Advertisement

Florida's Billy Donovan says Muschamp an 'incredible man'

 
Published Nov. 21, 2014

GAINESVILLE — Florida basketball coach Billy Donovan knows job security ultimately comes down to wins and losses.

Will Muschamp did not win enough during his four seasons as the Gators' football coach.

But Donovan said he is impressed, if not amazed, how Muschamp did not let the tough losses, a vitriolic fan base and, ultimately, his firing Sunday define him.

Muschamp has handled the toughest week of his coaching life with the kind of grace Donovan wonders if he could have shown. He said he has traded text messages with Muschamp but hopes to speak with him at some point.

"I don't know all the ins and outs of their team and what their challenges were or any of those other things," Donovan said Thursday. "I do know this from a coaching standpoint, standing back and watching him handle what he's handled … I think the guy's been an incredible man. He's handled himself in an incredibly professional way in a very, very difficult circumstance.

"Most of us under extreme pressure don't like who we become sometimes. You know what, I would say I fall into that category where there's times that I say, 'Geez, I wish I handled that stuff better,' with my team or my wife or whatever. I mean, that guy all the way through to me was a first-class guy in terms of staying true to who he is."

USF: WR Adams out again

TAMPA — USF sophomore WR Rodney Adams will miss his second consecutive game Saturday because of a nagging groin injury, coach Willie Taggart said. Adams, second on the team with 21 receptions, was a last-minute scratch in the Bulls' 14-13 win over SMU last week and did not participate in part of a scrimmage Wednesday. "Rodney is still dealing with an injury and we're trying to figure out exactly what it is," Taggart said. The coach added that it's unclear whether OL Thor Jozwiak will play after suffering an unspecified injury in practice Tuesday. He missed all of last season due to a heart condition and two games this season because of shoulder and turf toe injuries. If Jozwiak can't go, Taggart said Jeremi Hall or Dominique Threatt will likely take the junior's place.

NO QB DECISION: Though he praised their performance in practice, Taggart declined to announce whether Mike White, Quinton Flowers or Steven Bench will start at quarterback against Memphis. "Those guys had a good week of practice," he said. "They've been operating on offense really well and getting us going, and I can say that we're going to have (a starter named) on Saturday."

Jeff Odom, Times correspondent