looking at one of his final games as head coach. As a result, Florida must leave South Florida with a victory.

Miami appears like an overwhelming favorite. As such, Napier spoke about adversity this week, explaining his process for building a team that handles adversity starts with high school recruiting.

"Yeah, you definitely are evaluating the mental makeup," he said on identifying players who can handle adversity. "I think their parents are a big piece of the puzzle. What's the kid's story? What was his role in his high school team? Was he a leader? What's his reputation in the building at school? And oftentimes, these guys have been through difficult things in the past, and how they handle them, you know, I think that's the whole key.

"So then you go with your gut, you get a lot of exposure to these guys, and I think we try to make the right decisions, so yeah, I think that, look, I think in the beginning, when you're turning a roster over, it's more challenging, and then as you establish things, I think the guys are a good example for the young players."

He will get to see if his guesses on the intestinal fortitude of the players he built his program with will come through in a big moment. The roster, filled with highly touted recruits, needs to start playing up to their talent level.

For instance, DJ Lagway cannot suffer another atrocious evening. Miami is not LSU. Carson Beck completes 79.3 percent of his passes and will convert any Florida turnovers into sure points. Under those circumstances, being smarter with the ball starts with the quarterback.

Confidence became another topic of conversation for Napier this week.

"I sit around and think about what our team looks like when all players are playing at their highest level, when each position group is playing with an identity, with each unit working together and complementing each other. We're still pursuing that," he said. :We haven't played our best game yet, and I think we're still pursuing putting it all together."

Jadan Baugh and the offensive line will need that same confidence. Miami allows 2.56 yards per carry. To this point, in 12 quarters, they've allowed just one rushing score and an average of 75 yards on the ground. This game could tilt in the Gators' favor if Baugh and the offensive line can be productive.

The Miami game could serve as a crossroads for Florida. Either they will rise to the challenge and pull what many consider an upset, or they will crumble, and that could lead to a possible coaching change.