UNC Football: Drew Davis Sins of the Father

Sins of the Father: A two-part courtroom drama.

Court is in session. All rise. The honorable judge Keeping It Heel is presiding. (The judge nods as the counselor rises to address the jury, all dressed in Carolina Blue. He speaks clearly.)

Butch Davis coached at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill from 2007-2011. He was fired. His son, Drew Davis, is now enrolled at UNC and plans to become the walk-on quarterback. This is his trial.

Ladies and gentlemen of the Tar Heel Jury, these are the facts as presented to you today. It will be up to you to decide which side of the fence you find your loyalty. On one side of the argument, we have the prosecution. They would have you believe that Butch Davis’ coaching career at UNC is a black smudge on the Tar Heel resume. His tenure, though admirable, is no excuse for deliberately turning a blind eye to player misconduct. Butch Davis knew what he was doing. He willfully and knowingly put his head in the sand.

His winning record has done nothing but resulted in two years of probation of bowl games, vacated wins from both 2008 and 2009, and cost $50,000. Drew Davis’ reputation should always be linked to his father’s past.

(The attorney pauses, looking around the Carolina Tar Heel courtroom. Every bench in there is Carolina Blue, every tie or dress is the same color. Even Judge Keeping It Heel’s gavel is Carolina Blue. The lawyer takes a deep breath, readjusting his Carolina Blue tie. He points to Drew Davis and glances back to the jury.)

I disagree with the prosecution wholeheartedly. The sins of the father do not and should not fall on the boy’s shoulders. You, Tar Heel fans, have to look at Drew Davis with a complete disregard for who his father is. And, as a football fan myself, hate to even say that. I mean really, what did Butch Davis do? Put UNC football back on the map? Lead UNC to three out of four winning seasons and back to back bowl games?

Chapel Hill is a basketball school. That will never change. Butch Davis brought gridiron excitement to a hardwood university. Before him, the football program was a light appetizer for Late Night with Roy Williams. Davis came in and saved the day. He’s a great coach.

Then, what happened? Was he a little too good?

The NCAA began an investigation of UNC players receiving improper benefits and academic misconduct. Davis was fired and the Tar Heel football program got a big, beautiful black eye. They can’t go to bowl games for two years.

(The lawyer takes a long breath, letting the silence settle on the courtroom.)

Was Butch Davis innocent? Maybe. Was he guilty? Maybe. That’s not the question. The question you the Tar Heel jury of peers have to answer, is whether his son should receive added pressure or stigma or even preferential treatment by attending UNC.

I stand here now and tell you this with every ounce of my convictions: Drew Davis should be treated like every other walk-on. He should be yelled at. He should be challenged. He should be pushed to the edge.  Drew Davis may one day dress. Drew Davis may one day hit the field. Drew Davis may one day start.

(The lawyer scans the ground. Then, he looks back to the jury.)

If that ever happens, Drew Davis, should have to earn it; he shouldn’t be helped or hindered because of who he is, nothing more, nothing less.