Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 8, 1995 TAG: 9507110002
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Little did he know that his return would be such a Rush job.
When the Roanoke Rush asked him in mid-May to become head coach of the valley's new National Minor League Football franchise, Marie didn't have to huddle long on a decision.
``It was almost like hitting the jackpot,'' Marie said. ``Suddenly, I had a chance to return to an area that I had missed so much, plus stay in coaching, which is something I love. It was an opportunity I simply couldn't pass up.''
Marie turned in his resignation at Kent University, where he had been an assistant coach-recruiting coordinator for three years, threw his bags in the car, and headed south on June 2. He hasn't looked back since.
``Sure, it's a gamble,'' Marie said. ``[The Rush job] is not really what you'd call lucrative. I'm not making anywhere near the money I could have if I had stayed at Kent or found another college job.
``But, hey, life is about change. I wasn't happy with my life in Ohio. While I was happy coaching football, I was up there by myself and I wasn't really happy. I thought it was time for me to get my life back in order, so to speak. I wanted more of a family structure.''
Marie said he had made up his mind this past spring that he was coming back to Virginia, football job or no football job. Forget 4th-and-1. This critical play-call concerned something called happiness.
``I loved Blacksburg, Virginia Tech and the people around here so much,'' said Marie, a volunteer assistant on Hokies coach Frank Beamer's staff from 1989-91.
``Plus, I was still dating a lady back here the whole time I was up at Kent. So I always came back here for the summers. I knew to be happy that I just had to come back. If I had to get out of coaching for a while, I was ready to do that.''
Then came a Rush order. When franchise organizer Nick Rush was tipped off that Marie might be available, he called for the bomb - all the way to Ohio.
``Denie, with his coaching ability and recruiting ties, was exactly what we needed,'' Nick Rush said. "I wanted him bad. Very badly.''
So Rush put the blitz on Marie.
``Nick called me one Sunday night and wanted to know if I'd be interested in coaching down here,'' Marie said. "He said they were talking to some others. I was on the way down here, so I went and interviewed with 'em, brought my stuff, and they hired me.
``Hey, I was in the right place at the right time. That's all I can say about it.''
Marie can only hope he's still saying the same thing a year from now. The veteran coach, now in his 50s, doesn't have to be informed of the possible pitfalls of a first-year franchise in a first-year league.
``From what I understand,'' said Marie, ``the league office [the 28-team NMLF is based in Charlotte, N.C.] supposedly is pretty stable and solid.
``But who knows? They might just say we've tried it ... it's not going to work. Then you just try and find something else.''
Since taking the job, Marie hasn't had much time to worry about what could go wrong. On the ground floor of a first-year franchise, the work is never done.
``We're in our infancy,'' Marie said. ``You know the old expression ... you crawl, you walk, you run. That's kind of our situation at this point.
``We're putting everything together from scratch, but that's what's exciting about it. It's a new adventure that I just had to try.''
After conducting preliminary tryouts in June, the Rush officially opened practice this past Wednesday. The club meets the Carolina Stars at Victory Stadium in its first preseason game on Aug. 5.
Most of the players are ex-collegians still hanging on to the unlikely dream of playing in the NFL, or for that matter, the Canadian Football League.
``There's a lot of energy out there ... these kids work a job then come out and bust heads for two hours a night,'' Marie said.
``It's not the pros, by any means. But I give these kids credit for trying.''
Obviously, the old coach is revved up now.
``Heck, yeah, I'm excited,'' Marie said. ``People say, `yeah, will this thing ever get off the ground or is it for real?' Well, heck ... it is. These kids are some pretty good football players.
``The whole key to this thing is to get everybody [fans] out there and have them say, `Hey, this is a pretty good show.' Like anything else, I think it's going to to depend on how many folks show up for games.
``I'm hoping this thing takes off. If it does, it does. If it doesn't, it doesn't. No matter what, I want to stay in football somehow.''
RUSH RAMBLINGS: Just how much the players will be paid is still unclear. Nick Rush said all players' pay will strictly depend on how well the team draws at the gate. ``We can't blow the whole wad in our first year,'' Rush said. ``We're trying to look at this thing three to five years down the road.'' Translation: Don't quit that day job, guys. ... More than 100 players showed for Wednesday's first official practice at Roanoke's Lucy Addison High. ``We made some cuts ... that's the toughest thing we've had to do so far,'' Nick Rush said. ... The club will likely keep some 55 players on its roster its first season. The NMLF allows each team to keep 70 players, 50 of whom can be signed to a contract. Only 45 players can dress and travel. ... Marie's staff includes ex-Tech assistant Duke Strager, Pulaski native Robbie Hudson and Roanokers Paul Ripley and Tom Pettigrew. ... The Rush launches the the 11-game NMLF regular season on Aug. 12 at Victory Stadium against the Chambersburg (Pa.) Cardinals.
by CNB