UT still hunting Davis despite denial

Despite an adamant denial that he is interested in being Tennessee’s next football coach, North Carolina’s Butch Davis is still being considered a candidate.

While it is unknown if Davis will eventually accept the job if offered, his public statements on Wednesday during the weekly ACC teleconference aren’t likely the final word.

“I have absolutely no interest whatsoever in the University of Tennessee job,” Davis said. “It’s a great job but I have no interest in it.

“As I’ve said for the last couple of weeks, I love being here. My family loves being at Carolina. We’re building and with the administration we’re doing everything we can every single day to build a championship football program here.”

Davis said his agent, Jimmy Sexton, had not fielded any inquires from Tennessee officials about possible interest in the UT job.

It’s worth noting that another Sexton client, Nick Saban, famously said and repeated, “I’m not going to be the Alabama coach,” before leaving the Miami Dolphins shortly thereafter and then becoming the head football coach at Alabama.

A source with knowledge of the hiring process said Davis is ‘still in the picture.’

The News Sentinel has reported Davis is UT’s preferred candidate to replace coach Phillip Fulmer, who will step down at the end of the season.

Davis’ team could surely live without such distractions. The Tar Heels are 7-2 heading into Saturday’s game at Maryland. North Carolina leads the Coastal Division with a 3-2 ACC record.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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