With the current bru-ha-ha regarding University of Tennessee Coach Lane Kiffin I wanted to weigh in.  Quite frankly, I don’t see what the fuss is about.  Sure, Kiffin has made several verbal gaffes and deserves to be admonished but folks . . . it’s over.  Or at least it should be.  Unfortunately I see several Florida websites who are absolutely obsessed now with all things Tennessee.

How did this mess start?  Florida fans were not happy losing Marsalis Teague and Nukeese Richardson to Florida at the last minute.  Teague, a Tennessee native was understandable but Nuke came off as nothing but a lying piece of crap.  Not only did Nuke repeatedly lie to people about his trip (stating it was his teammate who was taking the trip and not he) but he also adamantly told coaches and friends that he was in fact going to attend UF.  I don’t have a problem with Richardson going to Tennessee but kid, be a man.  Don’t lie to everyone.  Doing so ended up costing other players who would have loved to get a scholarship offer to Gainesville.

As a player, Nukeese was never going to be the next Percy Harvin that some of his backers made him out to be.  He was going to have to work hard to be the next Brandon James.  I watched him struggle in the Under Armor game against top competition dropping passes, not showing much elusiveness, etc.  I believed he was worthy of a scholarship if the coaches felt he was but never in my wildest dreams did I have him in the same class as Andre Debose.  Not only is Debose more explosive, more elusive and athletic but Debose is 6′0″, 180lbs while Nuke is a 5′9″, 160 soaking wet on his tippy toes. - hardly a primary offensive threat you can build an offense around.

In his excitement of landing Teague (who I think will end up being the better player for UT) and Richardson Lane Kiffin, rookie coach and apparently naive about big time college football, promptly goes out and accuses Urban Meyer of cheating for calling Nukeese during his visit to Knoxville.  While the orange creamsicle crowd went bonkers with enthusiasm, the SEC office later openly admonished Kiffin for not knowing the rules (it was in fact NOT a violation of any kind) and breaking SEC rules by criticizing the coaches of a member institution in public.  Way to go Lane, you are making quite the name for yourself. (more…)

THE GOOD

I know some national sports pundits like Bill King, Tony Barnhart and others have questioned the hiring of Lane Kiffin at Tennessee but I will have to respectfully disagree.  This is a home run folks.  Sure, what does Lane Kiffin bring to the table?  He’s never coached in the SEC before right?  How’s he gonna be able to compete in the rough and tumble Southeastern Conference.

Oh puhhhlease.  He has coordinator experience in college at one of the premier football programs in the country and has been a head coach in the NFL.  Sure, he had a terrible record at Oakland but anyone who actually follows the NFL will know that he took a miserable franchise and situation and make the Raiders surprisingly competitive in his time there.  And it’s no coincidence that after he was fired the Raiders once again began losing big and being non-competitive in the majority of their games.  Say what you will about Kiffin’s abilities, but he got that group of misfits to play as a team and gave a number of opponents fits during his tenure.  The players on a team that caters to players over coaches actually respected Coach Kiffin enough to play hard for him.  How are they doing since he left???

Another knock from the old school idiots is that Kiffin has never “recruited” in the SEC before.  First of all, Tennessee has to recruit nationally, not just in Tennessee and the bordering states and Kiffin HAS done that.  Kiffin is also young, personable and charismatic.  He didn’t win the job as recruiting coordinator at USC because he picked the short straw folks.  And he’s going to coach in the Southern US, not SOUTH AMERICA.  Can people please stop acting like the South is akin to a third world Catholic country that refuses to legalize birth control.  It’s not that different other than the higher level of cheating and player payoffs you find in the South.  Kiffin will recruit well, he’s got a very sharp offensive mind and much to the chagrin of Florida, Georga and the rest of the SEC East . . . life just got a little harder in conference.

THE BAD

I won’t say that Dan Mullen is a bad hire for Mississippi State because he is solid when you compare their level of resources.  The problem is that Mullen won’t turn MSU around for anything more than a short term basis.  Urban Meyer has always been the main offensive mind of the staff that remains as assistants come and go.  Insiders think Receivers coach Billy Gonzales is a sharper offensive mind and has the brighter future.  Mullen is also not considered one of the “stronger” recruiters on the staff so I don’t think there will be a wave of Floridians or top tier prospects to follow Dan west.  Given the history and facilities in Starkville, Mullen might have to turn to a large number of Junior College prospects to build his program.  While I would not be shocked should Mullen turn the Bulldogs into a bowl caliber team, I would be shocked if he can consistently win more than 8 games or compete for an SEC West title.

THE UGLY

Gene Chizik?  Are you kidding me?  Did the Special Teams coach from Baylor turn Auburn down???  I guess if that amazing 3-9 first season at Iowa State didn’t turn anyone’s heads his stellar 2-10 follow up season sure got the attention of the Tiger faithful.  Wow . . . . this has Bobby Lowder written all over it.  Hell . . . I wouldn’t be surprised if Athletic Director Jay Jacobs was unaware of the hire and learned about it as it was released to the press.  When you look at the candidates like Texas Tech’s Mike Leach, who I realize wanted nothing to do with that circus on the plains, Gary Patterson (TCU), Turner Gill (Buffalo), Skip Holtz (ECU) and Todd Graham (Tulsa) who the hell is Gene Chizik?  I realize he had a great reputation as a defensive coordinator but I think that his flop so far at Iowa State might be relevant?  I mean even the Cyclone defense had gotten worse in year two than year one.

I guess it’s simple, either no one of any ability actually wanted the job or Gene Chizik promises to be such a Lowder yes man that he was too hard to pass up.  I mean seriously Tiger fans, if you are so set on winning 5-7 games every year why not just go steal Vanderbilt’s Bobby Johnson.  At least he has experience with losing seasons and being pencilled in as a win for the rest of the conference.  I seriously have to question if Chizik was hired with the expectation of failure, simply to keep the seat warm until someone else they have on their radar becomes available.  I mean who expects him to succeed and when he fails Auburn can just say, well we made a mistake and pay him his buyout - business as usual in Auburn.  If not then I wonder if the Tiger athletic department had the forethought to call over to Nick Saban’s office and see if he had any input regarding what he wanted in his new Auburn “b*tch to be”.  Damn Auburn . . . Gene Chizik???  HA HA HA HA!!!  Good luck with that!!!!
 

5 COACHES ON THE HOTSEAT

Phil Fulmer, Tennessee
Sometimes coaches hang on just a bit to long and end up destroying something that took them years to build.  Bobby Bowden, Joe Paterno, Al Davis and Phil Fulmer come to mind.  It’s not that the game has passed him by, he was never much of a brilliant football mind to begin with.  The situation in Knoxville has become stale and untenable.  What is needed there is new blood and energy.  Why Fulmer got a huge extension prior to the season is beyond me.  Now the UT boosters are going to have to pony up even more money to get rid of Phil.  Plus the economic effect on those Krispy Kreme franchises nearest to the Knoxville campus could be devastating.

Tyrone Willingham, Washington
The schedule looked like a recipe for disaster this year.  Willingham was under pressure to deliver and this year’s slate graciously provided him with a non-conference slate of Brigham Young, Oklahoma, and Notre Dame.  Plus they began the season facing Oregon back when the Ducks actually had some healthy quarterbacks.  It looks like fate and the AD conspired against Ty who I believe has upgraded the talent up in Seattle.

Sylvester Croom, Mississippi State
What made Croom such a great story last year is in part that he was an old school guy who managed to win with defense and conservative play.  Unfortunately, it seemed a fluke at the time and looks to be even more of a fluke when compared with this year.  Every once in a while the ball bounces your way.  The defense looks to be pretty good but Croom has proved you can’t win with just one facet of the game.  And you cannot create a truly dominant defense with the talent you can lure into Starkville.  The honeymoon is over and whether Croom leaves this year or next the bottom line is the same, MSU is 4-5 years away from being a contender in the SEC.

Bill Stewart, West Virginia
Oh my, West Virginia University athletics.  Is this department run by rednecks and morons?  Anyone who has been to a WVU game will admit they are the worst, most obnoxious and physically violent fanbase around.  Bill Stewart seems like a really nice guy and the kind of person you’d love to have as a neighbor but let’s face it . . . he’s NOT a Division 1 football coach.  Not even a Division 1-AA if you look at his past record.  The mountaineers were faced at a crossroads with their program when replacing Rich Rodriguez.  In basketball they took a risk and hired Bobby Huggins to replace John Beilein.  In football they needed to make a similar risk as the University is not a top tier school and cannot compete with other programs on equal footing.  They needed a brilliant and exceptional coach if the school wanted to continue their current success.  Instead they hired scooter’s grandpa and will soon be irrelevant once again (oh wait . . . it’s already happening this year!)

Tommy Bowden, Clemson
I’ll hand it to Tommy Bowden, he does two things really well.   He can recruit and he manages to keep his job despite a severe lack of accomplishment.  The Clemson fans do not see themselves as a mediocre, second tier program but if you look at Bowden’s record that’s what they have become and somehow . . . the hope of something better just down the road . . . has kept Bowden in control.  If 2nd place is first loser then Clemson is typically the 3rd to 5th loser every year.  Because of the long tenure without any championships or major bowls the fanbase is becoming impatient.  Still, if you had to bet on Tommy bet on him to hang on a while longer.

Dishonorable Mention: Greg Schiano, Rutgers
Schiano seemed to accomplish the impossible by making Rutgers an almost relevant national program.  There was gradual improvement and the talent pool seemed to be getting deeper every year.  It looked like Greg was building up a program that could compete every year.  Well this year the wheels have fallen off.  An 0-3 start has damaged much of the goodwill the Scarlet Knights have built up in their last three bowl seasons.  Of course this is the first year Rutgers started off playing against actual FBS caliber teams thinking they were at the point where they could compete with their counterparts around the country.  That has been proven to be false.  Still, Schiano is a very good coach and I expect them to rebound to 6 or 7 wins and perhaps even make another bowl.  Besides, who is Rutgers going to get who is any better than Schiano?  Exactly.

All But Gone: Greg Robinson, Syracuse
What can you say about Syracuse?  I think they are far and away the most embarrassing team in FBS.  I’m not sure exactly why Robinson is even still at Syracuse to be honest?  It’s not like they have been any good in his first 3 seasons.  But if you are Syracuse University you have to ask yourself . . . who can we get that’s any better?  With the awful college following up in New York State, being an annual doormat cannot be good for the health of the program.  This change can’t come soon enough.

5 COACHES ON THE RISE

Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech
What can you say about Paul Johnson, how did so many schools let him waste his time at Navy for so many years?  Oh that’s right; the establishment looked down upon his triple option offense and decided to promote lesser coaches instead.  Well Johnson finally got the opportunity he wanted at a bigger FBS program.  The uniqueness of his offense ensures he can compete against even more talented teams because of the difficulty in preparation.  It’s hard to imagine how much improvement this team will show in subsequent years when the players in his program become more familiar and comfortable in this system.  Look out ACC. (more…)

For some strange reason, there seems to be a slight rift in the Gator Nation.  There are some Gator fans who feel betrayed by Steve Spurrier going to another SEC school to compete against Florida.  Then there are some fans who feel Spurrier is a God and cannot be questioned because of what he has done for the program.  There are also fans who feel Spurrier was wronged by the Athletic Department, driven away the first time and then spurned again when he tried to come back after Ron Zook in favor of Urban Meyer.  There are those fans who are so passionate about Urban Meyer that any mention about the Spurrier era makes them defensive. 

Luckily I am not either a Steve Spurrier nor Urban Meyer man.  I’m a straight Gator fan right down the middle and I am not forced to divide my loyalties between these two great coaches.  I am able to appreciate them both.  They both occupied their own unique eras with their own individual accomplishments and all that matters to me is what happened/happens on the field.
 
But when looking at these two coaches from a distance I am amazed at the similarities of their situations.  Among those coincidences that come to mind are as follows:

• 1.  Both Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer inherited a team that had gone 7-5 the previous season.  Galen Hall/Gary Darnell went 7-5 which included losing a bowl game in 1989.  Ron Zook/Charlie Strong went 7-5 with a bowl loss in 2004.
• 2.  The leading rushers of both the 1989 team (Emmit Smith) and 2004 team (Ciatrick Fason) left their teams as juniors for the NFL draft before each respective coach arrived.  Both players enjoyed their best seasons rushing for over 1200+ yards and 10+ touchdowns in the season prior to the new coaches arrival.
• 3.  Both coaches introduced new offenses to the SEC upon their arrival.  Spurrier brought with him the “Fun and Gun” passing offense while Meyer brought the spread offense.  Neither of these offenses had previously existed in the league and both caused other SEC schools to adapt and adopt.  In Spurriers era the SEC transformed into a much more pass heavy league in the 1990s while several SEC teams have adopted parts or all of the spread option philosophy since 2005.
• 4.  Both coaches won 9 games in their first years.  Spurrier when 9-2 in 1990 while Meyer went 9-3 in 2005.  Each enjoyed a pregame improvement from the previous season.
• 5.  In their second year each coach completed the regular season with a single loss.  Florida’s lone regular season loss was at Syracuse in the 3rd game of the season.  Florida’s only loss was on the road at Auburn in the 6th game of the year.  Both games included a special team’s touchdown for the Gators opponent.
• 6.  Both Urban Meyer and Steve Spurrier won SEC Titles in their second seasons.  The 1991 Gators went 7-0 in the SEC to win the league outright (pre-title game).  The 2006 Gators went 7-1 in conference, won the SEC Eastern Division and then won the SEC Championship Game over Arkansas.
• 7.  In their third seasons, both Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer put up a 9-4 record.  On a side note, despite having 8 common opponents neither coach lost to the same team in their 3rd seasons.  Spurrier’s losses were to Miss St, Tenn, FSU and Alabama while Meyer’s losses were to LSU, Auburn, Georgia and Michigan.
• 8.  Urban Meyer landed a number one ranked recruiting class in his second year at Florida which included such stars as Tim Tebow, Percy Harvin, Brandon Spikes, Dustin Doe, Riley Cooper, Jermaine Cunningham, Brandon James and Jacques Rickerson.  Steve Spurrier landed a number one ranked recruiting class in his 3rd season which included such stars as Danny Wuerffel, James Bates, Johnnie Church, Dexter Daniels, Reggie Green, Anthone Lott, Jeff Mitchell, Jason Odom, Lawrence Wright, and Donnie Young.

Both Spurrier and Meyer managed to thrust Florida into the national attention.  While we can’t compare past the 3rd seasons there are some generalities.  Both Coaches brought the school a national title (Spurrier in 1996, Meyer in 2006), both had a Heisman Trophy winning quarterback (Wuerfell - Spurrier, Tebow - Meyer) and both have fired up the hatred factor from fellow SEC opponents.
 
The Spurrier era is over while the Meyer era has just begun but so far . . . the more things change, the more they stay the same.

A year ago I did a ranking of all the coaches in the SEC. Now that there has been some change and additional accomplishment I think it’s time to update this ranking (which might become an annual occurrence).

1) Urban Meyer (UF) - [Previous ranking = 1] His credentials are impeccable. You can argue with his schemes and his play calling but you can’t argue with his success. And his resume includes doing almost the same thing at THREE consecutive schools. From 7-5 to 13-1 in two years is impressive on its own. When put together with his past accomplishments its hard to argue against his ability to recruit, motivate and blend players. Whether or not Florida had won the title this year, the foundation has been placed for a run that could last quite a while. Meyer might be the best recruiter the SEC has seen since Nick Saban (who coincidentally is now back in the SEC). If that’s the case, the road to the SEC championship could run through Florida on an annual basis.
– UPDATE: What has really changed? Another New Years Day bowl and a Heisman Trophy winner. Expect another top 5 recruiting class in 2008 which will add to a team already stocked with young talent and led by a group of Sophomores and Freshmen . . . Yikes! Although Meyer retains the top spot, expectations will be higher in 2008 and the talent will be better. A disappointing season next fall could cause Meyer to fall out of the top spot. A National Title for Richt (which would also mean winning the SEC East over Florida) could cause a change in the rankings. Should Miles or Saban win their second titles next year with their respective teams (neither of which will have overwhelming talent) they too might force a shakeup at the top. When you are in a conference with so many great coaches the margins between 1st and 5th can be very thin.

2) Mark Richt (UGA) - [Previous ranking = 3] Georgia struggled this year going 8-4 and losing to Vanderbilt and Kentucky. However they did beat Auburn, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech (all ranked teams) to end the year. Its interesting that one of the WORST years under Richt’s tenure would have been one of the BEST during the decade prior to his arrival. While he hasn’t delivered a national title he has won the SEC twice and fielded a team that is an SEC contender every year and an occasional National Title contender. Richt is underrated nationally but knowledgeable SEC fans respect and appreciate his ability. Richt is an excellent recruiter and rarely will you find Bulldog players who lack ability. You may find years where UGA is a young, inexperienced team (like this year) and they may underachieve from time to time but they will never be devoid of talent or coaching while under Richt.
– UPDATE: A very good year for a very young Bulldog team. Richt fell short of winning the East due to the loss against the Vols but has put together the pieces for a team that should be in National Title contention for the next few years. Following losses to South Carolina and Tennessee this team could have tanked but Richt managed to push all the right buttons to right the ship.

3) Les Miles (LSU) - [Previous ranking = 10] If based strictly on wins at a his current school then Miles would be near the top of this list. He is currently 22-4 at LSU. In his previous coaching stint he took over a sad Oklahoma State team and in his 2nd, 3rd and 4th years won 8, 9 and 7 games respectively. He is best known for his 16-13 upset win against #4 Oklahoma in Norman in his first year and then repeating the feat against a #3 ranked OU team 38-28 the next year in Stillwater. But for all that Miles has accomplished it’s not about what Miles has done but about what he HASN’T done. Namely, he hasn’t won an SEC championship despite having, arguably, the most talented team in the league in his two years in the league. Nick Saban left the cupboard stocked and it will be another banner day for the Tigers in the NFL draft this year. I give him some credit for keeping the Tigers focused despite Hurricane Katrina last year but LSU has still underachieved. Plus next year he will no longer have the gaping talent advantage he has enjoyed early in his tenure. He would probably be the 5th or 6th best coach in the Big 12 or ACC but . . . . this is the SEC baby.
– UPDATE: Talk about improving your stock. No one has experienced a bigger shift in the rankings than Les Miles. This is mainly due to the fact that the jury was out on Miles in my book. While you can say his performance this year shouldn’t have warranted such a change, he has proven that the past two years were not a fluke, he now has a National Championship and has made some of the gutsiest (if risky) calls from the sideline. People may criticize his aggressive play calling but those people who like a coach who’s favorite play on third and long is the fullback dive followed by a punt can go heap loads of creamy love on Frank Beamer. Those who appreciate a guy who isn’t afraid to go with his gut, Miles is your man. (more…)

Is it just me or is anyone else getting a little tired of hearing all the constant denigration of Bobby Petrino for leaving the Atlanta Falcons for the University of Arkansas job?  The bottom line is that, no matter the manner in which it was accomplished, Bobby Petrino simply left one job for another.  Where are all the media pundits getting their self-righteous indignation from?  Simple, how DARE a coach leave a great job in the NFL for what all these NFL biased commentators declare to be a “second tier” college coaching position.  Why the sheer impudence of it all!!!
 
The NFL is the most powerful and successful sport in the United States.  Since most of the sport shows originate from the Northeast and are populated by people who graduate from schools that don’t even have legitimate football programs, they are NFL cronies.  The overall knowledge of NCAA sports (football, basketball, etc) is so slight that anything unrelated to the NFL, MLB or perhaps the NBA is considered rural and off the mainstream.  Thus how could they possibly understand someone leaving a sport they know for a sport they don’t understand?  And essentially they are so removed from college football that it’s virtually another sport to them.
 
Bobby Petrino left with 3 games remaining . . . and your point is???  What exactly would waiting three more games on a team that was 3-10 effectively accomplish???  What is the difference between going on a three game roll and finishing 6-10 compared to ending up 3-13?  Worse draft picks for the franchise next year?  What friggin difference does it make?  It’s more important for a college coach to be in place now because of the recruiting impact.  And maybe . . . just maybe . . . based on all the people jettisoning from the NFL coaching ranks these days that the life of an NFL coach might . . . perhaps . . . umm . . . SUCK???? (more…)

Three years ago at this time Ron Zook was out of a job.  Following at 38-31 upset loss to Mississippi State, Florida Athletic Director gave his longtime friend his pink slip.  Zook had failed at one of the premier football programs in the country in his first head coaching opportunity.  Some wondered if Zook’s head coaching career was dead.  Would the former NFL coordinator be headed back to the league and remain a lifelong assistant?  Luckily for Coach Zook, not every football program in the country saw his accomplishments at Florida as a complete disaster.  Zook finished the season for Florida and after the MSU game went 3-1 including an upset win over 7 point loss to heavily favored Georgia and a 20-13 win at FSU (something not previously accomplished since 1986).
 
The University of Illinois had just fired head coach Ron Turner who had gone 1-11 and 3-8 in the previous two seasons.  With Zook having the reputation of a tireless worker and outstanding recruiter, the Illini gambled on the recently fired Ron Zook to return their struggling football program to a competitive state.  In that first year at Illinois, the Fighting Illini endured a record of 2-9, including a record of 0-8 in the Big 10.  While his first recruiting class was hampered by the short period between his hiring and national signing day, Zook’s second recruiting class began to show the promise that many had predicted as Zook landed a top 15 class with such big time recruits as Juice Williams (QB), Vontae Davis (CB) and Jeff Cumberland (TE). 
 
Despite the influx of young talent the 2006 season’s improvement wasn’t noticeable from the teams overall record.  Illinois again only won 2 games although they did win their first Big 10 Conference game in the Zook tenure.  While the overall record of 2-10 might have shown little return for the effort there was definitely an improvement on the field.  The Fighting Illini did not close out games very well but they were much more competitive and improved greatly in virtually every statistical category.  In 2005 the average margin of defeat for Illinois was 32 points but by 2006 that margin was down to 8 points per game.  Additionally one of Ohio State’s toughest regular season games was late in the year against an inspired Illinois team that fell just short in a 17-10 game.  In 2006 a number of players proved they were coming of age and had bought into Coach Zook’s philosophy; something that would pay off down the road. (more…)

Little did I know that during last year’s NCAA tournament, when I was cheering for former Gator assistant, Anthony Grant, and his VCU Rams, that in a couple of months I would be pining for him as the next head coach for the Gator basketball program.

But here we are: the Godfather of Florida basketball has left the building and Gator hoops is at a serious crossroads. Do we continue building as one of college basketball’s elite programs? Or will the rebuilding process ahead force Gator Nation to wait through a tough 3-5 year stretch until Florida is really “back?”

Some will say that Donovan’s timing was bad. Much like Steve Spurrier, critics say, he leaves the program in a bit of a lurch, departing at a time when finding a suitable replacement is difficult, as all of the “good” coaches have already filled positions elsewhere.

I couldn’t disagree more. I think the timing was excellent. Consider:

1) Donovan has already signed a Top 3 recruiting class (ranked #1 by Rivals.com). Unlike Spurrier in ‘01, Donovan does not “leave the cupboard bare.” Sure, some recruits might consider transferring, but even if Florida loses Jai Lucas (a distinct possibility in my view) they have a roster with championship experience all the way from the point to the low post. Talent-wise, Florida is still in excellent shape.

2) Donovan’s departure slims down the list of “name” coaches to choose from, sure; but I don’t believe it’s Foley’s style to simply seek a name. Jeremy Foley has proven he’s one of, if not the, best athletic director in the country, having hired both Donovan and Urban Meyer as up-and-comers rather than established coaches. What Donovan’s timing does here is provide focus on the name that should be first from our lips regardless of how wide or narrow the field may be: Anthony Grant.

3) Since the ‘08 class is already in, Grant could come into Florida and pick up seamlessly where Donovan left off — both in recruiting and coaching. There will be very little transition for both returning players and new recruits as Grant is a Donovan disciple and prefers the same brand of exciting, fast-paced basketball as his mentor.

(more…)

Well, of course he didn’t say that. He has too much class. But the important thing is, at the end of the day, Billy Donovan will remain a Gator.

Phew.

His evasiveness this past week had my mind in overdrive. I couldn’t stop imagining the sickening sight of our beloved coach wearing Kentucky blue, beating the daylights out of our poor Gators.

But Donovan considers Florida home. He wouldn’t even formally meet with Mitch Barnhart. He told him over the phone that would not be interested, and that he was staying at Florida:

Donovan told Kentucky athletics director Mitch Barnhart early Thursday morning by phone that he wasn’t interested in leaving Florida.

Florida athletics director Jeremy Foley told ESPN.com that he and Donovan also met Thursday, at which time Donovan said, ‘This is my home, Jeremy. I love the University of Florida. I love you. I had a chance to talk to [my wife] Christine and I’m not going anywhere.”

The two will discuss terms of a contract extension for the coach after Donovan returns from a planned week-long vacation to the Dominican Republic. Donovan will leave the country Saturday.

While it doesn’t exactly register as a Big Blue Snub, Donovan’s refusal to even talk to Kentucky speaks volumes about his love for Florida.

Folks, I think we might have a coach for life. And better yet, we can laugh at Kentucky for coveting our coach for the next decade… hopefully beating them like a drum all the while.

Now go celebrate! It’s great to be a Florida Gator!