Thank You Butch Davis

by srr50 on Aug 28, 2010 12:38 AM CDT in Texas Longhorns and Other Football

For making the hot seat that Les Miles is perched on just a little bit cooler -- if only temporarily.

Miles and LSU are to open the season next weekend against #18 North Carolina -- a game that during the summer looked to be a brutal test for the Bengal Tigers -- but now Miles and LSU appear to be facing a North Carolina Tar Heels team that is unraveling a little more each day.

First There was the NCAA investigating recruiting coordinator John Blake and several UNC players over possible benefits from agents.

Now it seems that potential academic fraud has been added to the NCAA investigation.

Davis, UNC Chancellor Holden Thorp and athletic director Dick Baddour held a joint news conference Thursday night to reveal that during the Blake/Agent investigation, a player interviewed indicated a former athletic department tutor helped several players write term papers.

The tutor was one five "academic coaches" Davis has employed for his son, Drew, who is a student and the starting QB at East Chapel Hill High School.

Several players were interviewed in July over Blake's association with an agent and the players getting free trips and workouts through the agent. Star defensive tackle Marvin Austin and wide receiver Greg Little were among the players interviewed. Both have been working on the second team this fall, as UNC fears they will be declared ineligible at some point.

AD Baddour wouldn't say how many players were involved in the academic part of the investigation, but he did say that it was ongoing, and he did leave open the option of North Carolina suspending the players on their own, if they don't hear from the NCAA by next week.

So you can take the Will Muschamp to LSU Alert down to DEFCON 2 -- for the moment. You can keep be sure we'll be tracking the Muschamp Watch.

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Yeah, but Georgia just put a running back on indefinite suspension for team rules violation or some such. How does that affect their depth, and in turn, chances of success?

by Gate_of_Horn on Aug 28, 2010 2:43 AM CDT reply actions

by Vasherized on Aug 28, 2010 9:11 AM CDT reply actions

I think I read that Miles’ buyout is something like $16 million. If true, I would think he’ll be there awhile.

by Blueshorn on Aug 28, 2010 10:46 AM CDT reply actions

They’ll figure a way to divert BP funds to buy that guy out if they can get Will Muschamp.

I can still see North Carolina beating LSU.

I want to hear from Vegas Kyle from @FadingLasVegas on this game and Oregon State / TCU.

by Sailor Ripley on Aug 28, 2010 12:04 PM CDT reply actions

Yeah, but the bigger threat of Georgia just got a little closer to being open, as they claim their 2nd Fulmer’s Cup in the last few years:

http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2010/08/27/another-arrest-embarrassing-for-uga-but-not-humiliating/

by Opportunity, Opportunity, is knocking up your whore on Aug 28, 2010 6:08 PM CDT reply actions

Don’t underestimate Butch’s ability to lose a game merely by thinking. When it comes to half-time adjustments and late-game strategy, he clearly rivals Miles. He just does it in a conference where no one’s paying much attention. Take away a few defensive starters (or 7), and the LSU game won’t be close.

by Tar Heel Hell on Aug 29, 2010 12:18 AM CDT reply actions

The final score of this game could berry well be 2-0.

Vegas Kyle – bet the under?

by Jongleur on Aug 29, 2010 2:44 PM CDT reply actions

Muschamp and his wife are not going to Baton Rouge. Plus, Miles is recruiting well enough (last year and this year) that the boosters will keep him around. Add to that the fact that he keeps those kids eligible which is a major miracle. Davis isn’t exactly an incredible game day coach as Tar Heel pointed out. Georgia on the other hand….

by Groundhog Day on Aug 30, 2010 6:58 AM CDT reply actions