Gators head football coach Billy Napier speaks on his victory cigar

JohnS · December 3, 2024

Gators head football coach Billy Napier speaks on his victory cigar, Florida's celebratory locker room scenes after defeating FSU in Week 14

Pankti Parmar - December 2, 2024

Gators head football coach Billy Napier speaks on his victory cigar, Florida's celebratory locker room scenes after defeating FSU in Week 14 image

After a dominant 31-11 win over their in-state rivals, FSU, Florida head football coach Billy Napier decided to be part of the victory cigar fun.

Victory cigars have become a locker room staple following Gator wins, but just among the players. But this time, Napier also decided to join in since they ended the season in a much better position than they started in given the hot seat noise surrounding him.

"Absolutely," Napier said beaming when asked if he had a victory cigar in his post-game conference.

After all, getting off the hot seat, gaining a vote of confidence from his program, flipping the losing narrative to a winning 7-5 one in the final few games, and ending the season on a three-win streak, all while bearing the online heat called for one, is worthy of a toke.

"Yeah it's a huge positive," Napier further added on what it's like to end the season on a positive note. "It's unfortunate that we have a distraction that, again, is inexcusable. So, look, our guys deserve it. They've worked their tails off. I'm proud of them, and as a coach, you want to see the players get some gratification from all their work."

Florida QB DJ Lagway enjoys his first victory cigar with the Gators

After the hell of a night he had after pushing off the D-lineman Darrell Jackson Jr., scrambled and found WR Chimere Dike for a 17-yard gain, and scoring a massive win for the Gators, Lagway finally decided to have his first victory cigar as the victory room opened their pack.

"It was my first time ever smoking anything. It was cool though. Having that experience with the guys," Lagway said.

Additionally, the freshman QB also got lauded as the "superman" by Napier since it marked their first win over their in-state rival since 2021, and their first winning season since 2020.

Cigar or not, it was surely one memorable night for Lagway and Napier.

Source: https://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-football/news/gators-head-football-coach-billy-napier-speaks-victory-cigar-florida-celebratory-locker-room-scenes-defeating-fsu-week-14/b5539e4843323661e4f6dbb0

JohnS · December 3, 2024

'Superman': Florida football QB DJ Lagway sheds FSU pass rusher, celebrates win with first cigar

Gators QB DJ Lagway awed the shivering fans at Doak Campbell Stadium in the second quarter, then celebrated his first win in the rivalry postgame with a victory cigar.

Noah Ram - Gainesville Sun

TALLAHASSEE — Florida football QB DJ Lagway seems to knack for awing fans.

His latest moment came Saturday night in the Gators' 31-11 win over FSU.

In the second quarter, FSU defensive lineman Darrell Jackson Jr., who is 6-foot-5 and 330 pounds, seemed to have Lagway down for a sack.

Not so fast, my friend.

Lagway, who at 239 pounds is nearly 100 pounds less than Jackson, pushed off the D-lineman, scrambled and found WR Chimere Dike for a 17-yard gain.

Florida head coach Billy Napier called Lagway "Superman" after the game due to that play.

"I just kind of kept churning and he pushed off of me and I pushed off him back. I got off him and my helmet was all screwed up," Lagway said postgame.

The QB added that he couldn't even see Dike downfield.

"I just threw it to a spot and he was there. It was a great play by Chim,” Lagway said.

Running back Montrell Johnson also shared his thoughts on the play.

"I was sitting on the sideline and I’m like, 'No way he gets out of this.' Then he gets out of this and he throws a dart to Chimere. That man is great," Johnson said.

When it comes to his unbelievable ability to make off-schedule throws, Lagway downplayed it. He said it's more about the ability to not give up on a play and developing chemistry with receivers.

"A scramble drill, knowing where you’re supposed to be, getting to their spots, just making plays. At the end of the day it’s football. It’s what you used to play in the back yard with your family," Lagway said.

Lagway, who threw for 133 yards and two touchdowns, celebrated the win with a postgame cigar. A personal first for him.

"It was my first time ever smoking anything. It was cool though. Having that experience with the guys," Lagway said.

Overall, the freshman from Willis, Texas, enjoyed his first game in one of college football's most storied rivalries.

"It was cool. You always watch and see it on TV and see the horse and stuff like that," Lagway said. "It was pretty cool to go there and see that and go play and get the dub, especially in this stadium. It was great."

Napier thought Lagway handled the hostile environment of Doak Campbell Stadium well in his first career road start.

"I thought he just kept playing within the system, taking what they gave him," Napier said. "Big third-and-three conversion there to Tank Hawkins late. Big throw to Chimere, big throw to Burke. Obviously, the touchdown late."

As a freshman, Napier believes Lagway still has room for growth, despite the awe-inspiring passes.

"He's going to be frustrated because he knows that there were six or eight plays where he could've been better," Napier said. "But, we've got to play better around the quarterback. I didn't think we were sharp. Every position could have been better there around the quarterback tonight."

The win was UF's first over its rival since 2021, and it clinched its first winning season since 2020.

Source: https://eu.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/college/sec/2024/12/01/florida-football-qb-dj-lagway-beats-fsu-celebrates-victory-cigar-billy-napier-gators-chimere-dike/76567155007/