The Charlotte Observer reported today that former Miami Hurricanes and Cleveland Browns Head Coach, Butch Davis has expressed an interest in the vacant UNC-CH Head Football Coaching position.
Former Cleveland Browns and Miami Hurricanes football coach Butch Davis told the Charlotte Observer on Tuesday that he is interested in North Carolina’s coaching position.
“I don’t know what direction they’re going to go in,” he said by telephone, “but I definitely am interested, and I’m interested in getting back into coaching.”
From SFN’s perspective, Butch Davis would be huge home run for Dick Baddour and Carolina. We think that Davis is far and away the best potential name that will have a legitimate interest in the Carolina job.
Interestingly, the manner in which Carolina has chosen to execute this transition (in the middle of the season) has the potential to end up being sheer genius or complete folly.
With Butch Davis currently unemployed, it would not be bad form for either side to get connected during the season. Carolina could ultimately land this year’s coaching prize while all other potential suitors (Miami? Michigan State? others?) are still playing out their seasons waiting for December to arrive. In the end, Carolina could lock up Davis and ultimately save – or even improve – their strong 2008 recruiting class.
Of course, if Davis chooses to wait and see what fate ultimately befalls coaches like Larry Coker at Miami, Mike Shula at Alabama (Davis is rumored to have a big interest in the Crimson Tide’s job) and Dennis Franchione at Texas A&M then Carolina may have to walk a very tight rope with potential “back-up” options like the head coaches of Tulsa and Rutgers.
Something unexpected inside of college football could always arise as the season ends (Florida State? Penn State? Etc?) and start a chain reaction of changes for which Davis may want to make sure that he is available. I know that it is HUGE reach…but to illustrate the point, consider if Bobby Bowden chose to retire and Mack Brown decided to end his career at his alma mater. Davis would be an amazing catch for the University of Texas. It is just fun speculation; but that is what we do as fans.
If nothing else, wouldn’t Davis be smart to wait until all the chips fall in the off-season to make his ultimate decision?
If UNC ultimately lands Davis, then the heat on both Chuck Amato and Lee Fowler will increase significantly.
People will be quick to (righfully) point to Baddour, who is roundly viewed as being an idiot, landing a big fish for the secondary sport at UNC. Compared to Fowler who executed a search to allow NC State to be publicly rejected by at least four coaches during his search for the primary sport at NC State.
Something to ponder regarding NC State’s frustration with Carolina football in recent years. Consider that UNC-CH has had 9 straight years of mediocre-to-poor-to-downright bad football, yet NC State is 3-5 against them in those 9 years despite the Wolfpack being favored in six or seven of the eight games. Yuck.
