SOUTH BEND, Ind., Nov. 30 (UPI) -- A newspaper that covers Notre Dame athletics reported Friday that coach Bob Davie would be fired after the Fighting Irish's game Saturday against Purdue, a report Davie promptly denied.
Blue and Gold Illustrated reported Davie would be dismissed and that there already is a list of candidates to replace him that includes Oklahoma's Bob Stoops and NFL coaches Jon Gruden of the Oakland Raiders and Tom Coughlin of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Blue and Gold editor Tim Prister told ESPN that the report comes from a "very credible" source close to the university and athletic department.
Davie appeared in a television interview, however, and said the report is erroneous.
"It's the first I've heard of it," he said. "It's not true. I believe in Notre Dame and its integrity and honesty. It might happen somewhere else, but not here. It's the first time I've been confronted with it. That story is not true."
In a story on ESPN.com, Notre Dame athletic director John Heisler said the report "isn't anything different than it has been. It will be and has been that we will evaluate the program after the season."
At 4-6, the Fighting Irish will not be competing in a bowl for the second time in five seasons under Davie. They also missed the postseason in 1999 and were embarrassed in last season's Fiesta Bowl by Oregon State, 41-9.
This year, Notre Dame has the 110th-ranked offense out of 115 Division I-A teams.
Under Davie, who succeeded Lou Holtz in 1997, the Fighting Irish have compiled a 34-25 record and have not won a postseason game.
Davie's job was thought to be in jeopardy after Notre Dame went 5-7 in 1999, but he was given a five-year contract extension through 2005 prior to the Fighting Irish's Fiesta Bowl appearance.
In 2000, the Irish became the second school to start a season with four straight games against ranked opponents. They split those, then won seven in a row under freshman quarterback Matt LoVecchio.
