ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, February 12, 1996 TAG: 9602130030
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DANIEL UTHMAN STAFF WRITER
FURMAN'S COACH has good memories and strong friendships from his days at VMI.
In Joe Cantafio's 12 years as a basketball coach at VMI, he might have made friends with everyone in Lexington. It didn't matter who you were or what you did for a living.
One of his best friends was a mortgage adjuster. Of course, it helped that Jack Tremaglio was an Italian and ardent VMI fan (class of 1958).
``He always used to say I'm happy when people are fired or leave the area,'' Tremaglio said recently, ``because that's more mortgages I'm lining up for people.''
Cantafio's mortgage, however, was one Tremaglio would have liked to leave alone. Although the Keydets weren't winning a lot of games, Cantafio won many friendships while on post.
``I was there a long time,'' said Cantafio, who left VMI in the spring of 1994 to become the coach at conference rival Furman. ``I think VMI needed the change more than I did.''
Maybe so, but there will be plenty of familiar and friendly faces in the Cameron Hall stands tonight. Cantafio is making his first appearance at VMI's home court since he became the Paladins' head coach.
Many of VMI's players, including four starters, were recruited by Cantafio. He talks with pride about the success they've had under Bart Bellairs.
``Lawrence Gullette's high school coach told me people were missing the boat by not recruiting him, and he was right,'' said Cantafio, who with 79 victories is VMI's winningest coach. ``Bobby Prince is what college athletics are all about. Lester Johnson is the one that surprised everybody. That kid really works hard at it.''
And so on and so on.
When VMI and Furman met in Greenville, S.C., last season, it was somewhat awkward, according to the Keydets. Some said the last-second, 60-59 Paladins victory was just too emotional.
``We looked at it as too much of a battle,'' said Prince, a Lord Botetourt High School graduate. ``We've got to go out the same every night. We're not looking at this game as a battle. We're looking at it as if it was East Tennessee State or anybody else coming here.''
Still, there are special feelings between Cantafio and the VMI program. ``If we don't win, I want them to win,'' Cantafio said. ``I was there for a long time, you know?''
He certainly was there long enough to know just about everybody in town. Some friends, like former VMI sports information director Mike Strickler, were found at the workplace.
Some, like George Piegari, came from very different circumstances. Piegari, a math and computer science professor at VMI for more than 20 years, came home from class one day and saw a young girl with two children trying to get into a nearby house. It was a baby sitter and Cantafio's two children, Carissa and Joey.
``I helped them get in,'' said Piegari. ``I met his wife, Della, a day or so later. They were about to move into an apartment on post that we had lived in for six years. That was the beginning.''
Piegari's daughter, Leeann, became Carissa and Joey's new baby sitter. Last year, they were in her wedding.
Piegari was one of Cantafio's many golf partners. A noted low-handicapper, many remember Cantafio's left-handed swing and perfect putting stroke.
``He's a hell of a good golfer,'' Tremaglio said. ``He made more playing golf than he did at VMI.''
``Great at golf and gin rummy, too,'' said Strickler. ``He was a fiery competitor who was totally honest and sincere. He didn't pull any punches with anybody.''
That applied to his players as well. If they weren't getting their work done, they wouldn't play until they did. Players who didn't hit the books before a road game would stay behind. Strickler used to drive to road games the day of the game, often with one or two players alongside him in the car.
``Not many guys would leave their guys here,'' Strickler said. ``He believed in the VMI system, as does Bart Bellairs.''
The VMI system dictates that following the corps' honor code is just as important as winning games. When coaches come to the post, they have more concerns and sometimes face longer odds than your average collegiate athletic program.
Cantafio had seen long odds before. Once, while playing as a guard at the University of Scranton (Pa.), Cantafio, 5-7 on a good day, had a jump ball against Maryland's Tom McMillen. McMillen is 6-10.
``I don't think he won,'' Strickler said of his old co-worker. ``I'm not even sure he jumped.''
Cantafio probably was saving his legs for his marches up and down the sideline.
``One move we loved; he'd get upset and take his coat and rip it halfway up his back and walk around like that for a while.''
Strickler and friends would like to see it again tonight.
LENGTH: Medium: 93 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: BRIAN TIRPAK Joe Cantafio makes his first return to VMIby CNBtonight since leaving for Furman. color