Sources: Butch Davis Tennessee's Top Target

Butch Davis says he's happy at North Carolina and that he isn't going anywhere... but none of us believe anything a coach says anymore (thanks, Nick Saban) so the words carry less weight than Trindon Holliday on Weight Watchers. According to "ACC sources" Tennessee is not at all put off by Davis' hard-to-get act and are still squarely targeting the coach with green and orange championship rings. From Scout.com ($):

According to sources close to the UT football program, the North Carolina football coach's agent, Jimmy Sexton, was contacted this weekend by Tennessee representatives to discuss Davis as a possible replacement to Phillip Fulmer, who was fired last week after 17 years on the job.

It's hard to blame Tennessee for their interest. Davis fits the mold of what Tennessee would want in a coach. Besides Davis' obvious coaching pedigree, he's proven he can recruit well in the Vols' backyard, a critical area of importance given Tennessee's relative lack of in-state talent. If the Vols want to start winning again, Tennessee's next head coach must be able to hold their ground against aggressive recruiting efforts from Southeastern Conference teams like Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.

Tennessee's coaching hire will have a huge challenge on their hands. The new head coach will have to transform the 'entitled' culture that currently exists among Tennessee players, he'll have to win or at least be competitive against rivals Florida, Georgia and Alabama, and he'll have to restock a very bare cupboard talent-wise. Considering the early success Davis is enjoying at North Carolina, it would take a hell of an offer to lure him to Rocky Top, and UNC would be motivated to match anything Tennessee can put down.

FanHouse opinion: Davis isn't going anywhere, but he'll listen and benefit contractually from Tennessee's overtures.