UNC coach has growth removed from mouth

CHAPEL HILL, N.C., March 20 (UPI) -- University of North Carolina football Coach Butch Davis has had a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma growth removed from his mouth.

The growth was found by Davis' dentist during a routine cleaning several weeks ago. A number of tests were done to determine if cancer had spread to his body.

The results were negative but Davis is in the process of chemotherapy just to be sure.

Davis replaced John Bunting in November as head coach at North Carolina.

"(UNC is) one of the most outstanding universities and athletic programs in the country," Davis said after he was named head coach. "My decision to consider coaching opportunities and the opening at UNC seemed to intersect perfectly."

The Tar Heels were 3-9 in 2006, including a 2-6 mark in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Davis revived football at Miami-Florida in the late 1990s. He left prior to the 2001 season to coach the NFL's Cleveland Browns.