Andrew Jones: Butch ‘Davis part II(updated)

General72

Just ask any Tarheel fan and they will be sure to tell you that there is nothing to the story. And, of course, why would anyone ever leave Chapel Hill by their own choosing. (Shhhh…don’t mention Mack Brown).

Link to story

Tennessee has tabbed North Carolina coach Butch Davis as the leading candidate to replace ousted football coach Phillip Fulmer, multiple sources have told the News Sentinel.

Whether UT can secure Davis remains to be seen. Davis has said publicly that he is happy at North Carolina because of the family environment in Chapel Hill and the opportunity to rebuild a program that has long struggled.

If UT can’t get Davis, Mike Leach of Texas Tech and Brian Kelly of Cincinnati will become strong possibilities. Tim Brewster from Minnesota will also be considered.

Updated with article from Andrew Jones(UNC graduate if I am not mistaken):

According to sources close to the UT football program, the North Carolina football coach’s agent, Jimmy Sexton, was contacted this weekend by Tennessee representatives to discuss Davis as a possible replacement to Phillip Fulmer, who was fired last week after 17 years on the job.

Davis told the media last week that he wasn’t interested in the job and that he plans on staying at UNC. But there are conditions that Carolina must meet to ensure Davis’ tenure in Chapel Hill is a long one.

According to a source close to Davis and UNC, the coach wants a more lucrative contract and guaranteed dates for the starts and completions of each phase in Kenan Stadium’s renovation.

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72 Responses to Andrew Jones: Butch ‘Davis part II(updated)

  1. Scooter 11/10/2008 at 2:22 PM #

    I disagree that the road to the national championship would be easier for Butch at UNC than UT. Exhibit A — Penn State’s plight (prior to humiliating loss to Iowa). The Big 10 is weak compared to most of the bigger conferences, so even should UNC go undefeated, they would need the top teams from the Big 12/SEC to stumble or would suffer the humiliation of a Championship Snub (see also the 2004 Auburn Tigers or 2003 USC Trojans). For the road to the national title to be made easier for UNC, the ACC’s overall talent level would need to improve, UNC would have to go undefeated and win the conference championship, and in the mean time, a lot of money that might otherwise go to basketball would need to be funneled in Butch Davis’ direction.

  2. MrPlywood 11/10/2008 at 2:32 PM #

    Is it too much too ask for the Tarholes to be humiliated AND and up with an awful coach?

  3. wufpaxno1 11/10/2008 at 2:38 PM #

    Butch has preached upgrades at Kennan Stadium, and for those who are not sure, UT is a big step up in Facilities. Kennan is a beautiful setting for football on a Fall Saturday, there is no denying that, but Kennan is also in dire need of repair. A good friend of mine, who is also a Tarheel fan, told me that in the opening game with McNeese State, during the rain delay, a loud thunder Clap shook loose a large chunk of concrete from the stands and that it was just a miracle that no one was hit. UNC officials had to have it repaired and certified before the following weeks game. In the nationally televised game with Connecticut, the stadium lights kept going out causing a long delay and getting a lot of bad press on ESPN. They ended up finishing the game short a couple of banks of lights. And Kennan will never be suitable for tailgating. Don’t think for a moment that these things will not play a role in Butch’s decision. Kennan = Walace Wade with a shave, haircut, and a new coat of paint.

  4. Dire_Wolf 11/10/2008 at 2:53 PM #

    I quizzed a friend of mine who is well connected to the UNC-CH athletics department and this was his response to Davis leaving:

    Wife loves Chapel Hill, son is in 9th grade and is starting QB for his team, Butch turned down more money not to go back to Arkansas (where his family lives and where he went to school) last year, his agent keeps saying that Butch will be at UNC for a long time, Butch keeps saying that he is not going anywhere, and he has stated that the recruiting class that he is working on and for which he already has commitments is the best class he has ever recruited.

    Truth or spin?

  5. PackerInRussia 11/10/2008 at 2:54 PM #

    I heard that one of the perks of the UT job is that new coach gets Phil Fulmer’s complete wardrobe for free. Where else is he going to wear that beautiful shade of bright orange?

    All the talk of UNC’s humiliation. With our luck, they’d talk Bill Cowher into being their next head coach. Or B.O.’s first executive order as new president would be to give UNC one billion dollars to spend on athletics and coaching needs as part of his economic stimulus package. Either way, even if things look temporarily bad for UNC, it will correct itself and be multiplied by 10 before it’s all over.

  6. Alpha Wolf 11/10/2008 at 2:55 PM #

    Jimmy Sexton is agent of change here (pardon the pun) and has said that he doesn’t make any money if there aren’t extensions and raises.

    So, Butch is going to get a raise. Either Chapel Hill gives it to him or he opens a new bank account in Knoxville.

    There is a huge difference (about 40K fans) between Neylan and Kenan Stadiums, and the SEC is the elite conference in college football, hands down. After a fashion, pay no attention to that — Davis is sort of like a hooker and he’ll run off to bed with the highest bidder.

  7. jmnorris 11/10/2008 at 3:54 PM #

    It all depends on what kinda guy Butch is now, as others have stated, but I personally hope he stays at UNC. I really dont like him and I think he will say whatever it takes to stay in the spotlight, but I have to admit that the reason I don’t like him is b/c he has unc winning. I say I hope he stays b/c I want to beat UNC when they are playing well. I dont wanna have all the UNC fans blame their loses to us on their crappy coach. I want them to think “We are a damn good football team and we just got beat by a great football team” after they play us. I just think to be the best(I want a national championship), you have to be able to beat everyone on their best day. And how sweet would it be to beat unc on their best day???

  8. Par Shooter 11/10/2008 at 4:15 PM #

    Recruiting in NC is a 0 sum game and right now the chief has recruiting rolling a la mack brown. When they are getting the lion’s share of the top 15 players in-state then we are in trouble. Luckily TOB’s way of doing things can overcome getting lower rated players out of HS but this only goes so far. For us to get where we want to be we will need some elite athletes playing the game TOB’s way. Right now chief is soaking up a lot of those prospects. The sooner he gets out of ch the better off we will be. The same can be said for Wake and ECU.

  9. Classof89 11/10/2008 at 4:21 PM #

    The fact that this has become public so early in Tennessee’s coaching search process seems to me to make it far more likely that Davis will stay at UNC…He’s in the middle of a race for an ACC title game berth–he has to be under immense pressure–both self imposted and external– to put these rumors to bed. I think some Pack fans are being delusional…when was the last time the head coach of a BCS team in the middle of a conference championship race announced he was jumping to another school at the end of the season? And if not, is Tennessee really willing to wait until UNC’s season concludes on November 29 (or December 6, if they make the championship) to name a coach?

  10. Cardiac95 11/10/2008 at 4:37 PM #

    If CH hands out a big pay raise to BD, they’ll almost certainly have to reciprocate with Ole’ Roy. They wouldn’t want to send the wrong message about which sport reigns supreme.

  11. VaWolf82 11/10/2008 at 4:59 PM #

    I disagree that the road to the national championship would be easier for Butch at UNC than UT. Exhibit A — Penn State’s plight (prior to humiliating loss to Iowa).

    Your exhibit isn’t very convincing since OSU got a berth in the MNC game both of the last two years

    I think some Pack fans are being delusional

    No, say it isn’t so. 😉

  12. TOBtime 11/10/2008 at 7:27 PM #

    Yeah, and Saban said he wasn’t going anywhere either and I’d put his coaching right up there with ‘ol butch slap. They’re both the same type of hooker – the type that goes with the most money. If the money is right, Chief won’t have any trouble rationalizing that Knoxville is better than the hole. His family AND coaches are all better off at $4M a year. And you can bet UT can and WILL pay that if they think they have a chance of getting the guy who beats Saban.

  13. sodstaple 11/10/2008 at 8:07 PM #

    I see Butch going to the NFL, maybe the Dallas Cowboys.

  14. CarnifeX 11/10/2008 at 8:16 PM #

    http://www.bustedcoverage.com/?attachment_id=8794

    Pack getting some love down in Baton Rouge!

    /threadjack

  15. highstick 11/10/2008 at 9:58 PM #

    There is absolutely no road to the National Championship in football through Chapel Hill! Get serious! All of the icecaps will melt before there is ever a national champion in football in Chapel Hole!

  16. Wolf Dog 11/10/2008 at 10:11 PM #

    If Butch wants to build a champion he may have to go to TN. His assistants will be in demand after this season and it will take money to get him and them to stay. TN can pay Butch and give all his assistants a huge raise. That is where I think the line will fall. Butch knows it takes serious cash to keep top assistants these days. If UNC dishes out the cash for him and the assistants, then I think Butch will stay. I can’t remember the guy’s name in charge of recruiting over at UNC but he is a proven commodity and will be in demand. But hard not to take a look at TN. Got to be one of a hand full of schools that you can maintian a top 20 program year in and year out.

    I will predict in 2-4 years we will be having this conversation about most likely a Big Ten or Big 12 school having TOB on their list.

  17. packalum44 11/10/2008 at 10:28 PM #

    It might be easier to go undefeated in ACC than in SEC….therefore it might be easier to make BCS or national championship game. However, I certainly don’t think it will be easier to WIN the actual championship game coaching UNC. TN has loads of talent so BD could come in and win immediately and compete for championship in 2-3 years (see Saban). Could recruit top 5 classes instead of top 20 classes. Makes a difference!

    Just depends on how ambitious he is at this point in his career. Does he like chilling out in the Triangle making $2 mill a year or does he want a bigger beach house at Figure 8??? I’d be surprised if UNC would pony up more than $2.5 mill a year. At TN, its not a question of whether they should, its EXPECTED/DEMANDED they pay AT LEAST $2.5 mill and maybe up to Saban money of $4 mill.

    Do know that it would benefit NC State program immensely to get Slap out of Chapel Hill b/c he is killing the in-state recruiting. It would set back their program which is always good for rivals. Folks who don’t understand this are either idealistic or just silly. BTW, we just lost a 4-star receiver to them, J. Boyd…

  18. ruffles31 11/10/2008 at 10:58 PM #

    The funny thing about this thread is to read about how Bruce is kicking TOB’s butt on the in-state recruiting trail this year when no one remembers that TOB kicked Chief Bruce’s butt last year for the in-state recruits. A lot of people REALLY have a short term memory.

    Now, do I wish State was doing a little better with recruiting this year? Sure. But is that the reason I want Bruce to go to Knoxville? There is NO reason I want Bruce to go to Knoxville. That is the sayings of a State grad who grew up going to Neyland Stadium as a Vol fan who does not want an ex-Heel coach as a head coach in Knoxville.

    I am hoping that the traveling circus, aka the Dallas Cowboys, hire him after Wade Phillips get axed and Jason Garrett wises up and doesn’t want to work under Jerry Jones anymore.

  19. turfpack 11/10/2008 at 11:29 PM #

    I don,t give a s$%# what bitch hole does – lets just kick their ass
    and all that want matter.
    Recuiting?–TOB’s put a few players in the NFL-he knows talent
    and can find it.We will get there soon- got some hell-a-jus players reshirting I been told and some more coming in next fall.

  20. PacknSack 11/11/2008 at 1:43 AM #

    State will never bring in the caliber of classes — pure talent-wise — that BMFD will bring in year to year. You can coach em up and they can have all the character and grades you want, but in the long run, I see real separation between the two programs over the next five years and not to State’s good.

    BMFD going to Tenn is bad for the ACC. Particularly now when there’s a power vacuum. It won’t happen.

  21. haze 11/11/2008 at 8:00 AM #

    Best scenario would be for NC State would be for Butch to leave as late as possible… pre-bowl game would be perfect. Personally, I don’t think it happens. I think he stays, maybe not forever, but for now. I hope it costs UNC lots of money to make him stay.

    As for the recruit whining, Butch is having a big year in-state. Kudos. TOB was big last year and has good connections with a couple of biggies for next year. Kudos again. Inevitably, this will swing a bit from year to year, though the demographics will likely favor UNC for the forseeable future. TOB will only establish a long-term advantage if he wins a lot of games and does well against the Hill. That’s called earning it. That’s what NC State has struggled to do in both programs over the last couple of decades. Still, it can happen if you keep bringing in solid kids that you can coach and hold onto into their RS Jr and Sr years. Effectively, do what Wake does but with a better cut of talent, you can consistently beat flashy programs. Where you get in trouble is when you meet flashy programs with superior coaching (e.g. Florida). Can Butch do that too? Maybe, maybe not but I’d bet not.

  22. newt 11/11/2008 at 8:49 AM #

    p.s. – I still don’t buy that Butch is all that.

    Obviously, it’s impressive that they have won the number of games they have even after losing two key starters. But when you look at the Coastal Division, there’s no real reason for UNC to be ranked at #17 and for none of the other teams to be ranked. Their rating seems inflated to me.

    Everyone said preseason that UNC had a favorable schedule.

    UNC could very well lose their last three games and this conversation will be very different.

    The UVA game was not well coached.

  23. TOB 11/11/2008 at 9:38 AM #

    Still amazes me, we are continuing to discuss this
    on this site. I guess it shows our athletics
    program is exactly where we say its not.
    and the tarhole fans are on here right now laughing and we keep on talking about them.

  24. packalum44 11/11/2008 at 10:43 AM #

    TOB…who cares what the hole fans think…they are the most obnoxious and pretentious group of holes you can stumble accross. my roommate is a hole alum with a degree in creative writing. we live in DC and he makes $7/hour. he’s pathetic. he thought Butch was a hole alum and he didn’t know who david thompson, told me that our 83′ team was an underdog and got lucky (this was somehow supposed to diminish the fact we won nevertheless…whole other story was that we were not the biggest cinderella team ever and were actually under-rated as far as history views us but that is a different story, of course he had no clue we played 5 or 6 DIFFERENT #1 ranked teams that season, including giving MJ the business) also said that MJ was the best ACC player of all time, and what about Psycho T…hahaha he was serious and if MJ stayed his Senior year, wouldn’t he have been better, no b/c if DT had played his Freshman year, he would have been better than MJ his senior year.

    he also said that our facilities were not better than theirs (insert Fowler joke here), but at least we can say our stadium and arena are better if not our athletics. most hole fans my generation are the laughable ones. they take everything for granted and maybe they don’t give a damn about interesting topics like coaches and coaching changes…they were fed everything on a silver spoon and haven’t built any character in the process. adversity builds character and we do not lack in this department. not to mention, most could care less (relatively speaking) if they lost Butch Hole to TN or not.

  25. Daily Update 11/11/2008 at 10:47 AM #

    If you don’t want to discuss the topic of this entry, then choose not to post. This site discusses the coaching carousel every year in college football and basketball, so a major program targeting our primary rival’s football coach is certainly newsworthy.

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