MARK LONG
New Florida NCAA college football head coach Billy Napier shakes hands with fans as he and his family arrive at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla., Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021. [Brad McClenny/The Gainesville Sun via AP)
Florida's Napier plans to hire 'unprecedented' support staff

By Mark Long 17 hrs ago
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — New Florida coach Billy Napier plans to hire an

Louisiana-Lafayette head coach Billy Napier, soon to be Florida head coach, wipes his eye after the team defeated Appalachian State in the Sun Belt Conference championship NCAA college football game in Lafayette, La., Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
AP source: Napier gets 7-year, $51.8M contract at Florida

By Mark Long Dec. 04, 2021 09:31 PM EST
GAINEVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Billy Napier more than tripled his salary while moving

Louisiana-Lafayette head coach Billy Napier, right, watches Louisiana-Lafayette quarterback Levi Lewis (1) warm up before an NCAA college football game against Louisiana-Monroe in Lafayette, La., Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Florida hires La-Lafayette coach Napier to replace Mullen

By Mark Long Nov. 28, 2021 01:54 PM EST
Florida went back to Nick Saban's coaching tree in hopes of finding its next

Florida State defensive back Jarvis Brownlee Jr. (3) runs past Florida wide receiver Justin Shorter (4) after intercepting a pass in the end zone during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Florida tops rival FSU 24-21 for 3rd straight in series

By Mark Long Nov. 27, 2021 04:06 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Zach Carter made his way to one corner of the Swamp

Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis (13) drops back to pass under pressure from Boston College defensive lineman Izaiah Henderson (92) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
Bowl game, bragging rights at stake for rivals FSU, Florida

By Mark Long Nov. 26, 2021 09:38 AM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Running back Malik Davis, one of a dozen Florida

FILE - Mississippi State interim head coach Greg Knox watches his team warm up before the TaxSlayer Bowl NCAA college football game against Louisville, Dec. 30, 2017, in Jacksonville, Fla. Knox is stepping in for Dan Mullen for the second time in five years. A 27-year veteran of the Southeastern Conference and a winner in his only game as an interim head coach, Knox knows how to handle a staff. He knows how to handle players. He knows how to handle himself. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton, File)
Florida turns to longtime SEC assistant Knox amid transition

By Mark Long Nov. 22, 2021 05:52 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Greg Knox is stepping in for Dan Mullen for the second

Florida quarterback Emory Jones sits in his end zone after an incomplete pass during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game against Missouri, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Florida fires coach Dan Mullen, completing stunning fall

By Mark Long Nov. 21, 2021 01:33 PM EST
One bad season at Florida was one too many for Dan Mullen.

Florida quarterback Emory Jones (5) scrambles for yardage as he gets past Samford defensive tackle Seth Simmer (99) and cornerback Coutrell Plair, right, during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Florida sticking with QB Jones at Mizzou, moving forward

By Mark Long Nov. 15, 2021 04:23 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida coach Dan Mullen is sticking with quarterback

Florida tight end Kemore Gamble (2) hurdles Samford safety Chris Edmonds for yardage during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Florida rallies to beat Samford 70-52 in Swamp shootout

By Mark Long Nov. 13, 2021 03:42 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida coach Dan Mullen celebrated his team's 70-52

Florida running back Nay'Quan Wright (6) carries as South Carolina defensive end Jordan Burch (3) defends during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
Florida looks to regroup, end skid against FCS foe Samford

By Mark Long Nov. 11, 2021 12:33 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — It doesn’t really matter what embattled Florida coach

Florida head coach Dan Mullen watches from the sideline during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against South Carolina on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
Mullen contrite, confident he can fix Florida's problems

By Mark Long Nov. 08, 2021 05:12 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida coach Dan Mullen fired two close friends in

Florida defensive coordinator Todd Grantham coaches from the sideline during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Georgia, Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (Stephen B. Morton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Reeling Florida fires veteran assistants Grantham, Hevesy

By Mark Long Nov. 07, 2021 09:55 PM EST
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida fired defensive coordinator Todd Grantham and

Liberty quarterback Malik Willis throws a pass against Massachusetts during an NCAA college football game in Lynchburg, Va., Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021. (Kendall Warner/The News & Advance via AP)
NFL Prospect Watch: QB Willis gets chance to raise profile

By Mark Long Nov. 05, 2021 02:46 PM EDT
Malik Willis refused to settle for a backup role. Liberty's

Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson (15) is tackled by Georgia defensive back Lewis Cine (16), linebacker Quay Walker (7) and defensive back Christopher Smith, right, after scrambling for yardage during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Florida's Richardson has concussion, uncertain to play at SC

By Mark Long Nov. 03, 2021 04:07 PM EDT
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson is recovering

Georgia coach Kirby Smart, left, and Florida coach Dan Mullen meet after Georgia's win in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (Stephen B. Morton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Florida coach Mullen shutters media access for the week

By Mark Long Nov. 01, 2021 05:34 PM EDT
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Dan Mullen’s strange and subpar season took another

Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) throws a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Florida, Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
No. 1 Georgia, defense dominate Florida in Cocktail Party

By Mark Long Oct. 30, 2021 06:50 PM EDT
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Raise a glass to Georgia's defense. Or three,

Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter strip sacks Kentucky quarterback Will Levis with Georgia recovering during the second quarter but the play was called back and ruled an incomplete pass after review in a NCAA college football game on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Athens. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
No. 1 Georgia looks to continue trend in 'Cocktail Party'

By Mark Long Oct. 28, 2021 03:56 PM EDT
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The “Cocktail Party” has provided little drama in

Florida quarterback Emory Jones (5) is pressured by LSU defensive end BJ Ojulari (8) in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
QB changes possible for Georgia, Florida in Cocktail Party

By Mark Long Oct. 26, 2021 02:49 PM EDT
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida coach Dan Mullen has fielded quarterback

Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson (15) throws in the second half of an NCAA college football game against LSU in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Spotlight on Florida's Mullen could dim or intensify vs UGA

By Mark Long Oct. 23, 2021 02:54 AM EDT
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — At best, Florida coach Dan Mullen is merely

LSU coach Ed Orgeron looks up at the video board during the first half of the tealm's NCAA college football game against Kentucky in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Clubb)
Anything can, and often does, happen in Florida-LSU rivalry

By Mark Long Oct. 12, 2021 05:13 PM EDT
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — No one can truly predict what will happen when No. 20