SI.com - 2007 Sportsman of the Year - My Sportsman: Florida's Oh-Fours - Tuesday November 13, 2007 12:20PM

Gator Boyz is Still Hot

SI.com - 2007 Sportsman of the Year - My Sportsman: Florida's Oh-Fours - Tuesday November 13, 2007 12:20PM

The question had to be asked. It was late on the Thursday night before the Final Four in Atlanta, and Florida coach Billy Donovan had spent nearly an hour recounting the challenges and achievements of his historic class of juniors: Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Corey Brewer and Taurean Green. Four nights later, they would achieve one of the rarest feats in modern American team sports, becoming only the second squad in 33 years to win consecutive Division I men's basketball national titles.

It seemed like a good time to put things in perspective.

"Do you ever wonder," I asked Donovan, "if this is a once-in-a-lifetime group?"

The expression on the coach's face was a fascinating blend of pride, wonder and a slowly dawning nostalgia. How many coaches devote their entire careers to searching for that perfect combination of players and personalities? How many find it even once?

"I hope not," Donovan replied. "Because this is what coaching should be like all the time. I have the joy and the hope that this could possibly happen again with these types of kids."