I believe Davis' version. Note how specific it was, with the 20/80. Specifics generally attach to accuracy. Besides, it hardly requires Paul Dee to dispute Davis' version. Plenty of others are still very much alive and nearby who would have competent memories and reason to quarrel.
Fear is a killer. Sounds like the university was petrified, using past examples to justify fear. If so, they designed their own faltering decade.
Why weren't we scared to move into a bland venue nearly an hour from campus, one that will naturally impact recruiting? That would have frightened the heck out of me. Still does. I visited the recruiting forum briefly and had to laugh at the assertions in one thread that Miami is nearest the best recruits, and therefore is the top job in terms of recruiting. Not with our venue. If kids in this area grew up attending games at a frenzied on-campus venue, they would be conditioned to go to Miami before they reached middle school. Instead, it's a natural regulator. No matter how Golden fares, it's not what it would be with a competent stadium situation.
Anyway, Butch Davis regrets leaving partially because he ended up with Tim Couch. Tim Couch was already there. How could a guy with a nose for talent voluntarily walk into a situation in which the franchise had aligned with such a flawed quarterback? I was on Las Vegas radio pre draft shows and said I wouldn't take Tim Couch in the 5th round, with that crank up delivery and weak arm.