Butch Davis

[IRISHDODGER]

In less than one year, North Carolina football coach, Butch Davis, has already parlayed a 3-8 season into a one-year contract extension through the 2014 season. He will also receive a raise of $291,000 that will push his annual income to about $2.1 million.

I realize it's not an "apples to apples" comparison, but there are some parallels to Charlie Weis. UNC's last coach, John Bunting was fired in the middle of a 3-9 season last year. Butch Davis' initial long-term contract and now his extension don't seem to make sense after a below average performance in '07. Davis had been rumored as a possible candidate at Arkansas if the Razorbacks make a coaching change.

Weis got his extension in his first year, too; after going 5-2. Davis was signed to a long-term contract up front where Weis' extension is what lengthened his contract. That being said, both were deemed good long-term investments based on their onfield improvement & recruiting prowess. Both were rumored to have other teams interested in their services. Weis & the NFL and Davis & the Razorbacks.

UNC AD Dick Badou said, "We recognize the progress Coach Davis has made in rebuilding and generating momentum in the Carolina football program. We recognize that we have one of the nation's best coaches and we wanted to ensure the stability of the program. We were agressive in pursuing Coach Davis last year before the season ended & we wanted to be ahead of the curve this year."

Of course,the main difference is that UNC is a basketball school & always will be and UND is a football school first & always will be. Still, I wonder why there's no outrage from the likes of Michael Wilbon, John Saunders, Tim Brando, Mark May, et al. I could see if Davis had finished the season 6-6 or better, but he'll be lucky to finish w/ a one game improvement over Bunting's last season. Even if it's a one-year extension plus a raise, did Davis "earn" it?

I think UNC did the right thing even though, on the surface, it may look foolish. I just thought it would be interesting to see how this plays on ESPN and the other college football networks. I'll go ahead & predict that the gentlemen I mentioned earlier will unanimously approve of UNC's decision...if it's even on their radar.
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[SoCalDomer]

The fact that UNC is not Notre Dame is the reason you won't hear ESPN or any other bobblehead reporters whine about it.

Good for Butch.

 

[onenybrother]

In less than one year, North Carolina football coach, Butch Davis, has already parlayed a 3-8 season into a one-year contract extension through the 2014 season. He will also receive a raise of $291,000 that will push his annual income to about $2.1 million.

I realize it's not an "apples to apples" comparison, but there are some parallels to Charlie Weis. UNC's last coach, John Bunting was fired in the middle of a 3-9 season last year. Butch Davis' initial long-term contract and now his extension don't seem to make sense after a below average performance in '07. Davis had been rumored as a possible candidate at Arkansas if the Razorbacks make a coaching change.

Weis got his extension in his first year, too; after going 5-2. Davis was signed to a long-term contract up front where Weis' extension is what lengthened his contract. That being said, both were deemed good long-term investments based on their onfield improvement & recruiting prowess. Both were rumored to have other teams interested in their services. Weis & the NFL and Davis & the Razorbacks.

UNC AD Dick Badou said, "We recognize the progress Coach Davis has made in rebuilding and generating momentum in the Carolina football program. We recognize that we have one of the nation's best coaches and we wanted to ensure the stability of the program. We were agressive in pursuing Coach Davis last year before the season ended & we wanted to be ahead of the curve this year."

Of course,the main difference is that UNC is a basketball school & always will be and UND is a football school first & always will be. Still, I wonder why there's no outrage from the likes of Michael Wilbon, John Saunders, Tim Brando, Mark May, et al. I could see if Davis had finished the season 6-6 or better, but he'll be lucky to finish w/ a one game improvement over Bunting's last season. Even if it's a one-year extension plus a raise, did Davis "earn" it?

I think UNC did the right thing even though, on the surface, it may look foolish. I just thought it would be interesting to see how this plays on ESPN and the other college football networks. I'll go ahead & predict that the gentlemen I mentioned earlier will unanimously approve of UNC's decision...if it's even on their radar.
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Great Post. Wilbon and Sanders wont mention it because they was Ty butt boys. Brando is a idiot. And that other guy you spoke about fawk him.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

The fact that UNC is not Notre Dame is the reason you won't hear ESPN or any other bobblehead reporters whine about it.

Good for Butch.

Yup, I agree. And I think UNC got a heckuva coach last year when they signed Butch. He's already turned in an impressive recruiting haul. I predict he'll have them in a bowl game next season.

Still, if you wanted to stir some shit up, you make some valid points that he hasn't earned his long-term contract nor his raise:

1. Good recruiting is not an excuse for losing (see Weis, Charlie)
2. Has AR even contacted Davis about being their next coach? Oh yeah, they still have a
coach. (see Weis to the NFL)
3. Davis turned around Miami after the program was gutted by Dennis Erickson, but he
didn't win a NC...Larry Coker did.
(see Weis directed 3 Super Bowl winning offenses, but he didn't win the Super
Bowls....Bill Belichick did.)

Again, I don't agree w/ those statements, just that someone could make the argument similar to the one made vs. Weis and his renegotiated contract during his first season.

 

[hanksummers]

The difference between Weis and Davis is that Davis already had a successful record as a college coach (and arguably as a pro coach, before he lost a power struggle in Cleveland) when he got hired at UNC.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

I must have done a horrible job about making my point. I was not making a case vs. Butch Davis. I was pointing out similarites between his extension + raise so early in his tenure to Weis' situation. Someone could make an argument is all I'm saying. But since it is UNC football, no one will.