Collegiate Times

Billy Donovan made the right choice when he announced plans to stay at the University of Florida to coach the reigning national champion Gators.

Courted by the historically dominant yet recently lackluster Kentucky Wildcats, Donovan announced his intention to stay in Gainesville yesterday.

Don't get me wrong, if I were Donovan I would seriously flirt with the Wildcats, but only as a means of getting more money out of the Gators.

Seriously, there are no good reasons to take the Kentucky job if you are already happily employed in Gainesville.

First and foremost, the weather is Gainesville is better than in Lexington; actually, it's a lot better. Who wants to move from a place where you can lounge around outside and swim in your heated, screened-in swimming pool year-round to a place that gets snow?That's just stupid.

Secondly, the tax system makes being rich in Florida a whole heck of a lot better than being rich in Kentucky. The Sunshine State doesn't tax any of your income, but in Kentucky, "rich" people are required to give six percent of their income to the state so that it can be squandered and such. That may not seem all that bad, but for someone making $2 million that would cost you $120,000 per year, or about the initiation to a very exclusive golf club. By the way, how do you even spend $2 million a year in Kentucky without developing a few seriously detrimental habits?

That takes us to the next reason for Billy Donovan not to leave Gainesville: the golf. Now, Gainesville itself may not have the golfing capital, but you're a quick car or Cessna ride away from the golfing hotspots of Jacksonville, Tampa Bay, Orlando, Naples and Miami.

I think the only things Lexington is close to are Louisville and Indiana, neither of which is known for any legendary golf clubs, or anything notable at all really.

Additionally, Kentucky is a no-win situation. The fans in Lexington have unrealistically high expectations for a school that isn't nearly as appealing to recruits as it once was. At Florida, Donovan is loved and will not be run out of town for failing to make the Final Four for a couple of years.

Nothing Donovan does at Kentucky will ever be good enough. Roundball fans in the Bluegrass State will never give him enough credit. To them, Donovan will never be as good as his boy Rick Pitino or college basketball legend Adolph Rupp, whose name is on the building.

Recruiting to Gainesville is a lot easier now given his recent success and Donovan's family will not be harassed by clingy fans whenever it goes out in public. Essentially, Kentucky basketball is a lot like Alabama football — I wouldn't touch that with a 10-foot pole if I were a big-time coach.

And if none of this has convinced you so far, how about the back-to-back national championships you just put up? How about the three Final Four banners you've hung in Gainesville so far this millennium? Why would you leave such a place for a conference rival who's recent flare for mediocrity seems to be it's only distinguishing characteristic?

So just to recap, if you're Donovan and you like golf, having more money, feeling appreciated, recruiting well, winning championships and having a generally good quality of life, then you should stay in Gainesville. If not, by all means, make the worst decision of your life and jump ship for Kentucky.