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Clemson football: The Dabo coaching tree is growing new branches

By John Baker

CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 20: Head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers looks on during their game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Clemson Memorial Stadium on November 20, 2021 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 20: Head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers looks on during their game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Clemson Memorial Stadium on November 20, 2021 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /
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Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier thanks his team for a good scrimmage after Blue beat Orange 34-0 as the Florida Gators scrimmaged themselves during the annual Orange and Blue spring game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL, Thursday afternoon, April 14, 2022. [Doug Engle/Ocala Star Banner]2022Oca Orangeandbluegame
Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier thanks his team for a good scrimmage after Blue beat Orange 34-0 as the Florida Gators scrimmaged themselves during the annual Orange and Blue spring game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL, Thursday afternoon, April 14, 2022. [Doug Engle/Ocala Star Banner]2022Oca Orangeandbluegame /

Billy Napier

Coaching Record: 40-12 (4 seasons)

Season Expectations: In year one of the Billy Napier era, it may not be a pleasant season for the Florida Gators. Florida hosts Utah(Sep. 3), Kentucky(Sep. 10), USF(Sep. 17), Eastern Washington(Oct. 1), Missouri(Oct. 8), LSU(Oct. 15), and South Carolina(Nov. 12). Florida will travel to Tennessee(Sep. 24), Texas A&M(Nov. 5), Vanderbilt(Nov. 19), and Florida State(Nov. 25). And will of course play Georgia(Oct. 29) in Jacksonville, FL for their annual meeting. As of now their are 6 for sure wins for Florida, but playing in the SEC gives them tough games year in and year out. A reasonable and the most logical prediction for Florida this season would be 6-7 wins and make a bowl game, and maybe 8 wins.

Season Record (Prediction): 6-6

Expectations for the future: While Florida may be in rebuilding right now, they will be the biggest threat to Georgia in the SEC East for years to come. Billy Napier is a proven winner wherever he goes, and he knows how to find success wherever he is. Realistically Florida will be middle of the pack this season in the SEC, and maybe the year after that, But year 3 is when you should expect to see things start to pick up and take off for Florida. While Georgia has always been a problem, Tennessee may become one as well, and maybe even Texas(when they join), this will put Florida in a 3-4 team race every single season. There is high hopes for Florida and Billy Napier, but this is going to take some time, and being in the SEC won’t help them get there faster. Give him time and watch the winning start to happen. Billy Napier is going to do great things in Gainesville.

Likelihood of being the next Head coach at Clemson: 1. There is no way of putting this lightly, BIlly Napier won’t be coming back to Clemson for any reason at all. He was an assistant for Dabo early in his coaching career, but has since coached under Nick Saban, Jim McElwain, Jimbo Fisher, and Todd Graham. Napier is a great mind, coach, and checks all the boxes that you could want in a coach today. Napier will find great success at Florida, and just like Venables, he has a great job at a power 5 school in the SEC, the chances would be very slim.

Next. Recruiting Georgia is key for Clemson's future. dark

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