|
Posted 06/04/2007 at 07:31 PM
OK, so maybe because I'm a Florida Gator I'm just a little biased in this situation but I do believe that Gator basketball coach Billy Donovan has made the right decision in wanting to return to Florida and passing on the job with the Orlando Magic. Notice that I said "Gator basketball coach" because in my mind, Donovan was never and will never be anything but just that. The Gator Basketball Coach.
I'm not old enough to remember him playing at Providence. I don't remember his NBA days. What I do remember is three SEC Championships, three Final Fours, and two National titles. I remember how he introduced the "Rowdy Reptiles" to big time basketball. I'll never forget how the bleachers in the O'Dome (also known as the "House of Horrors") shake uncontrollably when Kentucky comes to town. I'll never forget the embarassment on Greg Oden's face when he came to Gainesville. All of this is the product of Donovan.
I remember visiting my old college town just a few years ago and conversing with the coach in a sorority house after his weekly radio show. We were discussing recruiting and it amazed me how this seemed to be his favorite part of the job. He told me how difficult it was find players who didn't want to bolt for the NBA after one year and amazingly enough, that was the year he brought in Noah and company. They didn't bolt for the NBA and the cash and now he's following in their footsteps.
One of Jimmy V's famous lines is "never mess with happiness" and this couldn't be more true then in the case of Billy Donovan. The man has everything he could ever want in Gainesville and he has even more of it to come in the form of a long term contract. They'll be naming the court after him. It won't be long before he has a street named after him on campus. And lets not forget, Donovan is coming back to the number one recruiting class in the country, another accomplishment for his long resume.
Donovan has earned every ounce of respect as a man and as a coach from the Florida faithful and he deserves very bit of it. He took a second rate D-I basketball school and in just a decade turned it into the premier program in the country. I'm thrilled you want to come back to Gainesville Billy and I can speak for thousands of alumni in welcoming you "home" with open arms.
|
