HoyaFanNY
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Never throw to the venus on a spider 3 Y banana!
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Post by HoyaFanNY on May 31, 2007 13:48:48 GMT -5
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hifigator
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
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Post by hifigator on May 31, 2007 13:59:07 GMT -5
Billy D. is currently in Destin, Fla. for the SEC Coaches meeting, but something similar to that story was leaked yesterday. The article in the Gainesville Sun today said that the Magic had contacted Billy's agent about their coaching vacancy. When Billy was asked, he said that he had no comment because he had no idea whether they had contacted his agent or not. People are getting a bit antsy down here since he still hasn't signed a new contract. My opinion, for what it is worth, is that he is going to entertain the offer, but will turn down anything other than a ridiculous offer. The University is likely to pony up with a 3 million a year plus contract, and I expect Billy to stay. But no official word yet. Until a new contract is signed however, no one down here is very comfortable.
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HoyaFanNY
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Never throw to the venus on a spider 3 Y banana!
Posts: 4,991
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Post by HoyaFanNY on May 31, 2007 14:03:05 GMT -5
we can relate to the 'no new contract' stuff. just pay them already.
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Post by HoyaDestroya02 on May 31, 2007 14:07:00 GMT -5
just read that... espn reporting too now - "according to orlando sentinel"
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hifigator
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
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Post by hifigator on May 31, 2007 14:09:00 GMT -5
Wow, that sounds a little more definite. I know everyone always criticizes such "unsubstantiated internet rumors," but my opinion has generally been otherwise. Obviously I am not talking about some random thought on just anyone's blog, but generally the "unnamed source" which is sited by reputable agencies tends to be accurate more times than not. I can only hope that the agreement is not finalized and only the terms have been agreed upon in principle. In any case I would expect Jeremy Foley to put a counter offer on the table almost immediately if nothing else.
If Billy does leave, then this would be a natural time for it. Obviously he is going out on top, having won back-to-back titles. Perhaps more importantly, virtually the entire roster will be new. I don't think a college coach could ever ask for a more ideal time to jump to the next level.
On a related note, I wonder what the recruiting class might do should his departure materialize.
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hifigator
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
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Post by hifigator on May 31, 2007 14:21:57 GMT -5
3:24pm
Sporting News Radio just announced that the word out of Florida was that the Orlando Magic wanted Billy Donovan but he has said thanks, but no thanks and is awaiting some serious paper from the University.
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hoyaLS05
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,652
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Post by hoyaLS05 on May 31, 2007 14:49:38 GMT -5
3:50 p.m.: CBS Sportsline reports he is a 'lock' to leave for the Magic.
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RDF
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Post by RDF on May 31, 2007 14:54:17 GMT -5
This reminds me of the time when Pops was being courted by the Denver Nuggets and we all waited for the final decision. Wow those were the days--or remember the time I bumped into Joe Toumou and Daymond Jackson and we played 2 on 2--believe the other person involved was Shernard Lang---that was fun and man was it fun watching DayJack miss those 2 foot shots and layups and getting kicked in face by Toumou with his "Soccer style" defense.
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hoyaLS05
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,652
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Post by hoyaLS05 on May 31, 2007 14:59:35 GMT -5
This reminds me of the time when Pops was being courted by the Denver Nuggets and we all waited for the final decision. Wow those were the days--or remember the time I bumped into Joe Toumou and Daymond Jackson and we played 2 on 2--believe the other person involved was Shernard Lang---that was fun and man was it fun watching DayJack miss those 2 foot shots and layups and getting kicked in face by Toumou with his "Soccer style" defense. If this was a poke at Hifi’s habit of turning everything Georgetown into something about Florida, this was an amazing post.
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RDF
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 8,835
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Post by RDF on May 31, 2007 15:00:33 GMT -5
This reminds me of the time when Pops was being courted by the Denver Nuggets and we all waited for the final decision. Wow those were the days--or remember the time I bumped into Joe Toumou and Daymond Jackson and we played 2 on 2--believe the other person involved was Shernard Lang---that was fun and man was it fun watching DayJack miss those 2 foot shots and layups and getting kicked in face by Toumou with his "Soccer style" defense. If this was a poke at Hifi’s habit of turning everything Georgetown into something about Florida, this was an amazing post. What do you think?
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kghoya
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
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Post by kghoya on May 31, 2007 15:45:19 GMT -5
this makes me smile...the guy who sat in front of me at the final four was a complete drain...
he went on and on about how billy d would never leave b/c he had turned a football school into a basketball school...
going on and on about how billy was the new coach k and he would be there forever...
have fun rooting for the magic loser
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hifigator
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,387
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Post by hifigator on May 31, 2007 16:00:21 GMT -5
I don't wish ill on Billy if he does leave. I'm not sure why you would think that. He put us on the map. I have said numerous times that Vince Carter is far and away my favorite NBA player. Obviously, there is a degree of tongue in cheek there, but in all seriousness, when he was coming out of Daytona it came down to Florida and UNC. He chose UNC at the last minute and a year later Lon Kruger left. Had Vince come here, we never would have had Billy D. and we would still be floundering in mediocrity. If he does leave the real challenge will be to find a quality replacement who can continue building a program. Do any of you know a young and energetic coach who teaches sound discipline and has a proven track record everywhere he has been? It wouldn't hurt if the potential new coach has coached in a final four recently.
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Post by StPetersburgHoya (Inactive) on May 31, 2007 16:06:16 GMT -5
HiFi - I think that's the proper spirit. I think he's gone though - SportingNews Radio is an ok source - they are the third best sports talk radio in the country however - but CBS and ESPN two news agencies with deep contacts in college basketball ran the story and the beat writer for the Orlando Magic in the local paper has the story - I think he's signed, sealed, and delivered.
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DanMcQ
Moderator
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Post by DanMcQ on May 31, 2007 16:23:54 GMT -5
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DanMcQ
Moderator
Posts: 30,607
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Post by DanMcQ on May 31, 2007 16:30:57 GMT -5
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hifigator
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
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Post by hifigator on May 31, 2007 16:53:10 GMT -5
I wouldn't be shocked if he leaves. Like I mentioned before, in college coaches are always going to have a mix of freshmen, sophomores, juniors and departing seniors in addition to the incoming freshmen class. If there were ever a nearly perfect time for him to go, this would be it. I wish him well if it is confirmed, but I still hope he stays.
One irony that is lost in all of this is that Billy refused to sign an extension after last season. I just wonder if he could have foreseen this coming? I mean, at the time the word was that he thought it would be inappropriate for him to take such a huge raise when these kids elected to delay their chance at instant riches to return to school. The feeling was that he still had several years left on his contract anyway and that he could sign an extension this year as easily as last year. Now I just wonder if he was thinking a bit deeper than that. He may very well have realized that regardless of how this past season turned out, Chris Richard and Lee Humphrey were graduating and in all likelihood, all four of the '04's were leaving as well. He just might have decided to go one more round with them, with the idea of testing the NBA waters after the season. Who knows....
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The Stig
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
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Post by The Stig on May 31, 2007 17:22:37 GMT -5
ESPN now saying it's a done deal and will be annoucned tomorrow.
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Post by HoyaFM on May 31, 2007 18:08:53 GMT -5
So, he's gone. Either way, I still think Florida will have no trouble making a Final Four run ...... in the NIT. Then again, "Udonis Haslem is not walking through that door."
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Post by StPetersburgHoya (Inactive) on May 31, 2007 18:53:49 GMT -5
They'll probably go after that coach from VCU and be ok - not where they were the last 2 years - that's not realistic to expect - but they'll be playing post-season ball. The real question is what happens to their recruiting class and Jai Lucas.
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SFHoya99
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
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Post by SFHoya99 on May 31, 2007 19:05:33 GMT -5
The real question is what is Orlando thinking? What's the success rate of college to pro transitions the past ten years? 10%? Less?
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