Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, December 9, 1994 TAG: 9412100024
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Three weeks before facing Tennessee in the Dec.30 Gator Bowl at Gainesville, Fla., Tech was jolted Thursday by the news that it will lose its offensive coordinator.
Gary Tranquill, who came to the Hokies in late January after three seasons as an assistant coach with the NFL's Cleveland Browns, has accepted an offer to become offensive coordinator at Michigan State, Tech sources said Thursday.
Tranquill and Tech head coach Frank Beamer both refused to comment on the matter Thursday, apparently wanting to wait until today's official announcement at Michigan State.
Beamer told the football team in a 5 p.m. meeting Thursday. The players were instructed not to discuss the subject Thursday.
It was unclear Thursday whether Tranquill will remain with Tech through the Gator Bowl or leave immediately to join Michigan State.
At Michigan State, Tranquill, 53, will be reunited with Nick Saban, the Browns assistant coach who recently was named to replace George Perles as Spartans head coach.
In addition to joining his old pal Saban, Tranquill will get a huge pay hike - from his current $68,000 at Tech to $115,000 at Michigan State, a source said.
Michigan State will be Tranquill's ninth coaching stint at eight colleges. He has been an assistant at all but Navy, where he was head coach from 1982-86.
Tranquill replaced Ricky Bustle, who left Tech for the offensive coordinator's position at South Carolina.
After Bustle's 1993 offense averaged a school-record 36.4 points and and 444.1 yards per game, Tranquill's new multiple-set offense wasn't quite as productive, averaging 27.6 points and 355 yards per game. Part of that decline can be attributed to injuries on the offensive line.
Tranquill's offense required senior quarterback Maurice DeShazo to make many more defensive reads than under Bustle's setup. DeShazo threw for 13 touchdowns with 13 interceptions this season after a '93 campaign in which he had 22 touchdown passes and seven interceptions.
Tranquill may not be the only one leaving Blacksburg.
Tech's defensive coordinator, Phil Elmassian, whose work the past two seasons has been highly praised, interviewed for a similar position last week with Georgia Tech.
The Yellow Jackets are revamping their staff under newly named head coach George O'Leary, who knows Elmassian and his work.
``There has been contact,'' Elmassian confirmed. ``But right it's nothing more than that.''
TECH TIDBITS: The Hokies have sold approximately 14,000 tickets for the Gator Bowl. Tickets are $30, $35 and $40. To order tickets, call 703-231-6731 or 1-800-VATECH4.
Tennessee has been installed as a 7-point favorite by Las Vegas oddsmakers. ... The Volunteers will be without senior tailback Aaron Hayden, the school's sixth all-time leading rusher with 2,061 yards. Hayden broke his right leg in Tennessee's 65-0 romp at Vanderbilt in the Vols' regular-season finale.
Freshman quarterback Peyton Manning, son of former New Orleans Saints star Archie Manning, is 6-1 as the Vols' starter. He threw for 1,141 yards and 11 touchdowns after taking over for junior Todd Helton in Game 5. Helton gave up the starting job after a season-ending knee injury. Helton had taken over as the Volunteers' starter after No.1 quarterback Jerry Colquitt suffered a season-ending knee injury in Tennessee's opener against UCLA.
by CNB