Good for him. He failed at ND, but I never hated him like some ND fans. I actually thought he had the program turned after the 2000 regular season where we went 9-2 and he started the season with Battle at QB, went to Gary Godsey, and finished with Matt Lovechio. It was also that season that the defense had an incredible goal line stand to beat BC. But the Fiesta Bowl was such a disaster and that carried over to 2001 and that was it. Bob Davie
Terry, I'm like you. I never disliked him. He actually had a likeable personality, which is what enabled him to be successful as a commentator. I recall my son, Brian, wincing when he was named head coach at ND. His first year as DC was Brian's senior year. Brian said (paraphrasing) that he was the opposite of Lou Holtz, that he tried to be the players' friend. For example, in the locker room he would use street talk to relate to the black players. Having experienced Holtz for 4 years, Brian felt that Davie's approach was not going to work. On top of that, he was the guy who replaced the legend, Holtz, who, in the minds of many, was run out of town by Mike Wadsworth. In the end, it was his mediocre record that cost him the job.
I thought that he stuck a knife in the back of Lou and ran out of town the best O Line coach we've had in the last 40 years. The Moore lawsuit was an embarassment to the university. Apparently it took a desperate program like NM to hire him. He spent a number of what should have been prime coaching years behind a microphone. I wonder if he's learned how to manage the clock. Remember him not trying to win and play for OT against Nebraska? Great choice.
I liked him and still do. I liked him much more than Charlie, less than Lou. I thought Lou ran himself out of South Bend. I also thought the university was unsure of its own direction in regards to football at that time.
I believe you hit the nail on the head, George. What happened was a mystery to me. I don't believe for a second that Davie had anything to do with Lou leaving. It was some combination of Wadsworth and his bosses, for what reason we'll never know. Lou had/has too much class to say anything negative or to revisit the situation.
It would be interesting to someday hear Lou's side of the story, but he's unlikely to write a tell it all book. His image is closely tied to his relationship with Notre Dame.