Robert Craft
New Kids On the Block
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
There’s a changing of the guard taking place at quarterback in the SEC this season, following the exit of three of the top passers in the league: Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa and Jake Fromm.
Ranking this year’s best is a serious challenge considering all the new faces. Of my top five SEC quarterbacks entering the 2020 College Football season, two are transfers.
Despite losing a phenomenal group of quarterbacks, the conference still has elite talent returning in 2020.
- K J Costello, Mississippi State: Costello should flourish in Mike Leach’s Air Raid system in Starkville.
He is a transfer from Stanford, and he has shown the talent to be a top tier quarterback not only in the SEC, but nationally.
In 2018, Castello was healthy and threw for over 3,500 yards and 29 touchdowns.
He is the prototype pocket passer standing 6 foot 5 and weighing 225. He is an accurate passer and has a chance to lead the SEC in passing.
- Mac Jones, Alabama: Jones is the toughest guy to predict on this list because of his limited exposure and a bunch of first round draft picks catching passes.
Looking at the numbers 68.8% completions, 1,503 passing yards and 14 touchdowns in four and a half games. The two interceptions against Auburn in the Iron Bowl make me question his decision making.
Bottom line, he is not Tua. He will be surrounded by talent on both sides of the ball. Alabama has the number 1 returning roster.
- Kellen Mond, Texas A&M: No one questions Mond’s arm strength, escapability or accuracy, but his consistency must improve.
Mond is a three-year starter under Coach Jimbo Fisher. He has shown improvement each of his seasons at A&M.
Last season, he threw for 2,897 yards, 20 touchdowns, rushed for 500 yards and 8 touchdowns. The Aggies are coming off an 8-5 season, in which they lost to Clemson, Alabama and LSU by double digits.
He has been productive but not at his best in the SEC level. Jimbo expects that to change in his senior campaign.
- Jamie Newman, Georgia: A season ago, Newman had 2,868 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, 574 yards rushing and 6 touchdowns for Wake Forest.
With a better supporting cast around him and new offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Newman could potentially break out.
If the Bulldog’s can tap into Newman’s elite skill set while he trims down turnovers, he will be the best in the SEC in 2020.
My reason for Newman 2nd is the quarantine. He has not been able to work with Monken or his new teammates.
1.Kyle Trask, Florida: Trask wasn’t even the starter at the beginning of 2019, sitting behind Feleipe Franks (now a graduate transfer at Arkansas).
Trask, as is well documented, didn’t even start for his high school team, instead he was watching D’Eriq King (now a graduate transfer at Miami) light it up.
He got his opportunity when Franks went down and never looked back, leading the Gators to 11 wins and completing 66.9 percent of his passes for 2,941 yards, 25 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. Trask is steady and he makes the plays that win games.
He needs to work on his quickness and getting the football out faster.
Florida has to replace Van Jefferson, Freddie Swain and Tyrie Cleveland, three starting wide receivers that went in the NFL Draft.
Now, entering the 2020 season, Kyle Trask is expected to be the top-rated quarterback in the SEC.
Outside The 5: A few players right outside the top 5 are Terry Wilson, Bo Nix, and John Rhys Plumblee. My sleeper SEC quarterback is Myles Brennan.
The Fall Of Fromm
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Jake Fromm’s career at the University of Georgia ended when he declared for the 2020 NFL Draft. Fromm was a three-year starter at Georgia. He took over for Jacob Eason early in his Freshman season and led Georgia to a National Championship Game.
His 8,224 career passing yards is fourth all-time in Georgia history. He’s second all-time in passing touchdowns with 78, fourth in completions with 621 and 5th in attempts with 982.
Those numbers are, honestly, not all that flashy; however, Fromm was 36-7, led Georgia to three straight SEC Championship Games, a playoff appearance, and national title appearance. Fromm is the greatest quarterback in modern Georgia’s football history.
Let’s go back to 2019. At this time ESPN was predicting Fromm to be the number 1 pick in the draft. So why did Jake slip so far in the NFL draft?
Fromm’s slide became the hot topic during the final day of the 2020 NFL Draft. Fromm looked visibly uncomfortable every time ESPN panned in his home.
The reason for his stock to drop is the pre-draft process did not go well for Jake. At the combine, he ran a horrible 40-yard dash (5.01). In the passing drills, he showed a lack of arm strength. His physical measurements were also in the low decile.
Due to Covid-19, Fromm was not able to have a pro day and was unable to meet face to face with teams.
To me, getting picked by the Buffalo Bills in the 5th round with the 167th pick was a surprise. Buffalo already has a young starting quarterback in Josh Allen.
Jake Fromm’s fall in the draft highlights a flaw in Kirby Smart’s four seasons at Georgia. Smart’s offense is on its third offensive coordinator in three years. That does decline a player’s stock, no matter how many people say it doesn’t.
Smart’s quarterback room in 2018 included Justin Fields but Fields transferred to Ohio State. In his first season with the Buckeyes, Fields threw for 3,273 yards, 41 touchdowns, rushed for 484 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Georgia could not find a way to maximize Fields’ skills but somehow Ryan Day figured it out immediately in Columbus. Kirby had a couple of top quarterbacks in his program, but somehow ended up utilizing them poorly.
Why didn’t Fromm return to Georgia? Fromm left Georgia because the offense was not highlighting his skills. He escaped an offense that was sick with talent deficiency in the wide receiver department, as well as inexperience at coordinator positions and lack of creativity.
Jake Fromm’s numbers spoke for why he entered the draft. His completion percentage dipped by seven points, he threw six less touchdowns, and attempted 78 fewer passes.
Combine Jake’s poor showing at the NFL combine with Kirby Smart’s inept offense and now you see why Jake dropped to the 5th round.
The big question for Georgia fans: Was it more gut-wrenching watching Jake Fromm end up being picked in the fifth round? Or, watching former Georgia quarterback Justin Fields go top 10 in next year’s NFL Draft?
Hidden Gems
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The 2020 NFL Draft will be here soon.
Everyone is focusing on where each of the blue-chip players will go in the draft, but what about all those players that wind up going in the fourth, fifth, sixth or seventh rounds that turn out to be diamonds in the rough?
Guys like Tom Brady Jared Allen (4th round), Brandon Marshall (4th round), Richard Sherman (5th round), Josh Norman (5th round), Antonio Brown (6th round) and many more.
The NFL Draft is an inexact science, which is a pro’s way of calling it an educated guessing game teams routinely experience success based on luck.
Here is a list of a few players that may emerge to become NFL stars.
DeeJay Dallas-Miami: Dallas is a 5’10”, weighs 217 and ran 4.58 forty at the combine. His career stats at Miami 265 carries for 1,557 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns on the ground. He caught 28 passes for 317 yards and two touchdowns.
Dallas showcases explosiveness off his plant foot and moves downhill with a force. He runs with balance to bounce off tacklers and tends to fall forward. He is also a physical presence in pass protection.
Overall, I have Dallas with a 6th/7th round grade. His blocking skills, balance, and ball security makes him a perfect fit to an NFL roster.
Gabriel Davis-UCF: Davis is a 6’2”, weighs 216 and ran 4.54 forty at the combine. Davis was a three-year starter at UCF. His career stats 152 receptions, 2447 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Davis’s production steadily increased in every category each season. Davis is a natural hand catcher with the ability to win one-on-one matchups
Overall, I have Davis with a 4th round grade. He has a large catch radius and “my ball” mentality.
Solomon Kindley-Georgia: Kindley is 6’3”, weighs 337 and did not workout at the combine due to a foot injury.
Kindley was a three-year starter at Georgia at left guard. He did not live up to the hype coming into the 2019 season due to injuries. Kindley has a nasty, aggressive mindset to seek out and extend contact.
Overall, I have Kindley with a 6th/7th grade. Kindley is quick footed with mean man tendencies. He will need to be coached up on his technique.
Kindle Vidlor-Georgia Southern: Vidlor is 5’9”, weighs 191 and ran a 4.44 forty at the NFL combine. Vidlor’s career stats include 95 tackles, 1 sack, 33 pass breakups and 9 interceptions. He was a three-year starter.
Vidlor doesn’t have the ideal size to play outside in the NFL. He makes a perfect slot corner and special team with his burst and physical toughness. Vidlor plays fearlessly and has good ball instincts.
Overall, I have Vildor as a 7th round or priority free agent.
Rodrigo Blankenship-Georgia and Tyler Bass-Georgia Southern: These are the two top kickers in the 2020 NFL Draft. Overall, I have both with 6th/7th round grades. Well, that’s enough about kickers.
Teams find hidden gems in the draft. It doesn’t happen all the time, but every once in a while, a player will slip in the draft. Yet, he goes on to have an incredible NFL career. Who will be the next big-name draft steal like Tom Brady or Antonio Brown?
The Deep End
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Miami Dolphins are heading into the 2020 NFL Draft with 14 picks, but I do not think they will make many selections between April 23rd and 25th.
The Dolphins have set themselves up nicely to address their needs.
Miami addressed some of their needs by signing free agent Kyle Van Noy (linebacker), Clayton Fejedelem (safety), Ereck Flowers (guard), Kamu Grugier-Hill (linebacker), Emmanuel Ogbah (defensive end), Shaq Lawson (defensive end), Elandon Roberts (linebacker), Jordan Howard (running back) and Bryon Jones (cornerback).
The Dolphins signed 10 unrestricted free agents that bring depth on offense, defense and special teams. Seven of the ten free agents were from teams that finished 2019 with a winning record and made the playoffs.
Let’s take a look at four areas the Dolphins must address in the 2020 NFL Draft.
QUARTERBACK: The truth is the Dolphins haven’t had a top 15 NFL quarterback since Dan Marino, 20 years ago. They have tried several ways to find the next great quarterback, but there is still a hole that needs to be filled before this team can be competitive.
No one truly knows who Chris Grier (Miami General Manager) covets, but we can assume LSU’s Joe Burrow is off limits. That leaves Tua Tagovailo, Justin Herbert and Jordan Love as realistic choices.
I believe the Dolphins will draft a quarterback in the first round of this draft. Forget the speculation about “Losing For Lawrence.” Not happening.
OFFENSIVE LINE: Much like the quarterback, the Dolphins offensive line has been awful. The Dolphins signed two free agents, but there is still a lot of work to be done.
I expect the Dolphins to draft a tackle on day one of the NFL Draft. Unless Chris Grier has to give up all three first round picks to get his quarterback. It would not shock me if they doubled down on the position in day two.
RUNNING BACK: Miami’s rushing attack ranked 32nd in the NFL in 2019. Yes, the offensive line had a lot to do with those dismal stats. The 2020 draft class is loaded at running back.
I expect the Dolphins to draft a running back in the first four rounds. Jonathan Taylor, D’Andre Swift, J.K. Dobbins, and Cam Akers headline this loaded class. Which running back will end up in Miami? Anyone’s guess.
WIDE RECEIVER: I believe the Dolphins could stand pat at receiver. In a year, the draft will have an abundance of wide receiver talent, it would be foolish not to tap in.
Miami has plenty of needs throughout their roster. I expect them to hit the draft hard for offensive talent.
They have 14 draft picks to fill many of his team’s needs, but where will they miss out? After addressing the quarterback and offensive tackle position, Miami can take any best player available.
This is my plan and now all the Dolphins have to do is execute it.
Tide Turning In River City?
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Jacksonville Jaguars traded Nick Foles, the Super Bowl 52 MVP, to the Chicago Bears for the Bears’ fourth round compensatory pick. Foles, who signed a four year, $88-million contract with the Jaguars a year ago, will now compete with Mitchell Trubisky for the Bears starting job.
The Foles trade qualifies as a disaster for General Manager Dave Caldwell and Coach Doug Marrone. He only played four games last season because of a shoulder injury and earned 30.5 million dollars.
Gardner Minshew, a 2019 sixth round pick out of Washington State, for now, becomes the Jags’ starting quarterback. Minshew went 6-6 as a starter with 21 touchdowns, 6 interceptions and a 91.2 passer rating.
The Foles trade is another move in a busy offseason that saw the Jags trade defensive lineman Calais Campbell to Baltimore, cornerback A.J. Bouye to Denver, placing the franchise tag on defensive end Yannick Ngakoue ($19.3 million this season) and declining the option on defensive tackle Marcell Dareus.
The Jags signed former Cleveland linebacker Joe Schobert to a 5-year $53 million deal and former Cincinnati cornerback Darqueze Dennard to a 3-year deal worth 13.5 million dollars.
The Jags will have 12 selections in the 2020 NFL Draft: two in the first round (#9 & #20), one in the second round (#42), one in the third round (#73), four in the fourth round (#116, #137, #140), two in the fifth round (#157 & #165), two in the sixth round (#189 & #206) and one in the seventh round (#223).
If you are panicking, thinking the Jags are “Tanking for Trevor”, let’s take a closer look at the trades. Bouye wasn’t the Jags’ best corner last season (Tre Herndon) and my guess is they will address the cornerback position in the draft.
Dareus only played six games last year, and after 9 seasons the wear and tear is taking its toll on Dareus.
Campbell made the Pro Bowl last season but his production has slipped from the previous two seasons.
No matter how you feel about Dave Caldwell, the reality is, he and Doug Marrone are the ones making the moves this offseason. The further reality is the Jags are having a very good offseason.
The Jags are stockpiling draft capital for a lot of players many believed might have to be released.
Dave Caldwell and Doug Marrone are running out of time in Jacksonville unless they turn it around in 2020. It’s hard to envision such a turnaround with Minshew.
The best hope for Dave Caldwell and Doug Marrone to keep their jobs beyond this season is to sign Cam Newton.
Treasure Hunter
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have addressed their starting quarterback situation in the boldest way possible; by signing one of the greatest of all time, Tom Brady.
Does Brady’s arrival make them a Super Bowl contender? Which is asking a lot, considering the Buccaneers finished in the bottom half of the NFC South in 10 of the past 12 seasons (eight last place finishes). The Buccaneers haven’t made the playoffs since 2007.
Is Tom Brady immune to father time? While he has yet to fall off performance wise, he is starting to show signs of slowing down. Brady will be 43 years old when the next NFL season begins.
Brady replaces Jameis Winston as the Buccaneers starting quarterback. Winston led the league with 30 interceptions and 5 fumbles. Brady has thrown nine or fewer in seven of the past 10 seasons. Never throwing for 14.
Brady joins the Buccaneers roster that may arguably have the best starting receiver duo in the NFL. Both Chris Godwin (1,333) and Mike Evans (1,157) topped the 1000 receiving yards last season and combined for 17 touchdowns.
Add on a couple talented tight ends in O.J. Howard and Cam Brate, with Brady’s history of maximizing the tight end position, does Brady’s arrival make them a Super Bowl Contender?
The Buccaneers must upgrade the running back position either draft or free agency. Bruce Arians and Tom Brady have a history of running backs that contribute heavily in the passing game.
One free agent to watch is Dion Lewis. Tampa Bay hasn’t had a running back with 60 or more receptions since Warrick Dunn.
The same day Brady signed with the Buccaneers; the team announced the signing of offensive tackle Joe Haeg. Haeg spent the last four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. He has played both tackle positions as well as right guard.
The addition of Haeg addresses a position where the Buccaneers were in need of depth. The Buccaneers offensive line gave up 47 sacks last season and provided little in the run game. I know PFF.com ranked the Buccaneers offensive line 7th, but stat boy doesn’t watch film.
In 2019, the Buccaneers defense gave up the fourth most points per game (28.1), tied for the 12th most TD’s allowed and ranked 18th in total yards allowed (343.9). Opponents last season averaged 67 plays per game against the Buccaneers, which was tied for third most in the NFL.
Basically, Brady is better than Winston in taking care of the football last season and that’s very important. I’m not sure spending $50 million for two seasons for a 43-year-old quarterback you’re hoping will be a better game manager is the right move.
I’m not optimistic this move will prove to be a good one for the Buccaneers on the field. Season tickets sales are through the roof and ESPN & NBC are working on the schedule right now to get Brady in prime time.
Tom Brady might be the G.O.A.T. but he’s not a top 10 quarterback right now. Tampa Bay is just paying him like he is.
Let The Dominoes Fall
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Coronavirus has shut down every major sports league in America, but not the NFL. So that’s what I’m writing about.
The free agency period started and the league’s legal tampering period allowed teams to begin to talk and to negotiate with unsigned free agents.
Most eyes and ears were on the latest Tom Brady rumors, as the 42-year-old hit the unrestricted free agency for the first time in his 20-year career. More notable NFL players will be on the move over the next few days via free agency or trades.
Brady announced that his next NFL home would not be New England. He ended up signing a deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers worth around $30 million a year.
Brady’s departure breaks up the most successful partnership in NFL history. Can Tom Brady win without Bill Belicheck and vice versa? Who is more vital to an organization, the quarterback or the coach?
Here is a list and a grade of some of the transactions that have been agreed upon to sign on Wednesday, March 18, 2020.
The Jaguars traded defensive lineman Calais Campbell to the Ravens in exchange for a 2020 fifth round draft pick. Baltimore extends Campbell’s contract through the 2020 season.
Ravens B+ Jaguars F (total rebuild in Jacksonville)
The Dallas Cowboys franchise tagged Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper to a five-year deal worth $100 million.
Cowboys A
The Texans agreed to trade DeAndre Hopkins and a 2020 fourth round pick to the Cardinals for running back David Johnson, a 2020 second round pick and 2021 fourth round pick.
Texans (F) Cardinals (A++).
The Vikings traded Stefon Diggs and a 2020 seventh round pick to the Bills for 2020 first round pick, a fifth-round pick, sixth round pick and 2021 fourth round pick. This trade has the Brady Effect written all over it. The Bills are going all in on Diggs and the division.
Vikings B Bills B
The Bears have been busy signing pass rusher Robert Quinn and tight end Jimmy Graham to free agency deals. I like Quinn’s signing but Graham’s best days are behind him.
Bears C
The Dolphins made waves by signing cornerback Byron Jones to a $17 million a year contract. Miami agreed to terms with two chronic underachievers in offensive lineman Ereck Flowers and pass rusher Shaq Lawson. I also just noticed Kyle Van Noy has signed with the Dolphins.
Dolphins B
The grades try to estimate a players’ chance of outplaying his contract. To say it is an inexact science would be an affront to science.
Winners And Losers
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The NFL scouting combine is now in the books.
More than 300 prospective NFL players were put through the ringer during the world’s most unconventional job interview.
After all, that’s what the combine is, a job interview. Some will get a job and others will leave temporarily unemployed.
Performing well in drills like the 40-yard dash, the vertical jump, or the bench press can convince a team there’s untapped potential. On the contrary, a poor performance, an injury, or any other red flags can sink a player’s draft stock.
Here are some of the winners and losers from some NCAA headliners in the 2020 NFL Combine.
Winner: C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida: The former Gator weighed in at a solid 204 pounds and still managed to run a 4.39 40-yard dash (third fastest among DBs).
His bench press reps (20) showed some dedication in the weight room. Henderson was the most impressive corner in on the field drills. He needed a good day to secure a first-round selection, and he got it.
Loser: Trevon Hill, edge rusher, Miami: Hill was a potential top 100 prospect this season, but teams will likely be disappointed in his athleticism results from the combine.
The former Cane weighed in at 248 pounds, he ran a 4.89 40-yard dash and managed pedestrian jump of 28 inch vertical and 9.5 broad.
Hill will probably be a day 3 selection. Still employed, but unexpectedly lower in status.
Winner: Cam Akers, RB, Florida State: Akers improved his draft stock with a solid showing at the combine. The former Seminole finished 5th in the 40-yard dash (4.47), broad jump 10 feet 2 inches and vertical jump was 35.5 inches. Akers is now the fourth ranked running back on my board behind Swift, Taylor and Dobbins.
Loser: Van Jefferson, WR, Florida: Jefferson did not participate at the combine after discovering a fracture in his foot that will require surgery. Jefferson was slotted as a day two selection now falls to day 3. Jefferson was at the combine and took part in the various team interviews.
Winner: Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson: Simmons lined up at nearly every position imaginable in college.
Simmons, before the combine was a top 10 pick, and is still a top 10 pick. Measuring in at 6 foot 4 inches (93 percentile), a 39-inch vertical (92nd percentile), 11-foot broad jump (98th percentile) and a 4.39 40-yard dash (99th percentile). Impressive for a 230 pounder.
The percentiles are NFL Combine history rankings. Let’s put it in layman’s terms, Simmons is a Defensive Freak!
Loser: Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia: There were no surprises with Fromm’s mostly average measurements earlier in the week. His arm strength during workouts was below average, his throws fluttered at times and his deep pass lacked velocity. Despite a poor showing, I suspect he’ll have an NFL career. However, his combine workout moved him down in QB stock below Eason.
While the timing, results, and measurements are key, data from the combine is not the whole story of the evaluation process.
Game film, physicals, interviews, and background checks will determine their career path. Some big differences and small similarities in the professional sports job market and regular people job markets. No matter the gig, these things can be challenging for anyone!
The Draft, however, is specifically tough on both candidates and staff. Simply put, it’s an educated gamble.
Best Chief Ever
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Florida State University’s basketball team is contending for the Atlantic Coast Conference title and a top seed in the NCAA tournament.
Coach Leonard Hamilton is in his 18th season as Head Coach at Florida State.
In 18 seasons, Hamilton at Florida State is 357-220, that is a .619 winning percentage. In 32 years of coaching Hamilton is 557-430, which is a .564 winning percentage.
In a conference with three Hall of Fame coaches (Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski, North Carolina’s Roy Williams and Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim), and a fourth destined to end up there (Virginia’s Tony Bennett), Coach Hamilton is often overlooked.
Currently at 24-4, the Seminoles are a virtual lock to make the NCAA tournament for the eighth time in the past twelve years. Not bad for a program that’s 10 for 61 in total tournament appearances.
A team that lost six of its top eight scorers from last season could very well make it to the Sweet 16 for the third consecutive year. Though a Final Four appearance has eluded him, he has made a career of winning at places where few have: Oklahoma State, Miami, and now at Florida State.
Florida State is a school where football is unquestionably king.
Hamilton insists very little has changed over the years and in some ways he is right. His fundamental principles and beliefs have remained unchanged. Through it all, he has managed to stay young. Hamilton, who is in his early 70’s (but looks 45), making him the BBall Benjamin Button.
At Florida State, Hamilton had losing seasons in two of his first three years, but the Seminoles are on a 15-year win streak. Including 20+ wins in his last five seasons.
Florida State’s basketball program doesn’t need a superstar to carry the program. That’s part of the appeal in Hamilton’s recruiting pitch. Hamilton has convinced players to accept their role and focus on the team.
With 14 NBA Draft selections under Hamilton since 2004, the Seminoles are fourth in the ACC for most draft picks (Duke 28, North Carolina 23, and Syracuse 18). Florida State has had at least one player selected in the NBA Draft in 11 of the last 15 seasons.
For the Seminoles under Hamilton, the academic achievements of his players is a long-standing tradition of success. During Hamilton’s tenure at Florida State, more than 90% of his players have earned their degrees. The Seminoles were one of seven ACC teams credited with a perfect Academic Progress Report score.
Ask someone to name the top five winningest coaches in Atlantic Coast Conference history.
The first three are obvious, I named them earlier in the article.
If you are a college basketball fan, they might get former Maryland coach Gary Williams at Number 4.
Yes, Leonard Hamilton has more ACC wins than Bobby Cremins, Terry Holland, Tony Bennett and Lefty Driesell.
Quietly, Leonard Hamilton has become the most successful coach in Florida State history, fifth all-time winningest coach in ACC history and a future Hall of Famer.
Donovan Delivered
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Former Florida coach Billy Donovan returned to the program he put on the college basketball map.
For the first time since 2015 we will see the man return to the O’Connell Center floor that was named after him. His signature was placed at both ends of the court between the 3-point line and the top the key.
Donovan is the current coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder. With the NBA All-Star Weekend, Donovan was honored at halftime of the Florida vs Vanderbilt contest.
Donovan became the coach at Florida in March of 1996 after Lon Kruger resigned to take the job at the University of Illinois.
The Gator basketball program had only fleeting success over its history. The Gators reached the Final Four under Kruger in 1994, but slipped back to mediocre levels the next season.
The 1998-1999 season the Gators went 22-9 earning 20 plus wins for only the fifth time in school history. They made their third NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance and became the second squad in school history to appear in the final top 25 polls (17 in ESPN and 23 in Associated Press).
While success in the regular season became a standard, post season the Gators consistently underperformed.
In the 2005-2006 season, Donovan’s sophomore led Gator team posted a school-best win streak to start the season reeling off 17 straight wins and reaching number 2 in the Associated Press poll. The Gators struggled during conference play, posting a 10-6 conference record heading into the SEC tournament.
Florida cruised through the SEC tournament and defeated South Carolina in the finals, earning the Gators second conference tournament title. In the 2006 NCAA tournament, The Gators were a three seed.
2005-2006 Gator basketball team would come together and defeat UCLA 73-57 to capture the school’s first NCAA basketball title. As exciting as the championship game, during the post championship celebration, the entire starting five (Lee Humphrey, Taurean Green, Joakim Noah, Al Horford and Cory Brewer) announced they would return and attempt to win back to back championships.
The 2006-2007 Gators did not disappoint Gator Nation. They became the first team since the 1991 and 1992 Duke teams to win back to back NCAA Championships. The Gators defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes 84-75 for the repeat championship.
With the Florida Gators football having won the 2007 BCS National Championship game (also over Ohio State). The University of Florida became the first school in NCAA history to hold both the football and basketball National Championships at the same time.
The Gators in the Donovan era were 467-186. The Gators won two national championships (2006 & 2007), four SEC tournaments championships (2005,2006,2007 & 2014) and six regular season conference titles (2000,2001,2007,2013 & 2014). Donovan’s Gators reached the Final Four 4 times with trips in 2000 and 2014 in addition to the national championship seasons.
Billy Donovan is the second coach in Division I history to notch 500 career wins before reaching his 50th birthday. The other was Hall of Famer Bobby Knight.
Billy Donovan thanked former players (30 plus in attendance), former assistants (8 in attendance), his former boss Jeremy Foley, his family and Gator Nation for helping him reach this career pinnacle.
Simply put, Billy Donovan made basketball matter at the football first school.
