Florida's upset of Tennessee 'validates' plan, Billy Napier says - ESPN

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Billy Napier sat in his office Friday on the eve of what would end up being his biggest win yet as Florida's head football coach.

He talked about investment, about belief, about building something the right way.

«Now we need that spark, that's all, something that allows our players to taste a little bit of the fruits of their labor,» Napier told ESPN.

The Gators didn't just taste those fruits Saturday night with the Swamp rocking the way it did in the old days under Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer. They squeezed every bit of juice they could out of the Big Orange, aka No. 11 Tennessee, in a 29-16 victory that Napier called validating in more ways than one.

«It validates your plan. It validates what you're selling to some degree, the things that you continue to harp on,» said Napier, who had been on the proverbial hot seat (at least the perceived hot seat) after losing five of his last seven games a year ago in only his first season.

Then to open this season, that heat only ratcheted up among many in the fan base after an ugly, mistake-filled 24-11 loss to Utah.

«Success is a dirty process and ultimately it's rewarding,» Napier said. «You have to go through some ups and downs along the way.»

As validating as Saturday's win was for Florida, it was equally complete. The Gators (2-1) were dominant in the line of scrimmage. They mixed the pass with the run on offense, and quarterback Graham Mertz was repeatedly able to make key throws on the move. When the Gators surged ahead 26-7 late in the second quarter, they had outgained the Vols 282 to 98 yards.

Sophomore running back Trevor Etienne rushed for a career-high 172 yards. His 62-yard touchdown romp answered a Tennessee touchdown in the first quarter,