Davie Reportedly Near Irish Job

Bob Davie, defensive coordinator under the retiring Lou Holtz, needs only final approval from the university president before being named Notre Dame’s new football coach, according to the Associated Press. An official announcement could come this weekend.

Athletic Director Mike Wadsworth said a three-person search committee had made a recommendation to Father Edward Malloy, university president. He refused to say who was recommended, but two university sources confirmed that it was Davie.

Holtz announced Tuesday he was stepping down after 11 seasons as Irish head coach.

Davie would get a five-year contract, sources said.

A formal announcement was not made Friday afternoon because Malloy still needed to meet with the committee’s choice. But Wadsworth said Malloy did not express any reservations when he was given the recommendation.

Davie, who has been the Irish defensive coordinator for the last three years, has no head coaching experience but is well-liked by the administration. He was named interim coach when Holtz had emergency neck surgery last year, and led the Irish to a 41-0 victory over Vanderbilt.

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Joe Tiller, 53, who has led Wyoming’s football team to a 10-1 record this season, will be the next coach of Purdue.

“The only thing we don’t know is when he’ll take over,” said Steve Allen, Purdue’s associate sports information director. “We don’t know how long he’ll continue on as coach for Wyoming.”

That should be for at least another month, with the Cowboys bound for something Boilermaker fans can only recall as a fond memory--a bowl game. Ironically, the man assigned to take them there again, was part of it the last time.

Tiller was Purdue’s assistant head coach and defensive coordinator under Leon Burtnett from 1983-86, and was on the staff when the Boilermakers went 7-5 in 1984, including a 27-24 loss to Virginia in the Peach Bowl.

Tiller has a 39-29-1 record in six seasons as Wyoming’s head coach. His Cowboys will play in the Western Athletic Conference’s first championship playoff game Dec. 7 against the winner of today’s Utah-Brigham Young game.

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Oregon State President Paul Risser says there will be no quick announcement on the fate of Coach Jerry Pettibone despite comments from the athletic director to the contrary.

“I don’t want to contradict my athletic director,” Risser said. “But that’s not the way I want to do business, and no decision will be made in the imminent future.”

Athletic Director Dutch Baughman had indicated earlier this week that it was crucial a decision be made soon to lessen the impact on recruiting, and Pettibone said that he wants a quick statement to be made to clear the air.

Oregon State plays Oregon today.

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Colorado wide receiver Rae Carruth is one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award, which honors the best receiver in college football.

Wyoming’s Marcus Harris and Florida’s Reidel Anthony are the other finalists for the award, named after former Florida State and Raider receiver Fred Biletnikoff, who is the fourth-leading receiver in NFL history.

The award will be presented by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation on Dec. 12.