Jon Sumrall’s message hints at what went wrong under Billy Napier at Florida

As Jon Sumrall continues his offseason speaking tour, the topic of Billy Napier has come up a few times. Sumrall has been blunt that he is aware of why the comparisons between him and Napier exist, and he has also made the point that he and Napier are not the same people.

 

In an interview that was released today with Josh Pate, Sumrall also brought up another point that many haven’t considered as to why he and Napier aren’t from the same exact background.

 

Jon Sumrall says stop at Tulane was essential to his own development

Sumrall was asked how much it mattered to him that he was getting compared to Napier even before the ink was dry on his contract. Both had similar win percentages and were Group of Five coaches from Louisiana. Sumrall gave a response that is in line with how he has responded in the past to this question:

 

“I’m unapologetically myself. I’m not naive. I’m aware of the environment or landscape in front of me. And so after my first conversation with the administration here and the search committee here, I remember thinking, man, the University of Florida. Like, wow, that would be awesome.

And I also really quickly remember thinking they’re not going to hire another G5 coach from Louisiana. No chance. Like zero percent. Not because I’m the same as what was here. And I have a ton of respect for Billy. Not knocking who Billy is. I think he’s been really successful. But we’re not the same guy.”

 

Sumrall would go on to explain why he felt it was necessary to spend two years at Tulane first, rather than heading straight to a Power Four conference from Troy:

But I do think it’s a lazy take to think just because somebody maybe had come from a similar level that we’re the same guy. The thing I will tell you, too, is that had I come here or any SEC job, for that matter, after my second year or first year at Troy, I probably would not have been ready. I needed a step in between. Like I did. I’m not saying everybody else does. I did.