Whether Butch Davis returns as Miami's football coach remains very much up in the air, but it appears the architect of the Hurricanes' early-Aughts juggernauts at least has his foot in the door.
FootballScoop reported Sunday that Davis "met with UM representatives yesterday." That report was quickly confirmed by the Palm Beach Post:
Can confirm that Butch Davis did interview with Miami. Not sure of any others who may have interviewed, or have interviews lined up.
— Matt Porter (@mattyports) November 30, 2015
The reports will certainly raise eyebrows, but they don't necessarily come as a surprise. The Miami Herald reported in late October that Davis had been included in the Hurricanes' initial pool of candidates to replace Al Golden, and that school administrators were "taking a hard look at him."
The 63-year-old Davis' age and controversial 2011 departure from North Carolina amid the cloud of an academic scandal mean he might not be the top candidate on the Hurricanes' list. But Davis has made no secret of his desire to return to the post he held from 1995 to 2000, when he took over a sanction-hampered Hurricanes program, built it into the 2000 Sugar Bowl champion, and set the table for the legendary 2001 national champions coached by Larry Coker.
“Obviously, I'd love to be considered for that opportunity,” he said in an October radio interview. "Age is just a number. I've been the biggest kid on my block the entire life. I've got all the energy. I love recruiting. It's something I've loved my entire career.”
With the memory of his earlier tenure still fresh, Davis won't have any problem recruiting Miami's fans to throw their support behind him. But can he do the same for the Miami brass?
