Actions speak louder than Words
Jul
29
Written by:
7/29/2011 11:40 PM
Less than 48 hours have passed and Butch Davis was formally relieved of his duties as Head Coach of the UNC Football Team. There are many adjectives that could have been used to describe what I was feeling when I heard the rumors Wednesday afternoon: shock, disbelief, anger, confusion, etc. All I could think was there had to be a smoking gun or something new that had been brought to the attention of the Chancellor, Athletics Director, and/or Board of Trustees. Once it was clear that nothing new had come to light, this was when the anger really kicked in. How could Chancellor Holden Thorp (HT moving forward) do a complete one eighty and fire Coach Butch Davis?
HT admitted that the timing was “terrible,” and the move needed to be made (The saying No _h_t Sherlock came to mind immediately). Two days after Butch Davis had to sit on the firing line and answer each and every question at ACC Media Day in Pinehurst regarding the investigation, and doing so in such a calm manner, this is how this administration rewarded Coach Davis? Eight days before the beginning of camp, this move had to be made. I am also guessing it was purely coincidental that a new Board of Trustees was ushered in on the same day this decision was announced. Several asked the question of, “why now,” to HT at the press conference Thursday and HT never directly answered the question.
HT stated during Thursday’s press conference that, “I made the decision in the fall that I was going to support Coach Davis and his efforts to support the football program, but I can no longer overlook the fact that what started as a purely athletic issue has begun to chip away at this University’s integrity. I cannot stand for that. We can’t get better without making a change.” I will give the chemistry professor turned Chancellor props for standing by Butch at the beginning of this investigation. SO what changed recently to cause HT’s support to begin to fade? HT stated nothing new has come to light. How has the University’s integrity been diminished? If I am not mistaken, Butch Davis was hired to be the FOOTBALL COACH at UNC, and was not placed in charge of the academic support program. I believe that job falls under the athletic director’s responsibility. Athletic Director Dick Baddour (DB) has since announced his resignation prior to end of his contract, which was set to end next year, so that a new AD can be hired and hire the new football coach. Maybe this was a part of HT’s plan all along to get rid of Coach Davis and DB and bring in his own “guys.”
One group that has been noticeably quiet since the beginning of this is the Rams Club. Known by many as the Chapel Hill Mafia, The Rams Club (RC) has a tremendous amount of power and authority when it comes to matters within the UNC athletic department. A couple of big donors that I have spoken to were extremely upset, to say the least, that this was done without any notice. Many things don’t happen in the athletic department without some of these, “power guys,” knowing or being told or at the very least consulted on any matters. The people I have spoken to have said this did not happen in this situation and they will let their wallets voice their displeasure on the matter. HT stated that the $2.7 Million Coach Davis was due will be paid to him. Where are those funds coming from? I would love to be a fly on the wall if HT came before the Rams Club and asked for assistance in paying this.
Also, rumor is the players are under a gag order to prevent them from speaking to the press about their feelings over the firing of Coach Davis. HT opened Friday’s press conference announcing that Everett Withers has been promoted to Head Coach with a message to the current players. “I want you to know that the University is behind you and we are totally committed to your success and to a successful football program,” Thorp said. “Thank you for putting on a Carolina uniform and representing our University.” I would love to hear what the players think of HT’s comments versus his actions over the last 48 hours. “Actions speak louder than words,” seems to be an appropriate and reoccurring theme where HT is involved.
I make no qualms about how big of a Tar Heel fan I am. The hiring of Butch Davis four seasons ago gave the football program a level of excitement and energy that I have not seen since the Mack Brown Days (late 1990’s). That energy lead to great game day environments in Chapel Hill, National recognition, and the Blue Zone project that is in its final stages. The presence of Coach Davis made all of these things possible and made people believe that now was the time to get in and support this football program in both a financial and emotional manner that would rival that of the basketball program. After an amazing 2010 season that saw a lot of ups and downs, all of the momentum that was building for the 2011 season was attempted to be completely derailed by HT on Thursday afternoon, July 28. During a November meeting with the Board of Trustees, HT stated, “We have found no reason to make any more changes in the football program other than the ones that we have already made in terms of changing assistant coaches and the student-athletes that we have had to process, so we're very confident moving together - the three of us (HT, DB, and Coach Davis appeared at this meeting together) and the folks who are supporting us - to address the problems that we have. And we are determined to do what it takes to have a program that we can all be proud of.” Many fans that I have spoken to, read about online on message boards, and have heard on the radio the last few days were very proud of the direction of this program. There were some issues around the program that will be formally addressed by the NCAA at a hearing in October, but many, self included, felt that Coach Davis was the man to lead UNC through this turmoil. Speaking to a couple of former Davis players this summer, the belief and support they expressed of Coach Davis was so overwhelming, that it made me feel that much stronger about Coach Davis and his leadership qualities. Coach Davis was said to be visibly upset and distraught when he learned of HT’s decision. Coach Davis obviously took the Chancellor’s word and HT had given BD no reason to not believe everything that HT had told him before. Imagine how you would feel if for nine months your employer had come out and publically given you the public endorsement and then pulled the rug out from under you. That has to be the level of betrayal Coach Davis is feeling at this moment.
If this was a resolution that came about because of academic integrity issues, then HT needs to have a set and come out and say so. If academic pressures were placed on HT to make this change, say so. HT is the leader of the University and has to answer to many different groups, but if his handling of this situation is any indication of his leadership and decision making skills, then I fear that UNC may have bigger issues down the road as long as he is Chancellor. Do you think he will have a set and come out and play the National Anthem before a sporting event this season, as he has done in the past at basketball games? Coach Davis was not innocent in this NCAA investigation and has been open and honest along the entire process, saying as much as he could. He admitted that he should have maintained a closer watch on things and was key in installing new safe guards to hopefully prevent any future reoccurrences. Asking for that same level of openness and honesty from the Chancellor is obviously too much.
Last season, a group of fans created shirts that read, “I support Butch,” across the front and I purchased two of those. Now the same group has created, “I don’t support Thorp,” and I will be purchasing a couple of those for home games this season. Many have stated that they will not support the school by withholding donations to the Rams Club, not attending games, or wearing school paraphernalia. The fans need to rally around the student-athletes, attend games and support them. Remember that many of them are just as upset, if not more, that we are. Many of those young men and their families made their decision to come to UNC as a result of Coach Davis being here. Showing support for these young men during this trying time will show them that we support them, not the actions of the Chancellor. Coach Withers, his staff and players have a chance to make this a special season in Chapel Hill and we owe it to these guys to be there with them on Saturdays this fall in Kenan Stadium. If you get a wild hair, hit the road and travel to Atlanta, Clemson, Greenville, Raleigh and Blacksburg and support the guys on the road. If this is the year we take that next step, I want to be there in person and show HT that while his actions were obtuse, he can not stop this moving train.
OTHER THINGS THIS WEEK
The NFL is back and all hell has broken lose in free agency. How much money did Jerry Richardson make on interest by not paying anyone last season? It must have been burning a hole in his pocket by the looks of things. Much more about the NFL next time.
How many NBA players will be playing overseas this fall? Seems like a lot of them are exploring that opportunity.
Tiger Woods has fired Stevie Williams, and announced that he is coming back to play next week at WGC at Firestone and the final major of 2011, the PGA Championship. Who will be his caddy? What are realistic expectations for Tiger? If the PGA Tour has any sense of humor, they will pair Tiger with Adam Scott (Stevie Williams is his caddy now) for the first two rounds next week.
Until Next time...