We are taking the entire quote from ESPN Insider
Brian Hamilton of the Chicago Tribune first included UNC coach Butch Davis on his list of possible successors to Charlie Weis eight days ago, and Davis is still on the Trib’s updated list today — as one of the “favorites,” no less, behind Brian Kelly, Bob Stoops and Gary Patterson.
,br>Could Davis really be under consideration by athletic director Jack Swarbrick? Yes, he’s always been known for tough defenses and he rebuilt the Miami program, but he’s 58, he had a lymphoma scare in 2007, and his closest tie to Notre Dame/the Upper Midwest is that he was the Cleveland Browns coach. (See how much we had to stretch?)
By all reports, Cincinnati’s Kelly would jump at the job if offered, so Swarbrick can use Kelly as a fallback and take a shot at the likes of Stoops and Urban Meyer (yes, we still think he will go there). Davis couldn’t possibly be higher than Kelly on Swarbrick’s list, could he? Because if everyone knows that Kelly would say yes, there’s no reason to go past him. The only way Swarbrick could screw that up is if he draws out the process and Kelly gets tired of waiting for an offer
Who knows if the Irish are ready for the Chief to bring some of that ‘Carolina Class’ to South Bend.
What if Bob Stoops leaves Oklahoma for Notre Dame?
With Butch’s relationships in that TexArkana region, wouldn’t Davis be a potential natural replacement for Stoops with the Sooners? Heck, Davis’ top recruiter – Black Santa (also known as John Blake) – is the former Head Coach of Oklahoma who was responsible for the recruits that delivered Stoops his National Championship. (Ironically over another embattled coaching icon, Bobby Bowden).
We’ve got an open conversation going on the entire college football coaching carousel at this link…and have actually been talking about The Chief’s potential fit at Notre Dame for a couple of days now (at this link).
4:45pm Update
* Scout.com says a verbal agreement has reached between Stoops and Notre Dame. (Link)
