Donovan pulls a Saban

DESTIN, Fla. - It was softer and smarter, but former Florida coach Billy Donovan pulled a Nick Saban this week at the Southeastern Conference meetings, which ended up being his last "game" as the Gators' coach.

On Thursday morning, Donovan said the following to reporters shortly before checking out of the Hilton Sandestin Beach hotel.

"I haven't talked to anyone from the Magic, so I can't comment on it," Donovan said in response to a question about continuing rumors concerning his candidacy for the Orlando Magic job. When asked if his agent had spoken to the Magic, Donovan said he had not spoken with his agent.

"A lot of times there's speculation out there and a lot of times there's nothing to the speculation," Donovan said. "That's why I'm not commenting on it."

Later Thursday afternoon, after Donovan had skipped town, the story broke that Donovan was indeed leaving to become Orlando's coach. I guess a lot of times, coaches lie.

Donovan's comments were not as arrogantly definite as that of then-Miami Dolphins coach Nick Saban, who said late last season that, "I'm not going to be the Alabama coach," then took the job. But he's in the same arena ... the coaching arena.

Like Saban, Donovan also has said for several weeks that he's staying at Florida.
Wonder if the Miami and Gainesville media will now come down as hard on Donovan?