Donovan a smokescreen?

[JOHN BLUEBLOOD]

I found this post interesting. I was thinking "why use Donovan as a smokescreen"? We couldn've just got Billy G. right off the bat. But, this post makes me think that Mitch knew he couldn't get Billy D. out of Florida so he had Billy G. hold off his contract signing and let the Billy D. rage continue to draw attention away from Gillispie. Mitch couldn't just offer it to Gillispie, remember everyone wanted Donovan and Mitch would've been butchered. The more I think about this hire, the more shrewd of a man Mitch becomes. Here's the Tarheel post and way to go Mitch!!!



***

This worked out beautifully for Kentucky. First of all they were able to use everyone's obsession with Donovan as a perfect smokescreen to keep the attention off of Billy G. Don't you think Billy G turned down the opportunity to go to Arkansas for a reason? Come on, Texas A&M is not a good basketball job. He knew he had bigger fish to fry if he just waited. I have to think that UK was pretty sure Donovan was going to say no thanks but they HAD to make the call. With the way the fans were acting, there is no way you can offer Gillispie without getting a "no" from Donovan first. They were able to do this saving as much face as possible (hire the next DAY, no drawn out negotiations with Donovan, etc). They had their guy in the bag the whole time.

Barnes was never a serious candidate no matter what Andy Katz wants us to believe. Once it started becoming known that Gillispie was going to be interviewed/offered, it didn't take long for Ricky to start screaming "not interested." Funny, I remember a bunch of coaches who were never contacted or offered having "not interested" press conferences when Notre Dame and Alabama football jobs were open the last 2 or 3 years. Nothing makes you feel like you are the BMOC more than "turning down" the highest profile jobs out there, especially if it's your archrival coach that's getting it. Rick had to one up the guy at A&M, simple as that.

[bluesuede]

Interesting read.......who knows?? :rolleyes::shrug:

[CATHEAD]

My thoughts exactly. The moreyou think about it, the more it makes sense. Mitch wanted Billy G. all along, but there's no way he could have gotten him without letting Donovan turn us down first. He would've been dragged out into the street and beaten (I would've taken the first swing).

And who does Rick Barnes think he is anyway? Aside from Andy Schmatz, who wanted this guy? You can't turn something down that hasn't been offered to you, bud.

[Brian McCat]

Possible, but I doubt it. It would have been a big risk by Mitch, given that Arkansas was courting Billy G at the same time.

[Caveman Catfan]

Mitch could not just go after anyone until he appeased the big blue fans by showing patient interest in Donovan. Would this board be nearly as agreeable had Mitch pulled the trigger on Billy G before Donovan was done with the NCAA tourney?

I don't think so.

[bleedingblue7]

Ihad started to say something like this yesterday. Billy D. is a good coach but I didnt like what he was going to bring to the table. And we as fans and the "experts" dont know what Mitch was really thinking. Who was to say that if Billy D. was interested in the job who is to say he would have pulled the trigger on him anyway? But what ever was said and done it dont matter I think Mitch had an ACE up his sleeve and UK couldnt have gotten a better coach...after that prep rally I am sold on the man. And I kind of feel foolish for even having other coaches ahead of him on my list.:blush:

[VirginiaBlue]

Hiring coaches, recruiting, it's all like a big chess game. Like back when Brian Brohm was being recruited. I think just about everybody knew that he was going to UL, but not going after him would never have been accepted by the fan base. The long delay possibly cost us some looks by other QB's who moved on to other programs.

Looking back now, though, I am glad how it all turned out.:)

[pjquirk]

Caveman nailed it. We could have had a coach at least a week earlier if Mitch didn't have to appease the Big Blue Nation by at least waiting for Billy D to say he's staying at FL.

[UKfaninCO]

Seems plausible, but a bit too "cloak and dagger" for me. It is probably merely a different perspective on the way things worked out. I think Donovan was a long shot and Mitch knew it going in, but had to make the offer. I'd be very surprised if Mitch were not in negotiations with Billy G's agent before Donovan was even done in the final four. The whole scenario works out better if you take that into account. Whether Mitch planned it or not, I don't know, I just think he was properly prepared and made the right moves to get the right coach in place.

[BlueBalls]

Regardless how it happened........I'm happy with OUR Billy!!!!

[RV]

http://media.theinsiders.com/Media/Other/229031_welcome.GIFpjquirk

[Terry L. Wildcat]

BlueBalls wrote: Regardless how it happened........I'm happy with OUR Billy!!!!
:thumbupOur Hillybilly

[KYISSUPREME]

Our Billy, and perhaps in years to come, the best Billy! :lol::thumbup

[justford]

Just think of how much air time UK was getting while we waited:lol:

[Mark Blueblood]

I normally don't buy into conspiracy theories, but ya know, after CM's comments it makes me wonder. Newton seems to believe that Mitch could have gotten Billy had he gone after him hard enough. Maybe. But maybe Mitch wasn't all that enamored with Billy D and wanted to break the "good ol' boy" connection.

Now...I'm not saying he wouldn't have taken Donovan, but maybe he asked him if he was interested, Billy D said "No thanks" and Mitch merely said "Okay" and then went after HIS guy.

Hey....works for me!

But you guys are right. The Big Blue Nation was so enamored with Donovan, that Mitch had to at least make a play for him.

[Caveman Catfan]

The prospect of a coach coming to UK to make his name as a championship coach is much more appealing to me than bringing in someone who has accomplished that goal someplace else. Coach G seems to be everything that we fans want in a coach. Had Donovan come to UK and in 6 years not made it to the final four, the press would be drooling with negative comments.

I firmly believe that like Hall, Pitino and Smith before him, Coach G will have his greatest basketball moments as the head coach of UK. That is a good thing for him and for us.

[TrueblueCATfan]

WHAS here in Louisville is doing a segment at noon today...with Mitch and he is telling us exactly what he did the last 2 weeks during the coaching search

[phantompain]

I think there is something to this idea. if you haven't read this article yet, check it out. It is basically MB admitting just what this thread is about. At least the appeasing of the fans part.

http://www.amnews.com/public_html/?module=displaystory&story_id=30573&format=html

[Wildcat97]

This is exactly what I was thinking...especially about the "..I remember a bunch of coaches who were never contacted or offered having "not interested" press conferences..."

Thanks Blueblood...

JOHN BLUEBLOOD wrote:
I found this post interesting. I was thinking "why use Donovan as a smokescreen"? We couldn've just got Billy G. right off the bat. But, this post makes me think that Mitch knew he couldn't get Billy D. out of Florida so he had Billy G. hold off his contract signing and let the Billy D. rage continue to draw attention away from Gillispie. Mitch couldn't just offer it to Gillispie, remember everyone wanted Donovan and Mitch would've been butchered. The more I think about this hire, the more shrewd of a man Mitch becomes. Here's the Tarheel post and way to go Mitch!!!



***

This worked out beautifully for Kentucky. First of all they were able to use everyone's obsession with Donovan as a perfect smokescreen to keep the attention off of Billy G. Don't you think Billy G turned down the opportunity to go to Arkansas for a reason? Come on, Texas A&M is not a good basketball job. He knew he had bigger fish to fry if he just waited. I have to think that UK was pretty sure Donovan was going to say no thanks but they HAD to make the call. With the way the fans were acting, there is no way you can offer Gillispie without getting a "no" from Donovan first. They were able to do this saving as much face as possible (hire the next DAY, no drawn out negotiations with Donovan, etc). They had their guy in the bag the whole time.

Barnes was never a serious candidate no matter what Andy Katz wants us to believe. Once it started becoming known that Gillispie was going to be interviewed/offered, it didn't take long for Ricky to start screaming "not interested." Funny, I remember a bunch of coaches who were never contacted or offered having "not interested" press conferences when Notre Dame and Alabama football jobs were open the last 2 or 3 years. Nothing makes you feel like you are the BMOC more than "turning down" the highest profile jobs out there, especially if it's your archrival coach that's getting it. Rick had to one up the guy at A&M, simple as that.

[macdon]

This is something I have thought to have very good substance throughout the whole ordeal.

The 'search firm' was hired for some reason.

Billy Clyde hedged on signing the extension from A & M and refused Arkansas.

Logically thinking why would Donovan leave Florida? The back to back NC's give him bank for several years, at least to the end of the contract extension. He is heading for at least a couple of years of lean times.

Mitch, however, had to give Donovan time to say no or the fans would have crucified him.

Take a realistic look at what Donovan has accomplished. The '04's were a special group. Only one McD' AA (Brewer) but they had that special chemistry that made them great. Outside of that group....what has BD gotten done? The other Final Four was kind of like UL making it a couple of years ago. They got waxed by MSU in the finals....really waxed.

One has to believe that a least some of Donovan's hunger is satiated. Billy Clyde is still very HONGREY. Like a wolf.