Several of you posted in another thread about my strong feelings against Butch Davis. Let there be no mistake that Butch Davis is NOT a man of character - and I'll even tell you why.
In October 2000, just after the announced firing of Mike Dubose as head football coach of The University of Alabama, feelers were put out toward several candidates to guage their interest in the job. The heaviest flirtation came from two coaches...Frank Beamer and Butch Davis.
Both said they were very interested in taking over the Crimson Tide program, both knowing that probation was just around the corner and both knowing that there was going to be a very difficult road ahead. This was particularly true of Butch Davis who had spent the previous 6 years rebuilding the Miami Hurricanes into a national power.
There really was not much difference between Beamer and Davis...Beamer may have been #1 (perhaps due to how close he came to the job in 1997) but Davis was definetly #1A. A young, strong willed head coach with a proven record of recruiting and rebuilding a national program. It seemed like a match made in heaven.
And oh was it ever...Davis praised every detail of Alabama, saying how he couldn't wait to be appreciated as a head coach, to coach one of the truly elite names in America, to have such loyal fans (this was more of a point than many realize)...he was ready and willing to accept the challenges that the Crimson Tide job would bring.
After Beamer cooled on the job offer due to intense pressure and a stiff raise from Virginia Tech, all focus immedietly turned to Davis. With the warm feelers already in place, Davis met with Alabama officials several times behind VERY closed doors. Davis did not want it to be leaked that he was about to leave the Miami Hurricanes for a team about to be hit with probation coming off of a three and eight campaign. Davis didn't want to be known as someone who would jump ship for greener pastures, that his happiness and loyalties could be bought.
So a deal was reached...a VERY strong salary...the promise of facility upgrades and a VERY long contract were to be prepared. Butch Davis shook Mal's hand and the deal was done. Davis would fly back to Miami to tell his team, tell his President and buy a crimson tie for the press conference.
For the next day the Athletic Department quietly, very quietly, prepared for the arrival of Butch Davis. A huge hire that would send ripples through the nation. A national championship coach leaving his program for Alabama, albeit a 3-8 Alabama. It would have been a huge boost to a program in need of some positive publicity.
A little over 24 hours later...for whatever reason, Mal Moore's phone rang...Butch Davis was withdrawing his name and breaking his handshake agreement. He no longer wished to be considered for the job.
Two short months later, he left Miami anyway, for the much greener pastures of the NFL. Would he have left Alabama two months after being hired? Who knows...that is probably the main reason he did not keep his word to lead the Crimson Tide.
Would he have succeeded? Yes. He would be a legend at Alabama already. His style and system would have been a perfect fit for Tuscaloosa but for whatever reason it didn't work out...and we hired another coach with a track record of rebuilding programs (and then abandoning them).
So forgive me if I hold a little ill will toward Butch Davis...I just think of what our program could be today, of what nightmares we would have avoided had he only been man enough to keep his word.
He will probably be a great fit at Florida and he will have the Gators winning championships again in no-time. He would have been a great fit at Alabama too, but...now you know, the rest of the story.
In October 2000, just after the announced firing of Mike Dubose as head football coach of The University of Alabama, feelers were put out toward several candidates to guage their interest in the job. The heaviest flirtation came from two coaches...Frank Beamer and Butch Davis.
Both said they were very interested in taking over the Crimson Tide program, both knowing that probation was just around the corner and both knowing that there was going to be a very difficult road ahead. This was particularly true of Butch Davis who had spent the previous 6 years rebuilding the Miami Hurricanes into a national power.
There really was not much difference between Beamer and Davis...Beamer may have been #1 (perhaps due to how close he came to the job in 1997) but Davis was definetly #1A. A young, strong willed head coach with a proven record of recruiting and rebuilding a national program. It seemed like a match made in heaven.
And oh was it ever...Davis praised every detail of Alabama, saying how he couldn't wait to be appreciated as a head coach, to coach one of the truly elite names in America, to have such loyal fans (this was more of a point than many realize)...he was ready and willing to accept the challenges that the Crimson Tide job would bring.
After Beamer cooled on the job offer due to intense pressure and a stiff raise from Virginia Tech, all focus immedietly turned to Davis. With the warm feelers already in place, Davis met with Alabama officials several times behind VERY closed doors. Davis did not want it to be leaked that he was about to leave the Miami Hurricanes for a team about to be hit with probation coming off of a three and eight campaign. Davis didn't want to be known as someone who would jump ship for greener pastures, that his happiness and loyalties could be bought.
So a deal was reached...a VERY strong salary...the promise of facility upgrades and a VERY long contract were to be prepared. Butch Davis shook Mal's hand and the deal was done. Davis would fly back to Miami to tell his team, tell his President and buy a crimson tie for the press conference.
For the next day the Athletic Department quietly, very quietly, prepared for the arrival of Butch Davis. A huge hire that would send ripples through the nation. A national championship coach leaving his program for Alabama, albeit a 3-8 Alabama. It would have been a huge boost to a program in need of some positive publicity.
A little over 24 hours later...for whatever reason, Mal Moore's phone rang...Butch Davis was withdrawing his name and breaking his handshake agreement. He no longer wished to be considered for the job.
Two short months later, he left Miami anyway, for the much greener pastures of the NFL. Would he have left Alabama two months after being hired? Who knows...that is probably the main reason he did not keep his word to lead the Crimson Tide.
Would he have succeeded? Yes. He would be a legend at Alabama already. His style and system would have been a perfect fit for Tuscaloosa but for whatever reason it didn't work out...and we hired another coach with a track record of rebuilding programs (and then abandoning them).
So forgive me if I hold a little ill will toward Butch Davis...I just think of what our program could be today, of what nightmares we would have avoided had he only been man enough to keep his word.
He will probably be a great fit at Florida and he will have the Gators winning championships again in no-time. He would have been a great fit at Alabama too, but...now you know, the rest of the story.
