Football coach Butch Davis is trying to turn North Carolina into more than a "basketball school."
Apparently former linebackers coach — and Tar Heel player — Tommy Thigpen couldn't wait.
In case you missed the lively discussion at the Tar Pit, Thigpen, who left Chapel Hill to coach the secondary at Auburn after last season, told the Opelika-Auburn News there was no hesitation about leaving his alma mater for the Tigers.
“[I’ve been] watching that crowd respond on gamedays from watching highlight tape,” Thigpen told the paper. “I can’t imagine what it’s actually going to be like in August.”
He continues: “I wanted to be at a place where football was the issue."
And probably where the paycheck is an issue, too. Thigpen made $148,000 last season. Seven of Auburn's assistants had paychecks that ranged between $180,000 and $370,000.
-- Robbi Pickeral
Friday, June 26, 2009
Thigpen: No question about leaving UNC
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13 comments:
I wonder if he realizes how many bridges he burned with that interview. In all likelyhood, Chizik is not going to succeed at Auburn, and Thigpen will be looking for a new job in a couple of years.
Bet he didn't burn any bridges with Butch. Butch will do the same thing as soon as the opportunity arises to go to a traditonal football school and the money is right. Plus, it's the guy's alma mater, I don't think too many coaches would begrudge a guy for going back to coach at the school where he played.
In case you read wrong, Thigpen's alma mater is North Carolina, not Auburn. Which is why leaving seems to be the issue. Strange comments about UNC, considering he played there, seems like he'd be more inclined to helping turn that program around rather than jumping ship for a another school for a little bit of money. Somethings not right here and I don't think anyone really knows what happened with Thigpen and UNC.
"Bet he didn't burn any bridges with Butch. Butch will do the same thing as soon as the opportunity arises to go to a traditonal football school and the money is right."
If that's Davis' objective, someone should advise him to stop turning down those opportunities.
Young guy trying to ingratiate himself to Auburn fans. Whatever
lol I wonder if Auburn basketball/baseball enjoyed that comment.
Mack Brown will always take care of Tommy Thigpen.
If he had any NFL aspirations, you can bet that bridge is burned. No one is going to want him after he and his new head coach hit the skids.
Sounds lioke a Gamecock instead of a Tiger. They always think bigger is better too. I don't know which one has been the sorriest, but my money says USuCk which is where he will probably wind up after the Auburn flop.
If Mac Brown wanted to take care of him, he sure as hell would have given him a job at Texas before this unavoidable Chizik impending train disaster!
Not one of Blakes favorites. Butch chose Blake.
Isn't this story a month old--from May 27th? From what I see, Robbi here has added nothing at all to what has been reported. My question: did the Charlotte Observer a month behind on their news, or is the point simply to stir the mud to fill [screen] inches?
UNC is a basketball school, period. And there is nothing wrong with that.
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