Talking points: Tennessee's search for a new head coach

by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 14, 2008 7:14 AM EST in Rocky Top Talking Points

Fulmer's Belly's actual nightmare. Butch Davis, running the Clawfense in a bathroom with a basketball goal. Here you go, guys.
Hey, have heard we're looking for a head football coach? It could be Mike Leach if Tennessee's history of replacing coaches with their polar opposites holds. Hey, folks in Dallas are already talking about possible replacements for Leach at Texas Tech. Or it could be Lane Kiffin, but he's interviewing with Clemson. Or Minnesota coach Tim Brewster, who Charles Davis says is a viable candidate. Or Brian Kelly, who John Adams says is the football equivalent of Bruce Pearl. Or Butch Davis. What Butch Davis said: ""I have absolutely no interest whatsoever in the University of Tennessee job. It's a great job, but I have no interest in it." What Butch Davis didn't say: "At this time. Make me interested."
Money doesn't make you mature. Jimmy Hyams reported on the radio yesterday afternoon that he'd confirmed with Thunder Thornton that Thornton was at the Wyoming game wearing a hat that said Fire Hamilton. He apparently conceded that it was a "sophomore" stunt.
Reaching for reasons to play. Gate 21:

To close out, people always talk about Tennessee being completely irrelevant. Well, there are ways to stay relevant, even at 3-6 with a lame-duck coach. One is losing to Wyoming. Other possibilities? Being Vanderbilt’s bowl-clinching, history-making, streak-breaking sixth win. Having the nation’s longest streak of ownage broken on your home field on the day to honor a coaching legend.
Yeah.
Just in time. B.J. Coleman passed for 325 yards and two TDs in last night's junior varisty game. There were 200 witnesses. Yeah, they were playing Hargrave Military Academy, but wasn't it after the JV game that we finally recognized that Dennis Rogan in fact could play on the big boy team?
But hey, there's basketball tomorrow. The BruceBall Blog has the Tennessee-Chattanooga game preview.

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Butch Davis

Until anything comes out to suggest otherwise, I consider Butch Davis a non-candidate. When his name first came up, his statements were essentially “I’m committed to UNC and I’m happy here.” Over time, his statements have steadily strengthened, and now we’re up to “I have absolutely no interest in Tennessee. It’s a fine job, but my family’s staying put.”

Since he keeps making the statements stronger, I’m willing to believe them. Just because Saban reversed himself after strong statements doesn’t mean we should automatically assume that another coach will.

by David Hooper on Nov 14, 2008 10:03 AM EST reply actions

Coach-speak

We’ve heard the “I’m not interested” line get stronger from numerous coaches who ended up leaving. What is he supposed to say in that situation? I guarantee that, despite his public statements, Butch Davis is at least interested in our job to the extent that it could net him a big raise in his current job.

Lou Brock loves Lamp.

by birdjam on Nov 14, 2008 11:32 AM EST up reply actions

Flip side

At (I think) 58, he’s old enough that he may be ready to make UNC his last stop.

"Florida didnt win their first SEC title until 1991 and now they think they invented football."
-Ron Zook

by rustytanton on Nov 14, 2008 1:12 PM EST up reply actions

It's not the statement itself that brought me to that conclusion, it's how the statement is evolving over time.

I fully understand the whole coach-speak concept, but Davis is consistently closing the loopholes that people try to read into the statements. He clearly understands how his statements get dissected and interpreted, and he’s systematically addressing the gaps that people are bringing up. The real driving force behind that is that UT is still pegging him as their #1 choice.

The statement alone isn’t enough to eliminate a candidate from our little guessing game, but all of the ancillary evidence suggests the same thing (family is happy at UNC, health history, surging success of program, easier to win ACC, etc.). At this point, I need to see something – other than Mike Hamilton professing his continued man-crush – that suggests otherwise before I’ll believe Davis is a candidate.

But sure, he may play it for more UNC money. I don’t even see him seriously going that far with it, but I wouldn’t blame him. If I could get more money from my current employer because somebody else wanted my labor, I would probably do the same thing.

by David Hooper on Nov 14, 2008 2:14 PM EST up reply actions