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Home > ajcsportstalk > Archives > 2008 > March > 13 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USWill Gators go dancing? Will Gottfried be back?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There is some tension in the air at tipoff of the 7:30 p.m. game between Alabama and Florida.
Florida (21-10) won the national championship in this building just a year ago but unless they win at least a couple of games here in Atlanta, the Gators won’t make it back to the NCAA Tournament. Florida finished 8-8 in the SEC but, in the final analysis, coach Billy Donovan probably should have put a couple more tough non-conference games on the schedule.
Florida played Florida State (lost 65-51) and Ohio State (lost 62-49) but that was about it for the non-conference schedule. Of the Gators’ 20 wins, eight came against teams that are ranked No. 200 or higher in the RPI.
Donovan would argue that when you have such a young team, you have to schedule that way so that their confidence doesn’t get crushed. He’s right about that.
I think Florida has to get to Sunday’s championship game to make the field of 65. But first they have to beat Alabama, a team that is better than its 16-15 record.
There is tension on the Alabama side because of uncertainty about the future of coach Mark Gottfried. But I don’t think there is any doubt that Gottfried will be back next season as the Crimson Tide coach.
Here are a couple of reasons why. First of all, point guard Ronald Steele will return next season after sitting out 2007-08 to recover from a knee injury. When healthy, Steele is as good as any guard in the country. And if forwards Richard Hendrix and Alonzo Gee both return Alabama will probably be the favorite to win the SEC West.
Secondly, Alabama just can’t afford to let Gottfried go at this time. The school would owe him $3 million. They are already paying Mike Shula about $1 million a year NOT to coach football. They’ll pay Nick Saban $3.75 million this year. Then there are the Alabama assistant coaches, which comprise one of the highest paid staffs in the country.
Gottfried has proven that he can coach. It makes no sense to make a change.
CLASS ACT: Auburn’s coaches wore orange ribbons on their coats during Thursday’s game with Vanderbilt. The ribbons were in honor of Auburn freshman Lauren Burk of Marietta who was murder near campus on March 4.
PEP TALK: Al Horford, a member of Florida’s 2006 and 2007 national championship teams, spoke to the Gators before the game. Horford is now a member of the Atlanta Hawks. The talk must not have gone well. Florida fell behind 14-0 to start the game.
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