Sources: If Billy Napier is dismissed, Florida will search for ‘premier and proven name’ from Power conference

Billy Napier remains the head coach at Florida and will coach the Gators when they travel to Mississippi State this Saturday (12 pm, ET, ESPN).

Asked Monday whether Napier felt he could still earn a fourth season at Florida, the embattled coach responded: “One hundred percent.”

Florida’s 1-2 start, featuring 2 humiliating defeats at home, suggests a fourth season at this point is terribly unlikely, even if no official announcement or decision Napier’s future has been made to date.

Florida’s boosters have also secured the money to pay Napier’s $27 million buyout at this point, according to a report by the USA Today, further supporting the notion that at least high level donors to Gator athletics are ready to move forward.

Should Florida pull the plug on Napier, Florida’s boosters and high level donors are prepared to pursue a proven, power conference head coach, according to 2 high level donors who spoke to Saturday Down South. 

Both donors spoke to Saturday Down South on the condition of anonymity due to the ongoing and sensitive nature of the process, which will only begin in earnest when interim president Kent Fuchs approves any final and official decision.

One donor noted Florida’s championship drought, which dates back to 2008 and now spans 5 head coaches, saying that “when the time comes, we will be going after a proven power conference coach first and foremost.”

The other donor added that Florida’s customary approach of hiring a young up and comer appears to have failed the football program for the third time in the past 4 hires.

As a university, we have tried the young names with great records but no power conference experience. It doesn’t work in this era of the sport. If and when we are ready, this search will be for a premier and proven name. We are in the Alabama ’06/’07 mode. They made a commitment to hiring a proven winner. That’s what the University of Florida will do, to the extent we can influence things.”

For now, Napier remains the head coach at Florida, and he and the Gators will seek their first victory over a power conference opponent since last October — a run of 7 straight losses — on Saturday in Starkville.