Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, December 10, 1994 TAG: 9412140064
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
It goes like this: Old guy gets fired. New guy gets hired. Then new guy entices all his old buddies to join him.
The dominoes fell in Blacksburg on Thursday, picking off Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Gary Tranquill.
As he cleaned out his office Friday, Tranquill said he simply couldn't pass up an offer to join old coaching pal Nick Saban at Michigan State. Saban was hired Dec.3 to replace the fired George Perles as Spartans' head football coach.
``My friendship with Nick was probably the biggest reason for the move,'' Tranquill said. ``We've worked together for six years and we know each other. I have a lot of respect for him.
``On the other hand, I hate to leave Virginia Tech. I have a great deal of respect for this program. I don't like to be anywhere a short period of time. But the opportunity arose ... that's just the way this wacky business is.''
Tranquill, 53, said he will leave for Michigan State on Sunday and commence duties immediately. Saban, an NFL assistant coach with Cleveland, will come on board at the conclusion of the Browns' season.
``There's a lot of work to be done up there, so I felt it would be best to go on and get started,'' said Tranquill, who, according to sources, will make approximately 50 percent more money at Michigan State.
Tranquill confessed he hated missing Tech's Dec.30 Gator Bowl matchup with Tennessee.
``Here I'm passing up a week in in Florida to go to the snow of Michigan,'' he said. ``But Frank [Beamer, Tech head coach] and I both agreed it would be best for both parties involved. I didn't want to be like a lame duck or a fifth wheel around here.''
Beamer said Friday that Billy Hite, assistant head coach and running backs coach, will take over the Hokies' offense. Beamer said he, with input from his assistants, will call the offensive plays against Tennessee.
``I haven't called the offensive plays since I was at Murray State [1981-86 as head coach],'' Beamer said.
``It's tough for the head coach to call the plays from week to week because there's so many things going on. But I do think the time involved here helps. We have a few weeks to prepare. We're going to keep doing whatever we've been doing anyway. People that know me know we're not changing.''
When reminded that the grandstand quarterbacks at the Gator Bowl can holler at him now for play selection, Beamer chuckled and replied, ``that's why I'm going to keep that headset on all the time. That way I won't be able to hear 'em.''
Beamer said he wasn't shocked by Tranquill's sudden move.
``I saw Nick got the job and I knew he and Gary had worked together in Cleveland and a couple other places [Navy and Ohio State] and there were close friendships involved,'' Beamer said. ``I hate to lose Gary, but then again I understand the situation. It's just part of the coaching business that guys are going to move.''
Beamer said he thought it was best for all invovled if Tranquill didn't stay for the bowl game.
``Gary offered to [stay], but I think you can handle that different ways,'' Beamer said. ``When you're obligated to somebody else you can get torn between the two jobs. And the players can get torn, too, in a situation like that, thinking, `is [Tranquill] really going to be here with us or not?'''
Beamer said he didn't think the timing of Tranquill's move - 22 days before the bowl game - would have a crushing effect on the team's preparations for Tennessee.
``I think the kids realize this is all part of the business of coaching,'' Beamer said. ``I think they will carry on, business at hand. We feel very comfortable with our plan.''
Tranquill, who was hired in late January after three years as the Browns' quarterbacks coach, gave himself a mixed report card.
The Hokies' offensive numbers fell off in 1994 from their record-setting '93 season under Ricky Bustle, whom Tranquill replaced. Bustle is now at South Carolina.
``I knew it was going to be a tough act to follow,'' Tranquill said. ``After doing a lot of juggling in the spring, I had some reservations because we were making a number of mistakes. The program was a little slow.
``In the middle of the schedule we played OK, but not as well as I would have liked. We just turned the ball over too many times [31], but we fought and hung in there. Eight-and-three ain't too bad, but I really wasn't satisfied with it.''
Beamer said this Tech team couldn't be expected to match the '93 numbers (36.4 points and 444.1 yards per game) due to personnel changes, most notably on the offensive line.
``Plus,'' Beamer said, ``I think we played against a lot better defenses this year, too.''
Beamer said he has a couple of candidates in mind to replace Tranquill. He refused to name them.
``I've made contact with them,'' Beamer said. ``I know who I want and would like to get, but it's just a matter of whether we can get them.''
by CNB