UNC football coach Butch Davis, left, addresses the board of trustees in November regarding investigations into his team, while chancellor Holden Thorp, center, and athletic director Dick Baddour listen. 2010 News & Observer file photo
Two days after “fully and completely” accepting responsibility for the crisis that led to an NCAA investigation into his program, Butch Davis is out as North Carolina’s football coach.
Davis, who was scheduled to begin his fifth season when the Tar Heels open fall practice on August 5, was dismissed this evening, chancellor Holden Thorp announced. Davis was informed by Thorp and UNC athletics director Dick Baddor of the decision, according to a university news release.
“To restore confidence in the University of North Carolina and our football program, it’s time to make a change,” Thorp said in the release “What started as a purely athletic issue has begun to chip away at this University’s reputation. I have been deliberate in my approach to understanding this situation fully, and I have worked to be fair to everyone involved. However, I have lost confidence in our ability to come through this without harming the way people think of this institution. Our academic integrity is paramount and we must work diligently to protect it."
Ryan Taylor, a tight end on last year's team and a seventh-round pick of the Green Bay Packers, said he was disappointed by the decision.
"I think it's going to set the program back 10 years," Taylor said. "I don't quite understand the timing of it because it's going to be tough to recover from it this close to the season."
"The only way to move forward and put this behind us is to make a change.”
Thorp said the decision was not related to any change in the NCAA investigation, but that it was the result of the cumulative damage to the university’s reputation over the past year.
“Athletics and football are an important part of this University, and a successful football program is essential to the overall health of our athletic program,” Thorp said in the statement.“That’s why we have to put this behind us and move forward.”
Added Baddour: “The last 13 months have been some of the most difficult that anyone associated with the athletic department and football program have dealt with. At this time, a decision has been made to change the leadership of the football program to help the entire University community move forward.
“I want to thank Butch Davis and his family for their four-plus years of service and dedication to the University and the Chapel Hill community."
“My staff and I will work with Chancellor Thorp to transition to an interim head coach as soon as possible," Baddour said. "It is critical that we do all we can to help our students and other staff members on the football team since preseason training camp begins in just eight days.”
Thorp and Baddour will meet with the media on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. at the Friday Center in Chapel Hill (Redbud Room).
Robbi Pickeral has covered ACC sports for The News & Observer since 2003. She can be reached at 
Comments
Such a wonderful day it
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 15:40 — mad_maxSuch a wonderful day it is!
UNC fans can do nothing but eat their humble pie today. For a year they have acted like this was no big deal, and that the only people who cared were "jealous, scared, Wolfpack fans". It's going to be a while before I can take another UNC fan's argument seriously again. Most of you have lost all credibility throughout this entire scandal IMO. Hope you enjoy the beds that you made for yourselves! How long 'til basketball season?
?
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 16:44 — Heels20How does this lead to a conclusion that all Carolina fans have lost credibility? Because they defended Butch?
?
Fri, 07/29/2011 - 01:21 — mad_maxI believe I said "most", not all.
There have been a lot of ridiculous comments made from delusional, head-in-the-sand, kool-aid drinking UNC fans. And now, reality has hit them like a freight train. That's what I was addressing. You shouldn't take it so personally...I didn't say all fans had lost credibility.
timing
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 08:21 — SurferThe timing of this is both good and bad. Bad because of the obvious w/ FB season just around the corner. Good, at least for me, because I am off to Maui for an extended vacation and vow not to keep up with all the discussion. I will still support this team in the Fall though and still expect "great" things from them.
Aloha
Two SA comments
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 08:13 — YAR8packHmm, I wonder how this will affect recruiting. And it's a sad day for the NCSU vs unc football game. There's no way NCSU beats unc without the "help" of Butch in 2009 and a lil bit in 2010.
Okay, okay. With that taken care of. This is completely baffling to me. Why fire the guy now after being in solidarity with him for over a year? I mean, damn, why do it now when the university has already taken a boat load of crap about what's going on? Who knows. Maybe there was really something in the 216 area code calls. Or maybe it is just as simple as a change in the unc BOT.
One thing is for certain, some of my unc grad buddies could not be more pissed off about the timing and have already begun to voice their opinions via their wallets and pocketbooks.
Last thing: For any unc "fan" who thinks NC State is the only university that has a Lunatic Fringe contingent, please look at the many Twitter posts to Holden Thorp. Here is my current fav: "you have lost thousands of fans today and you have set the univ back 10 years. death to you and your b*!(h mistress dick.
Dang it! Now we will never
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 20:31 — mad_maxDang it!
Now we will never see those 216 records!!!
What real sources? Holden
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 19:33 — danofncWhat real sources? Holden Thorp? Dick Baddour? Aren't they the same guys who have said they support Butch for the last 12 months?
However, today, there was a closed door meeting of the UNC BOT with a few new members, and all of a sudden Butch is out of a job. If you think that Thorp's opinion of Butch changed on its own, you're insane. If you think that Thorp was told he could either fire Butch or be fired with Butch, you're probably a lot closer to reality.
Caving to pressure
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 20:35 — Heels20Thorp had a lot to do with it. If you don't think so, then it only further proves how uniformed you are.
Well, either the old BOT
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 20:42 — danofncWell, either the old BOT (BOT Bob and friends) were keeping HT from firing Butch, or the new BOT forced him into it.
If nothing happened (no new info), there really isn't any other conclusion to draw, is there? HT has been in Butch's corner from day one, and now we're supposed to believe that he just suddenly had a change of heart?
My bottom dollar
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 21:59 — gvillegatrIf I had to place my last buck on what happened from day one it would be HT wanted Butch out from the word go. He didn't have the votes. Since whoever left the BOT's is no longer there and a new guy took his place, HT finally had his guy and the power to fire. No different than how things work at the White House.
Thorp had a say
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 21:31 — Heels20You act as though Thorp had no say. It's not that he changed his position over night, it's that he faced pressure from Hargrove and made a cowardly move in response. It's a pretty easy concept, Dan.
The new BOT is the change.
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 23:54 — danofncThe new BOT is the change. Every other factor is constant.
So, either HT wanted him gone from the start but his hands were tied by the old BOT or he didn't want him gone but his hands were tied by the new BOT.
If Thorp was facing pressure from Hargrove, then Thorp decided he'd rather fire Butch and keep his job rather than keeping Butch and being fired with him. When that's the decision you're making, I'm not sure how much real input you have.
When you make a commitment...
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 00:26 — Heels20...then you back it up. You don't say one day "I back this guy 100%," and then the next day say "it'll be easier for me to keep my job if I just lie and say I had a change in heart."
Not sure why you insist on playing devil's advocate to EVERY post I make. Thorp may have wanted Butch out from the beginning, as you said. Or, he was going to make no attempt to resist pressure, despite the word he had given before. No idea why you think UNC fans shouldn't hold anger towards him. Either one was an extremely selfish, counter-productive move.
I totally agree with you
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 00:48 — danofncI totally agree with you that Thorp should have taken a position and stuck to it. 100% agree. But, the fact that he didn't shows that he isn't really making the decisions...he's just showing up at press conferences to announce them.
If I were going to speculate (and why wouldn't I?), I would say that higher-ups who are more pro-athletics were basically running the show up until McAdoo's lawsuit made the school an academic laughingstock. I think that was the biggest game changer.
Of course, I also think that UNC orchestrated the lawsuit in an attempt to discredit the NCAA and limit their punishment. I'm certain that Joe Cheshire represented UNC (or at least Butch's interests) when he became the lawyer for Jennifer Wiley. .
Wouldn't be so sure
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 01:59 — Heels20http://www.wralsportsfan.com/unc/video/9919257/#/vid9919257
I'm sure some will want to speculate that he's just saying that, but as I said, the only thing we know for sure is that this was a selfish move that puts the program in a nightmare of a situation.
Unless Thorp speaks in the
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 07:55 — danofncUnless Thorp speaks in the press conference about something that has changed (other than the BOT), I will never believe that he just woke up one day feeling differently.
Now, if BOT Bob was forcing him to keep Butch and put on a positive public face when HT wanted him gone the entire time, I understand Thorp wanting to make the move now while at the same time not throwing BOT Bob under the bus.
At the same time, if Thorp wanted him to stay but the new BOT leader forced his hand, I understand Thorp putting on the brave face and taking the heat for the decision, because he wouldn't want to start his relationship with the new guy off on that foot.
What I will have a hard time believing is what Thorp is trying to make me believe, which is that nothing changed and he just changed his mind.
See comment below will
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 16:42 — Heels20See comment below will
Correct
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 09:46 — willncsuBOT makes this call either way. They are Thorpe's boss and he is clearly spineless.
Pretty much it
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 16:41 — Heels20Thorp would only support Butch if there wasn't too much pressure. With the pressure, he caved.
Cowardly move
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 19:08 — Heels20I will not disagree (nor will I agree) with those who think Butch should have been fired. In my opinion, that question is a completely different issue.
This is an absolute cowardly move by Thorp. If you feel that firing Davis was the integrable move (which, again, is a separate question), and you claim that you stand for integrity and class, then why the hell do you show unwavering support for a guy who could have easily bailed at any second and picked up a job in the NFL only to get cold feet and stab him in the back? What changed between January and today? Thorp couldn't handle the pressure, and as a result, demonstrated that he stands no more for integrity than he does for hypocrisy.
It makes me chuckle that you
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 19:28 — danofncIt makes me chuckle that you think Holden Thorp made this decision.
Been reported
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 19:30 — Heels20And I tend to trust real sources rather than the conspiracy theories you get from Wolfpack messageboards.
Lol can't resist
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 20:17 — mad_maxYeah, stuff from real sources like:
"...this paper represents McAdoo's thoughts and ideas exclusively."
I'll keep this short and
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 19:00 — mad_maxI'll keep this short and sweet...
Told ya so!
But yeah, glad to see UNC finally do the right thing and fire Butch. The timing is just terrible though.
baby blue cheaters!!
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 18:54 — bluecat69bluecat69here i thought only those bad guys from the SEC were the only cheaters, now they have caught " THE OHIO STATE" and " THE TAR HOLES" whats next " THE FIGHTING IRISH" oh! i forgot they quit playing fb several years ago, looks like DUKE ALL THE WAY THIS YR.----- GO BLUEDEVILS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Another note
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 18:39 — gvillegatrIf you don't buy into the myth that the UNC Adminstration "hates" football, rest assure Butch would still be coach if McAdoo wouldn't have fought his reinstatement. The embarrassment that came out of that is got to be the tipping point in this "Education at UNC-CH is paramount."
That SOB Swahilli prof better lose his job as well. Afterall, we have to start at the front of the line so to speak.
The timing of this....
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 18:25 — UNC1998smacks of total stupidity. I'm pretty much documented on here as a BD guy. I pretty much thought inspite of all of this mess he was the best choice to lead the program forward. Now the athletic department has put itself in a terrible situation. There's no choice but to name an assistant as interim coach. If it were me I'd also name an interim AD. Baddour can't be trusted to manage the hiring of the next guy. He is tarnished himself, and is unwillingly connected to this entire mess.
Believe me when I say I love The University of North Carolina. It will always be very special to me. I am a Heel through and through.
Today, I am also, frustrated, astonished, and a little angry at the leadership of the university. Their opportunity to do this in a dignified way had passed. Now, it will be the 3 ring circus that UNC seems to lust after when firing/hiring a coach. The fact is there were some big time boosters in BD's corner. They better find an out of the park candidate or that big time money may go away. The ball is squarely in Thorpe's, Baddour's, and the BOT's court..... You made this mess today.... you better get it right.
The ninty eights are sympa on this
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 22:08 — unc098I say Baddour gets canned as well. This has truly been a three ring circus and leadership is really lacking. I have always believed in Thorp but my confidence is sorely tested. It will only be restored with the quick ouster of Baddour who is also responsible for this mess. UNC's football fortunes will truly take a hit and I predict it will take several seasons before it becomes competitive again. Baddour must leave now in order that a new regime can make the proper reforms and set this university on the right path again.
I have read..
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 23:21 — UNC1998that Baddour is set to either resign or retire Thursday. There is strong sentiment he defended Davis to the very end, and that it was Thorp who was putting on the public face. Apparently, the BOT moved in Thorp's favor, and he was able to carry out his initial wish with this new found support. Baddour seems to be defending Davis to the point of ending his tenure as AD. I'm not sure if it's that, or he doesn't care to pick up Thorp's pieces. Regardless, as of tonight it seems UNC may be looking for a new AD to hire a new football coach.
I hope you are right...I
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 08:04 — unc098I hope you are right...I never like the dude
Timing
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 18:23 — gvillegatrJust another reason for people to say, "UNC and everyone involved only care about basketball."
I was fully expecting to see them come out and fully say they had the goods on him. Why else fire him TEN DAYS BEFORE PRACTICE STARTS !
Maybe they still will ? I dunno. Rest assure stuff will start flying from all directions now. Players will talk and more importantly Austin, Little and maybe Blake will talk now. Get ready fans of football in general !!!!!
The others
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 18:33 — Heels20I imagine Austin will run his mouth.
Little backed Butch 100% a week ago. No reason for that to change.
Blake was paid a large sum of money. Whether or not that was "hush" money is something we may never know, but he has nothing to gain by speaking.
Thorp could not have possibly butchered this decision any worse.
Long Overdue
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 18:15 — wi94rc2074Glad to see that UNC finally pulled the trigger, but can't for the life of me see why it took them so long. The wounds in Chapel Hill are entirely self inflicted.
Finally
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 18:14 — nonsequiturThe chancellor was too "deliberate." He should have taken action a year ago instead of letting the rot spread.
Well......as a Heels fan I
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 18:13 — pammy1Well......as a Heels fan I must say, what beautiful timing!! This has been going on for over a year and you idiots choose to dismiss him weeks before the season begins.......beautiful! At least the trustees could have gotten rid of Thorp and especially Baddour who wouldn't know a good decision if it jumped up and bit him on the butt. I am SO GLAD that we decided to forego season tickets this year.......get your act together UNC and get rid of Baddour before he makes another stellar hire.
Long overdue
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 18:08 — Cato08UNC should have spared themselves the misery and addressed this many months ago. Davis was in charge and the system failed on his watch.
When is Baddour's turn? Isn't he responsible for oveall atheletic policy?
Baddour
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 18:14 — Heels20I'll go ahead and announce Baddour's retirement for him right now. He will not be UNC's AD a year from now.
Well
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 18:18 — gvillegatrHis contract is up next June. Hard to not say he wasn't just going to "retire" anyways.
shocked
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 18:07 — jagershot...let the bonfires and merriment begin on Western Bvld
Well
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 18:03 — Heels20If no new details were released, I think it's safe to say that Holden Thorp should've sought Jennifer Wiley's help in PR 101.
A UNC friend of mine was
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 18:01 — ahc1983A UNC friend of mine was bragging for years because they got B Davis.
Now maybe they know why he was available for several years.
Not to be contentous ...
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 17:56 — wsphutch... yet. But I told you. I know it was your job as Heels to suuport him, but this was in the cards from the beginning. Later Butch. Don't let the door hit ya, where the Good Lord split ya!