Davie lacks Irish spirit
Kevin Keane
class of '88
I'm writing two years after being vilified for suggesting that the students boo Bob Davie at the pep rally and that Mike Wadsworth was not what we needed as athletic director. I now seem to be a prophet, and, although I certainly hope that a decision has already been reached, I would like to fire one final salvo to satisfy my thirst for "blood."
I'm not going to focus on the coaching aspect — the blown timeouts, lack of organization, worse record against ranked teams than Gerry Faust, etc. — that record speaks for itself. I'm going to focus on what an awful representative Bob Davie is for Notre Dame.
I'm going to give credit for my comments to a very bright band member, whose call to WMVP in Chicago I heard while driving home from Mishawaka to Chicago after the Stanford game — he summed it up very well. This astute band member stated that Mike Brey frequently has meetings in the dorms and encourages a large presence on campus for himself and the basketball team — kudos to Coach Brey for that.
I was a student during the Faust and Holtz years, and both men, with differing success on the field, were giants on campus — their love for Notre Dame was never questioned. Bob Davie's love for Bob Davie seems to be the only thing not in question in this regime. But the most telling comment of all by this band member was that, when the team was 0-3, the band took it upon themselves to suprise them at practice with some inspiration. Davie promised a victory over Pitt and a game ball for the band. Apparently, the band is still waiting for its game ball. The man simply does not care, and that, more than anything, is the reason he should be "kicked to the curb."
I love my alma mater more than words can ever express. In that vein, I wrote a letter to Father Malloy and Dr. White (both of whom I trust completely in their respect for this University and its football program), stating that my contribution this year would be specifically targeted toward any buyout expenses in the contract of the head football coach and that I would like my check returned if it is not used as intended. I certainly see that Notre Dame is about much, much more than football, but football is our public face to most of the world. I am not asking for national championships every year — just a passion for Notre Dame from an excellent football coach who will throw himself into the job and do things the Notre Dame way. Now, Dr. White, go do the right thing.
Kevin Keane
class of '88
Hammond, IN
Nov. 26, 2001
All Viewpoint Stories for Tuesday, November 27, 2001
