It seems that the University of Kentucky had the clearest idea of who they wanted to be their head coach once the season started.

In this case, it was Florida Gators Coach Billy Donovan.

ESPN has reported that the the school is prepared to offer a contract that will be a seven-year deal worth at least $2.8 million a season and as much as $3.5 million with performance-based incentives, a annual raise of more than $1 million.  The formal offer could come as early as next week or as soon as Florida is eliminated from the NCAA Tournament.  Donovan has declined to comment on the Kentucky job.

After this season, Donovan has five years remaining on his contract with Florida, which pays him about $1.8 million per season.  Donovan and his agents have been in negotiations with Florida athletics director Jeremy Foley for nearly a year.  The two sides haven't yet reached a contract extension, but Florida was already prepared to pay Donovan at least $2.5 million per season before the Kentucky job opened, also according to ESPN.

In my opinion, as much as I despite the University of Florida, partially because of my cousin who is such a Gator Thumper that I almost refuse to speak to her because she almost always steers the conversation to talking about her Gators (to which I steer the conversation towards the Dolphins, which always pisses her off), Donovan should stay here.

Why?

Simple.

The Kentucky job isn't the job it used to be.

It's one of the most elite jobs in the country.  But unless you're prepared to deal with the stress that comes iwth the job, the media scrutiny that comes with the job, and the microscope that the coach is placed under, the job isn't worth the hassle.

People will cite the tradition that comes with the job and the history that comes with it.  The fact that the fan base regularly sells out the Adolph Rupp Arena and cares so much for the program that the discussion of the job is Kentucky Basketball all the time, 365 days a year.  They may even try to get the most famous Kentucky Fan, the lovely Ashley Judd, to try and sell the program. 

But, this isn't the 50's, 60's, 70's even the 80's, where Kentucky played in a much more limited field in the NCAA, where fewer teams were allowed in, when the SEC was simply Kentucky and everyone else.

The environment has changed for the Wildcats.  And the fans, as passionate as they are, are clinging to a faded and outdated dream that Kentucky Basketball should rule over the NCAA with an Iron Fist.

The fans have sensed it, which is why former coach Tubby Smith finally had it with the University when some of that passionate fanbase felt that their coach, who had taken the University to the tournament every year he was at Kentucky, began to call for his head, leave For Sale signs on his property and take out a full page ad calling for his dismissal.  This passionate fan base apaprently felt that a team averaging 22 wins a season wasn't good enough for their lofty expectations.

It stinks the same way that Alabama forced out Mike Shula and sought after the biggest fish that was in the pond to try and bring back some respectability to their job.  Coach after coach refused the job at Alabama, another fading former superpower that was spoiled by generations of competing in a smaller competitive field, seeing the job not as a step up but rather as a good way of making life unpleasent for themselves.

The fact of the matter is that Florida, much like Alabama, finds itself threatened and in an unusual position for them: Average

After years of dominance, both programs are merely average and no longer an elite program, not when the Louisvilles and the Floridas and the Auburns of the world have finally managed to carve their own niches in the worlds where both of these superpowers once dwelled.

It's a reality that's both invigorating and terrifying to both programs, invigorating because they finally have a chance to show their muscle more often, terrifying because they are finding out that they are not as powerful and not as strong as they thought they were.

Come recruitment time, many of the players that once couldnt' wait to jump to Alabama or Kentucky are now suddenly finding out that the grass is greener on other pastures.

For Billy Donovan, he's got something good going on at Florida.  Ge's establishing a legacy in Gainesville, one that he can build upon and he's got the chance to carve a legacy far greater than anything he can achieve at Kentucky.

In my opinion, Donovan should stay.  The Kentucky job isn't worth the hassle, the heartache and the scorn from legions of fans that have lost their sense of realistic expectations and are due for a cruel reality check at any moment now.

Trust me on this one.

The grass at Kentucky ain't any greener than that of Florida.

In fact, Florida's grass may be a little more appealing.

Just a thought...