Published Wednesday, Nov. 5, 1997
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ND coach Davie hasn't forgotten YSU roots
As head football coach of Notre Dame University, one of America's most prestigious schools, Bob Davie's name will probably become a household word.
It has so far in this young season, but certainly not in the way Davie, a 1976 graduate of Youngstown State University, envisioned. His Irish have struggled, yet it is that same Youngstown background that might just in the long run enable Davie to guide his squad back among the nation's elite.
And Davie hasn't forgotten his roots.
``I remember coming to Youngstown,'' Davie, 42, said via a YSU press release. ``You could drive by YSU then and not see it. The university grew rapidly when I was there.''
Spurred, perhaps, by the success of the school's football program, it continues to grow. And that's something Davie must certainly hope occurs in South Bend where he replaced coaching great Lou Holtz last fall after serving as an assistant on his staff.
``When you look at most successful people, you will probably learn that they've had a mentor,'' said Davie, who earned a bachelor's degree in physical education at YSU and played tight end for four seasons for the Penguins. ``Lou told me he could teach and help me develop as a head coach. What he provided was a lot of insight about discipline and how to do things.''
Davie originally matriculated at the University of Arizona out of high school before transferring to YSU after one quarter. And it was Davie's background that in some ways made his selection of YSU a natural one.
Davie grew up in Coraopolis, Pa., which, like Youngstown, was once booming with steel-related industries.
``My father worked at Armco Steel in Ambridge for about 30 years,'' Davie said, ``so I felt very comfortable with Youngstown. It is a good town with strong family values.''
It was those values gained and lessons learned at YSU that helped to mold Davie's eventual career in coaching.
``I was not sure about what I was going to do,'' said Davie of his early days at the school. ``I envisioned myself teaching and coaching. But it was not until I was playing for YSU in the NCAA Division II playoffs in Delaware that I started thinking more seriously about coaching.''
Gene DeFilippo, currently the athletic director at Boston College, was instrumental in his decision to become a coach. It's a decision he obviously hasn't regretted. But on his climb to what many consider the pinnacle of the collegiate coaching ranks, Davie, a Moon High School graduate, has continued to keep his eye on the YSU football program.
``YSU clinched its (second) championship in a game against Marshall in 1993 while I was coaching at Texas A&M,'' Davie recalled. ``We were practicing for the Cotton Bowl at the time. In the eyes of my fellow coaches at Texas A&M, YSU's championship definitely brought credibility. I was very delighted.''
Davie has also kept in touch with a number of people connected with athletics in the Mahoning Valley and YSU and even wrote Penguin football coach Jim Tressel a note, thanking him for all he has done for YSU. Davie believes his education and other experiences at YSU have been highly influential in his successes.
``I think that all through life you really learn life's lessons, some of them the hard way and some the easy way,'' he said. ``But all lessons are valuable. Playing football before 5,000 people at YSU was just as valuable to me as coaching (a game on television) before millions at Notre Dame.''
