Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 2, 1994 TAG: 9402020168
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JIM DUCIBELLA LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: ASHBURN LENGTH: Medium
After spending most of Tuesday dodging the media, Norv Turner will come face-to-face with them today when he is introduced as the 19th head coach in Washington Redskins history. A news conference is set for noon.
"We'll see you guys tomorrow," Turner said around 7 p.m. Tuesday after a day of negotiations with team owner Jack Kent Cooke and general manager Charley Casserly.
Turner, 41, replaces Richie Petitbon, who was fired Jan. 4 after just 10 months on the job and a 4-12 record.
The terms and length of Turner's contract were unavailable, though a source indicated he could be offered a five-year deal worth about $500,000 per season.
The Washington Post reported in this morning's editions that Turner had agreed to a multiyear contract.
Turner, offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys for the past three seasons, called the facilities at Redskin Park "fabulous" upon leaving the premises with Casserly.
The two had arrived together around 2 p.m. Both were seen walking the halls of the building, though neither came close to the room where the media was sequestered.
At 4:50, Cooke emerged from Redskin Park and began to get into the green Jaguar driven by his son, John. Asked whether he'd hired a new coach, Cooke smiled coyly and replied, "Greetings, and good night to all," then climbed inside the car and was whisked away.
Turner's attorney, Nick Christin, did not accompany Turner to Washington. But he said that a deal between the Redskins and his client could easily be worked out without him being present, then faxed to him at his office for final approval.
In Turner, the Redskins are getting a coach whose made a meteoric rise through the ranks, from assistant coach for the Los Angeles Rams, to quarterbacks coach, then offensive coordinator, then assistant head coach of the Cowboys.
Unlike Joe Gibbs, hired under similar circumstances in 1981, Turner does not come with the tag "genius." What he is noted for is the ability to put together solid game plans that get the most out of the talent available.
"He gave the players on the offensive side the opportunity to be the best at their position," said Dallas' Emmitt Smith, voted the most valuable player of Super Bowl XXVIII. "I don't expect him to go up there and turn things around right away, but within a couple of years, I expect him to have the personnel he wants and running an offense just like he did with the Dallas Cowboys."
Turner also is enormously popular with his players. Last week, Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin said he would give the team part of his salary if it would help keep Turner in Dallas.
"I think Norv will be an outstanding coach," Dallas coach Jimmy Johnson said. "He's done a great job, as much as anyone else, working with [quarterback] Troy Aikman."
Turner's first act will be to spend the next week evaluating film of the Redskins' 1993 season. He'll then fly to Indianapolis for the college combine on Feb. 12.
\ NOTES: It appears likely that Michigan assistant coach Cam Cameron will join the Redskins as receivers coach, with possibly some duties with quarterbacks as well. Cameron, who will be 32 on Feb. 6, became the youngest assistant coach in Wolverines history when he was hired in 1986. Also, former Phoenix Cardinals running backs coach Bobby Jackson seems set to take the same position in Washington. . . . Three Redskins have had off-season surgery - center Jeff Bostic (knee), defensive end Shane Collins (knee) and guard Mark Schlereth (knee). Scheduled for knee surgery are defensive end Charles Mann and offensive tackle Ed Simmons.
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB