Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 7, 1994 TAG: 9401070043
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
Reeves, who guided the Broncos to three American Conference championships in his 10 years as coach, was fired by Denver partly because of a feud with quarterback John Elway. He was the third choice of Giants general manager George Young to replace Ray Handley.
But when Boston College coach Tom Coughlin and Dallas Cowboys assistant Dave Wannstedt turned down the Giants, Reeves was hired. He restored stability and confidence to a team that went from Super Bowl winners under Bill Parcells to 14-18 in Handley's two seasons. "To be honest," Reeves said, "I told the players we were aiming for 9-7."
The Giants did much better, finishing 11-5, and the 81 national media members voting for Coach of the Year noticed. Reeves was a runaway winner with 68 votes.
"Dan has been in the game a whole lot and he knows what he can play with and what can do and can't do," said Giants guard William Roberts. "This is a tribute to him. He is getting the results he wanted when he came here."
Jack Pardee, who guided the Houston Oilers from a 1-4 start to a 12-4 finish and the AFC Central Division title, was second with six votes.
Next with two votes each were Chicago's Wannstedt, Dallas' Jimmy Johnson and Miami's Don Shula, who set the career victories mark this season. Wannstedt's Bears were 7-9. Shula's Dolphins were 9-7, but lost their last five games. Johnson guided Dallas to a 12-4 record, best in the National Conference.
Parcells, in his first season with New England, received the other vote after taking the Patriots to a 5-11 mark, including four season-ending wins.
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB