Joakim Noah Makes Blunt Admission About Florida After Winning NCAA Championship

Last month, the Florida Gators won their third basketball title in program history.

Led by standout guard Walter Clayton Jr., the Gators captured their first national title since going back-to-back in the mid-2000s.Meanwhile, while Florida basketball has made three of the last five NCAA championships, the football team has just one bowl game victory since 2021.

Although both programs dominated the 2000s, only the men's basketball team has found glory in recent memory.

Following the 2024-25 seasons, each program has three national titles.

So, is the University of Florida now a basketball school?Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden after winning the national championship.Robert Deutsch-Imagn ImagesDuring an appearance on Barstool Sports' Pardon My Take, former Florida Gators basketball star Joakim Noah weighed in on a long-standing debate in Gainesville: Is the University of Florida a football school or a basketball school?Noah, who helped lead Florida to back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007, had an interesting answer."It's a football school," Noah said.

"It's a football school, but it's okay.

Football brings in the money.

But at the end of the day, a chip is a chip."Noah, a two-time NCAA champion, NBA All-Star, and the emotional anchor of Billy Donovan's historic Gators squads from 2004 to 2007, made it clear that Florida is all about a winning culture."Like, you come back, and you go to Grog House, and you go to the bar, you're not talking about 'is this a football school or a basketball school.' The checks are coming," Noah added.The comments come at a time when both Florida programs are at a crossroads.

The Gators football team, under fourth-year head coach Billy Napier, just posted an 8-5 record after back-to-back losing seasons.

Florida hasn't finished inside the final AP Top 25 Poll since 2020 and has not won double-digit games since 2019.

Meanwhile, the men's basketball program is fresh off their first time since the Noah-Donovan era.

Under the guidance of head coach Todd Golden, the Gators went 36-4 last season, capped by a historic 65-63 win against the Houston Cougars.Noah's remarks likely won't stir much controversy in Gainesvillewith college football driving the NIL craze.

Still, Noah emphasized that championshipsno matter the sportearn respect in Gainesville.Related: Former Four-Star Florida QB Commit Lands at FCS Powerhouse.

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