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Davie Discusses Rumors

Aug. 11, 2000

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Irish head coach Bob Davie could not escape the inevitable at Notre Dame’s annual media day.

After his opening remarks to the crowd, he answered the question about all the pressure to produce a successful season.

“This whole thing isn’t about me,” Davie said. “I mean, they don’t need to go win to save Bob Davie’s job. They need to go win one because they don’t want to feel like they felt in that locker room in Stanford.”

Davie finds himself in the midst of some coaching controversy. Everywhere a person turns on campus there are rumors that with another 5-7 season that this year could very well be his last one.

The coach signed a five-year contract extension prior to the start of the 1999 football season. Many believe that if the coach does not pull out a winning season, that his days as head coach are numbered.

For the first time since 1986, Notre Dame will enter the football season unranked in any of the major college football polls.

“It is not about me,” Davie said. “It is about them. I am not going to overburden them with my problems.”

Davie believes that the motivation his team will draw on is the feeling that has stuck with them since the Stanford game last season. He knows that his player do not want to read and hear all of the negative comments which have come forth since the end of last season.

“We haven’t been in the position to do a lot of talking,” Davie said. “Since the day we walked off that field last year at Stanford, hadn’t been a whole lot of discussion. This team has been focused on what is ahead because to be honest, we really don’t want to go through it again.”

Many believe that if the same outcome occurs, Davie’s days with the Fighting Irish are limited.