The Name Game: Cutcliffe & Davis Deny Interest; Brewster Looks for Leverage

“The Name Game” at Football Rumor Mill focuses on active coaching searches around the country. The latest edition centers on the Tennessee Volunteers…

After more than three decades in coaching, North Carolina’s Butch Davis has gotten used to having his name linked to other jobs when they come open. So he didn’t seem particularly surprised when he was asked Tuesday evening whether he had any interest in the Tennessee job, which became vacant when Phillip Fulmer was fired this week. Davis’ response: “The long and short of it is that the administration and I are completely, firmly committed to building a championship football program at North Carolina. And my family and I are very happy in Chapel Hill.” – Charlotte Observer

Defensive coordinator John Chavis isn’t holding out hope that he’s a candidate to be Tennessee’s next head football coach. “To be honest with you, I don’t think there’s a better candidate out there,” Chavis said Tuesday on the News Sentinel’s radio show, The Sports Page. “But I’ll tell you this, I don’t think I will be one (a candidate). “I understand the dynamics. I understand my role. I understand where we are.” Chavis, who is in his 12th year as the Vols’ defensive coordinator, said he and UT’s other assistant coaches met with athletic director Mike Hamilton on Tuesday, a day after head coach Phillip Fulmer’s ouster. – Knoxville News Sentinel

Word in Knoxville, Tenn., is that Gophers football coach Tim Brewster is being mentioned for the University of Tennessee coaching vacancy. Look for Minnesota to extend Brewster’s contract, which has three years remaining, before long. – Pioneer Press

Taking a break from coaching his team and reassuring future recruits, Duke football coach David Cutcliffe on Tuesday killed speculation that he might be interested in replacing former boss Phillip Fulmer at Tennessee. Cutcliffe ran the Volunteer offense under Fulmer during two stints totaling 19 seasons. – Charlotte Observer