JetNation Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 Anyone familiar with Billy Donovan knows that he's destined for something bigger, even after two NCAA titles, on a football-mad campus. When the promising Magic beckoned, it was only logical to go, Gary Parrish says. </img> </img> </img> </img> More... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K2C Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 Billy Ball is coming to O-Town!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 The contract he got was sick, he did the right thing IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugg Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 Ask Lon Kruger, Rick Pitino and PJ Carlesimo. He could stay in Gainesville and become like Kzyzewski or Knight or Williams. That whole line of rah rah BS isn't going to fly over 80+ games of an NBA season. Most of the starters make more than him. Above all, his whole act is his personality and recruiting, which in the pros is negated. he's never been a great Xs and Os guy, so his weakness as a coach gets magnified. And think about it-you're treated like a God in Gainesville. In Orlando you're 2nd fiddle to a freaking rodent. As a 2-time national champion with 12 scholarships spread out over 4-5 years, Donovan wasn't going to be killing himself recruiting. They only play 30 odd games. The season is doen by April. I suspect in about 2 or 3 years after some lackluster Magic basketball, Donovan will be looking to go back to school. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faba Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 The lure of a bigger payday takes another from the coaching ranks where he had it made- at least he stays in the area with his family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GM Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 I predict the Magic fanbase will explode.... Watch for alot of sell outs.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShadowJet35 Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 This is a no-brainer, The only reason players/coaches participate in college sports is to make the pros. No one sits around as a kid dreaming of playing in college...He wanted (when he became a coach) to make it up to the top. When he went to Florida, he went in with a mission to prove he could coach at the NBA LEVEL. He proved it, and now it's time for him to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 I don't think there a bad team, they made the 8th seed last year with only Howard doing the work. I think they might be two or three players away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 donovan signed contract but is now having second thoughts magic will let him out of contract and he'll go back to UF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugg Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 This is a no-brainer, The only reason players/coaches participate in college sports is to make the pros. No one sits around as a kid dreaming of playing in college...He wanted (when he became a coach) to make it up to the top. When he went to Florida, he went in with a mission to prove he could coach at the NBA LEVEL. He proved it, and now it's time for him to go. He's having 2nd thoughts, so it's not such a no brainer. Plus while it's the same game it's a different situation. His mentor, Pitino , wasn't so wonderful the 2nd time around with the Celtics. In college he's got 12-15 guys he has on a leash holding their scholarhips over their heads, and they will only be on campus for 4-5 years, so they won't get tired of hearing all his speeches. He is the unquestioned Boss. In the pros, he's not close to the best paid guy in the room. Over an 82-game season and year to year, there isn't a whole bunch of motivation or speeches that they care about. And some of these guys(like half the Knicks roster last season) are bad contracts being played out that do not listen to you. And if he has kids, college is much less of a grind. Some summer camps, 3-6 visits to recruits to close the deal(and now that he's won 2 trophies in 2 years, they may come to him); sitting in his office on campus until October 15th and then practice, followed by a 30-game season from November to April. Most road trips are a night. He can see his kids a whole bunch. In the NBA he'll be on the road in hotels for weeks during the season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugg Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 Sources: Donovan wants out of Magic deal Jeff Goodman / FOXSports.com Posted: 3 hours ago According to the Orlando Sentinel, the Orlando Magic has agreed to let Bily Donovan out of his contract, paving the way for the former Florida coach to return to the Gators. Donovan agreed to a five-year, $27.5 million deal late last week with the Magic, but as first reported by FOXSports.com on Sunday night, he approached both sides about getting out of the contract over the weekend. According to sources, Donovan had second thoughts shortly after being introduced at a news conference on Friday morning. He is known as someone who takes excessive time in making decisions, and wasn't given much time to decide if he wanted the NBA job. Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley flew to Richmond, Va., to meet with VCU coach Anthony Grant, a former Donovan assistant, on Saturday morning. However, he returned shortly after arriving in Virginia due to an emergency. According to a source close to the Gators program, the emergency was that Donovan was attempting to get out of his contract with the Magic and return to Florida. On Monday morning, the Magic released this statement: "While Central Florida, the Orlando Magic and Billy were energized with the announcement of his contract signing on Friday, we know there was a different feeling in Gainesville and people have been tugging at him since that time. Billy is conflicted with those emotions and the opportunity he has ahead in Orlando and in the NBA. We've had numerous conversations and a personal visit in Gainesville with Billy over the last 48 hours and we have a commitment from him that the dialogue between us will continue." However, the Orlando Sentinel quoted an unnamed source saying, "It's over" regarding the Magic allowing Donovan out of his contract. Donovan, 42, led the Gators to consecutive national titles over the past two seasons and was slated to sign a seven-year deal worth approximately $3.5 million annually. The deal was still in the process of being approved when he accepted the deal with the Magic. Donovan was introduced by the Orlando Magic at a news conference on Friday. If Donovan had a change of heart, it wouldn't be the first in college basketball. Creighton coach Dana Altman was introduced as Arkansas' new basketball coach earlier this spring, then decided to return to Creighton two days later. Altman's reversal was not without precedent. In 1993, Bobby Cremins accepted the South Carolina job, then reneged two days later and returned to Georgia Tech. And in June 2006, Charleston hired Winthrop's Gregg Marshall, but Marshall told the Cougars one day later he was returning to Winthrop. Jeff Goodman is a senior college basketball writer for FOXSports.com. He can be reached at GoodmanonFOX@aol.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faba Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 He shouuld stay at Florida- he has ideal situation there right now- recruiting has to be good with two championships and not have to deal with egos and salary cap of NBA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny green balls Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 jeeze, what a wet noodle. he goes to whoever begs him last? i respect him as a coach but you'd think a 2-time nat'l championship coach could make decisions quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 This is so stupid of him, the money he's getting is unreal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugg Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 This is so stupid of him, the money he's getting is unreal. Florida is still paying hima serious pile. Getting to see your kids grow up and having players that listen to you is a good deal. As a college coach he's in almost complete control of any variable. As an NBA coach, most of the variables (the cap, idiot players, travel) are out of your control. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 Florida is still paying hima serious pile. Getting to see your kids grow up and having players that listen to you is a good deal. As a college coach he's in almost complete control of any variable. As an NBA coach, most of the variables (the cap, idiot players, travel) are out of your control. I think it's a great experience tho, he already has a star player in Dwight Howard. He also could become on the few successful college coaches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GM Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 Donovan is a POS pussy.... **** the Gaytors Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#27TheDominator Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 Nothing like a decisive coach that is good under pressure. He had to expect the pros to come calling. Why he didn't already have his mind made up is beyond me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetsfan80 Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 Poor Anthony Grant. The up-start former assistant at Florida will now miss out on the gig of a lifetime. On the flip side, good news for Florida, Virginia Commonwealth (where Grant currently coaches), and college basketball in general. Coach K turned down the NBA, and now Donovan does the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K2C Posted June 5, 2007 Share Posted June 5, 2007 This may be the Magic fan in me..but Billy D is scum to me now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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