The head coach of the Gators, Billy Napier, revealed his preparations for the team’s practice on Saturday against Tennessee, with Hurricane Milton predicted to make landfall in the state of Florida.

Billy Napier, the head coach of the Gators, gave an update on his team’s intentions for the week as Hurricane Milton was predicted to make landfall in Florida, directly affecting much of the state’s west coast, middle region, and southern section.

“Of course, our prayers and thoughts are with everyone affected by the disaster,” Napier began his segment of the SEC coaches’ teleconference on Wednesday. “It goes without saying that a number of our players and their families will be directly involved in this. So, we absolutely are thinking about those engaged here. The chance to attend and play this historic game excites our team.

Here, we are in the midst of getting ready. Over the next several days, our schedule will be slightly altered, but overall, we are enthusiastic with our staff and their attitude.”

Milton, a severe Category 4 hurricane, has prompted a widespread evacuation throughout the state’s west coast, particularly in the Tampa area, in advance of its anticipated landfall late Wednesday or early Thursday. A large portion of Florida’s players are from regions that the hurricane is predicted to affect.

“We have been communicating with them all week, attempting to provide them the most recent information,” Napier stated. We have planned quite a bit in terms of what they must be doing in order to foresee what is about to happen.

After that, the athletic department and organisation will be available to provide the participants with complete support for any potential family issues. However, there’s no denying that this hurricane will have a major impact on a large number of people.”

The storm is currently travelling south, so it is not expected to directly affect the Gainesville area, but the University of Florida has taken measures by cancelling classes and closing its offices on Wednesday and Thursday. Napier’s scheduled news conference for Wednesday night was also postponed, and his scheduled appearance on Gator Talk on Thursday will not take place in front of an audience on-site.

Napier, who is currently coping with his fourth hurricane in his nearly three years as UF’s head football coach, has also adjusted his practice schedule for this week due to the shifting university calendar.

“To attempt to get everyone here sheltered before the storm arrives, we shifted the timetable up today,” Napier explained. Depending on the circumstances around our wake-up time, tomorrow’s plans are rather uncertain. Overall, I believe we plan to basically move things along today and then take a little step back tomorrow.”

As the storm moves closer to the southern part of the state, Gainesville is becoming a popular destination for people fleeing the area predicted to be affected. Napier described how hotel occupancy had increased as a result.

“A significant number of people are either leaving or moving north,” he stated. “We’re expecting additional tropical storm-type stuff, but for now we’re outside the storm’s eye.”

When Florida plays the eighth-ranked Volunteers in Knoxville, Tennessee, Napier did not say whether the team would go there. On Saturday, the game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ESPN provides television coverage of the event.