Donovan's first trip to the Final Four years ago was of course with different players than he had in 06-07 and only a seasoned Michigan State team with a dominant player in Mateen Cleaves could stop him from claiming that title. All those coaches you mention are revered legends but Billy D stacks up pretty well against anyone in the last 8 seasons.
Zook in football was definitely not Tubby Smith in BB. Tubby was better than that So I don't see the zealot comparison....if that's what you mean. Otherwise I think UF football has outperformed Ky basketball over the past 15 years or so. Not in the last 70 years but definitely in the last 15.
I would say that Zook=Billy G. Didn't do 'poorly' but didn't live up to expectations... rubbed some folks the wrong way.. tossed out before he had a chance to realize the foundation he built. you are being intentionally obtuse..
Zook = Gillispie is a fair comparison. I would like to see BG get that third year in before completely saying it's even though. Also....Urban was available to take that next step in his career and his ex-boss was the new Prez at Florida so other factors were at work as well.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not judging. I follow UCLA basketball and I believe we rightly fired Steve Lavin for only being able to go to the Sweet 16 each year after putting up irregular regular seasons. I get why Florida football and Kentucky hoops have such high demands. It is what it is.
Corey Here's an interesting article by Drew Sharp of the Free Press about Billy G and Richrod. Many of the things he says about the UM fans could apply to another school I know of. http://www.freep.com/article/20090329/COL08/903290447/1048 On a completely unrelated topic, the Tigers today put Dontrelle Willis on the DL. The reason given "anxiety disorder." Ever heard of that before?
Gip, That could most certainly apply to some others. Good article My only beef with the writer is that it goes beyond tradition IMHO. With some of these programs, there is an incredible investment in concert with an excess of resources that a winner needs... That is why those teams shouldn't have much tolerance for mediocrity. Still, 2 years in an awfully short time... I do agree with that 3 year minimum rule. I thought that was fair for Ty as well. It was clear by year 3 the program as a whole was headed in the wrong direction. As for Willis.. WTF? Does he need Viagra before taking the mound? So much of pitching is mental, and if he can't cut it then he needs to be released, not DLed.
Sometimes you see this from new coaches before they have done a damn thing on the court or the field. When they don't produce what they promised then it makes their situation that much worse.