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Robert Edwin Davie, Jr. (born September 30, 1954 in Sewickley, Pennsylvania) is a college football analyst and former American college football coach.

[edit] Early coaching career

In 1977, Davie began his Football coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Arizona from 1978–79. From 1980–82, he returned to Pittsburgh as linebackers coach and then moved to Tulane as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach from 1983–84. From 1985–1988, Davie served as the outside linebackers coach at Texas A&M before serving as the school's defensive coordinator from 1989-93. During his stint at A&M, he helped further develop the "Wrecking Crew." This base 3-4 attacking defense became the gold standard of defenses not only in the Southwest Conference, but in the NCAA.

[edit] Notre Dame

In 1994, Davie began his Notre Dame career as defensive coordinator and was promoted to head coach in 1997 following Lou Holtz's retirement. He served as acting head coach when Notre Dame faced Vanderbilt on September 16, 1995 while Holtz underwent neck surgery, with the Irish prevailing, 41-0. In five seasons at South Bend, Davie compiled a 35-25 record including three bowl games (most notably the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, a 41-9 loss), which was the first Bowl Championship Series game in school history. His final season included the 2001 AFCA Academic Achievement Award when the Notre Dame football team posted a 100% graduation rate.

Notre Dame's performance on the field was inconsistent from year to year during Davie's tenure. Following a 7-6 campaign in 1997 which saw Notre Dame overcome a 2-5 start, the Irish were poised for a major bowl bid with a 9-1 record going into their 1998 season finale against USC when quarterback Jarious Jackson suffered a knee injury on the last play of the LSU game. Jackson did not play against the Trojans and Notre Dame, its offense rendered powerless, suffered a 10-0 loss. The team had to settle for the Gator Bowl and lost to Georgia Tech to finish 9-3. A 5-7 campaign followed in 1999 and the national media began to question Davie's abilities. In 2000 the Irish bounced back and finished 9-3 once again. After receiving a contract extension, Davie promptly presided over the first 0-3 start in Notre Dame history in 2001. Athletic director Kevin White almost fired Davie after the third loss, a 24-3 setback at Texas A&M, but later decided to wait until the end of the season before making a decision. The Irish won their next three games to even their record, but losses to Boston College, Tennessee and Stanford sealed Davie's fate as the Irish finished 5-6. He was fired on December 2, one day after a 24-18 win over Purdue. Davie was replaced by George O'Leary, who in turn resigned in disgrace after it was revealed that his résumé contained inaccuracies. Notre Dame then turned to Tyrone Willingham to lead the program.

[edit] Record

[edit] Media career

Currently, Davie is a college football analyst for ESPN and ABC, and a color commentator for ESPN2 College Football Saturday Primetime.

2007: Davie is a regular sight on the sidelines of Arizona State University football games not only as a spectator but sometimes as a commentator as well. This is because his son Clay Davie is a long snapper for the Sun Devils. His daughter attends law school there as well.

On November 25, 2006; during the University of Southern California and Notre Dame game; Davie was part of the answer to the AFLAC Trivia Question for ESPN on ABC Saturday Night Football, which posed "What was the only team to beat USC in the Pete Carroll era by more than 7 points and who was the coach?" Davie was one of the commentators of that game.

Davie is a graduate of Moon Area High School and Youngstown State University.

[edit] Personal life

Davie is married to the former Joanne Fratangelo. They are parents of two children.