March Madness

[TooFarTampa]

I'd like to see him stay at Florida but it depends on how he likes sharing the spotlight with Urban and football. I think you are right JB, the decision will be based on ego.

What's interesting is I read that Urban and Billy live two doors down from each other. Their wives are close friends and their children play together. When asked if he would mind Billy earning more than he does, Urban said something to the effect of, "absolutely not, if you really knew our relationship you wouldn't even bother to ask that question."

My best guess is that Billy and Foley will sit down and hammer out a deal that gets him a salary equal to Urban's, plus whatever kind of financial commitment it takes to keep Florida in the upper echelon. My guess is if Billy sees that he will be able to build the program into a true basketball powerhouse a la Kentucky, it would be worth it to him to stay. Maybe Kentucky is a dream job for him but more likely, it WAS a dream job for him at one time and he realizes how good he has it now.

I think he stays. On the other hand I would not be shocked if he left within 5 years for the NBA.

 

[Kurt]

Of course not.

Donovan and his wife are good people. His ego is all about hard work, living right, and teaching kids, same as Urban and Shelley Meyer. Billy and Christine Donovan helped recruit Urban Meyer and his family to Florida. The two wives and the two coaches spent time together on the phone and in person before Meyer accepted the job. The Donovans were their welcoming committee. They live in the same neighborhood, their kids go to the same schools (Donovan's son plays Bball at a new high school the Donovan family helped to build), and they attend the same catholic church.

Florida has the 2 best coaches in the nation and hopefully it will be that way for awhile.

 

[Kurt]

TFT we were writing at the same time.

I think Billy retires as the coach of Florida. He learned the NBA lesson from Pitino without having to go through the pain.

Meyer doesn't want to coach pros either. Donovan and Meyer are good friends with Bill Belichick, HC of the New England patriots though so maybe he might change their minds.

 

[30A Skunkape]

Of course not.

Donovan and his wife are good people. His ego is all about hard work, living right, and teaching kids, same as Urban and Shelley Meyer. Billy and Christine Donovan helped recruit Urban Meyer and his family to Florida. The two wives and the two coaches spent time together on the phone and in person before Meyer accepted the job. The Donovans were their welcoming committee. They live in the same neighborhood, their kids go to the same schools (Donovan's son plays Bball at a new high school the Donovan family helped to build), and they attend the same catholic church.

Florida has the 2 best coaches in the nation and hopefully it will be that way for awhile.

You better watch out, Alabama might come a'calling

 

[Cheering472]

I think it would be a huge mistake for him to come to UK. He was an assistant at UK, he knows the pressure Pitino had to withstand. Why on earth would he do such a thing? Beach Runners passion for her team pales in comparison to some Kentucky fans I know. I would think life is better outside that pressure cooker.

Hey what do I know maybe he wants to live down the road from Pitino or he just loves horses. But I think he and his family would be better off and much happier in Florida.

 

[JB]

TFT we were writing at the same time.

I think Billy retires as the coach of Florida. He learned the NBA lesson from Pitino without having to go through the pain.

Meyer doesn't want to coach pros either. Donovan and Meyer are good friends with Bill Belichick, HC of the New England patriots though so maybe he might change their minds.

I'll be replying to this one again after Donovan's press conference in Lexington

Seriously, y'all are closer to the situation than I am. But.....doesn't the fact that not one single other name has come up in association with the UK job not concern UF fans just a little? It would me were I a UF fan. If UK had their eye on anyone other than Donovan, it would have leaked. This doesn't mean he will take the job, but it's pretty clear UK has all their eggs in Donovan's basket.

 

[Cheering472]

I'll be replying to this one again after Donovan's press conference in Lexington

Seriously, y'all are closer to the situation than I am. But.....doesn't the fact that not one single other name has come up in association with the UK job not concern UF fans just a little? It would me were I a UF fan. If UK had their eye on anyone other than Donovan, it would have leaked. This doesn't mean he will take the job, but it's pretty clear UK has all their eggs in Donovan's basket.

Aren't they talking old school/new blood? Old player Pelphrey and someone else was mentioned and the Marquette coach. Lots of speculation up here. Just because UK thinks they can land Donovan doesn't mean they have him locked in.

However the thing that would make me nervous as a UF fan is that Donovan didn't dismiss the rumor. Only said he'd talk about that when the time was right.

 

[TooFarTampa]

I'll be replying to this one again after Donovan's press conference in Lexington

Seriously, y'all are closer to the situation than I am. But.....doesn't the fact that not one single other name has come up in association with the UK job not concern UF fans just a little? It would me were I a UF fan. If UK had their eye on anyone other than Donovan, it would have leaked. This doesn't mean he will take the job, but it's pretty clear UK has all their eggs in Donovan's basket.

Maybe they are bluffing. Seriously! Acting like this is a natural choice, the only choice, for the most celebrated active coach in college basketball. Because (and it sounds as if Cheering agrees with this) the truth is it may end up being a VERY hard job to fill. Just like Alabama. The pressure is indescribable. You don't have anything close to that pressure at UCLA, the most storied program in history, because, well, its fans are from LA. :funn:
Trust me, I have been around that program and it's like those folks wake up every couple of years, realize they have a good program again and say, Yay! Go team!

I think Billy D should enjoy the moment. It is clear that he has reached the top of his profession because the fans of one of the top three most storied teams in the history of basketball are wetting their pants at the prospect of him coming there. He'd be crazy not to listen. I just can't see him taking it.

 

[Cheering472]

TFT is very wise.

 

[TooFarTampa]

TFT we were writing at the same time.

I think Billy retires as the coach of Florida. He learned the NBA lesson from Pitino without having to go through the pain.

Meyer doesn't want to coach pros either. Donovan and Meyer are good friends with Bill Belichick, HC of the New England patriots though so maybe he might change their minds.

I hope you are right. But since Billy was hired at, what, 30? he is bound to get restless at some point.