ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, January 4, 1997 TAG: 9701060060
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: SAN DIEGO
SOURCE: Associated Press
Bobby Ross found out that the other Bobby is the real boss of the San Diego Chargers.
Two years after coaching the Chargers to their only Super Bowl appearance, Ross resigned on Friday, unable to settle his philosophical differences with general manager Bobby Beathard. Ross' assistants also resigned.
The Chargers, 8-8 this season, never had a losing season under Ross. The popular coach, known for his Southern mannerisms, leaves with a five-year record of 47-33, plus a 3-3 mark in three playoff appearances.
It's possible Ross may be interested in returning to his alma mater, VMI, the school's superintendent, Maj. Gen. Josia Bunting III, suggested. Bunting was in California on a recruiting trip the same day.
``We have a vacancy. I'm on the West Coast. Let's leave it at that right now,'' Bunting told the Richmond Times-Dispatch in a Friday night telephone interview from his Los Angeles hotel. `` This is a guy who loves VMI, loves Virginia, and he's always stayed close to us, he waters his roots.''
A Division I-AA school, VMI has not had a winning season since 1981.
Ross has told family and friends he eventually intends to live in Lexington and again become part of the VMI community.
``It's unknown right now'' what Ross' plans are, said Donnie Ross, Bobby's younger brother and a VMI assistant coach. ``I think it would be marvelous [if he did]. It would give us instant credibility and with his national reputation it would open a lot of doors for us in football and otherwise.''
Bill Stewart resigned as VMI's coach on Dec. 12 in the wake of allegations that he directed a racial slur at a player. Donnie Ross also interviewed for the job.
Bobby Ross, a 1959 graduate of VMI, took no questions during a news conference, choosing to read from a statement.
``I did not want this to come about, but it was apparent at the onset of our end-of-the-season discussions that Bobby Beathard felt that our philosophical differences could not be overcome,'' said Ross, who at times sounded angry. ``I was surprised by that, but as time continued it appeared that was the case.''
As he left Jack Murphy Stadium, Ross said: ``I've been through tougher things than this. I think I'll survive.'' Ross, 60, was an Army lieutenant during the Berlin blockade.
The differences between Ross and Beathard apparently included Beathard's displeasure with offensive coordinator Ralph Friedgen and defensive coordinator Dave Adolph, and the way the coaching staff was using young players.
Ross, whose brother Donnie is a VMI assistant coach, is extremely loyal to his assistants, having fired only one in 20 years. Friedgen has been with Ross throughout those 20 years.
Neither Ross nor Beathard would be specific about their disagreements. Nor would club president Dean Spanos.
``It's a difficult and delicate thing to explain,'' said Spanos, son of owner Alex Spanos.
Dean Spanos said he and his father have ``the utmost respect'' for Ross and his staff. But, he said, ``Bobby Beathard is our guy and will be our guy in the future.''
Ross and the Chargers reached financial settlement of his contract, which was to pay him about $1 million a year through the 1999 season.
The Atlanta Falcons planned to put Ross on their short list as soon as he severed ties with the Chargers. Ross revived the Georgia Tech program before he was hired by the Chargers on Jan. 2, 1992. Dan Reeves also is on the Falcons list to replace June Jones.
Ross' assistants, who listened to their boss' farewell address, also reached financial settlements. There's a chance some could be back under a new coach, whom Beathard hopes to hire within a week.
Ross had been coach of the Chargers for five years and a day. Before he was hired, the Chargers had extended the longest playoff drought in the AFC to nine seasons. The Chargers started 0-4 his first season, 1992, but won 11 of their last 12 games to win the AFC West.
``This guy's a great coach,'' Beathard said. ``I'm certain with a coach like Bobby, he won't have a problem landing on his feet with a good NFL team.''
But there was no way he could remain with the Chargers. Beathard said he and Ross disagreed on too many things for the situation to work out.
``After meeting and discussing them, we both felt that it would be best to go our separate ways,'' Beathard said.
``I think everybody wishes this could have been worked out. It was not a power struggle, it wasn't a struggle of egos, it was just differences. It got to the point where either way we went, one or the other would not be going the way he would like to see it or wouldn't be happy. That's why we came to the decision we did today, that we would go our separate ways.''
Beathard said he wants a coach with NFL experience. Candidates could include former head coaches Joe Bugel, Jim Mora and Pete Carroll. Bugel has one year remaining on his contract as an assistant with Oakland. He has talked to the New York Giants and could be considered for the vacant Raiders job. Mora resigned from the New Orleans Saints at midseason, and Carroll, a former coach of the New York Jets, is defensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers.
A darkhorse candidate might be Ted Tollner, coach at San Diego State. Tollner was offensive coordinator with the Chargers from 1989 until being fired by Dan Henning early in the 1991 season. Henning was fired at the end of that season and replaced by Ross.
Beathard's criteria apparently would eliminate rumored candidates such as Colorado's Rick Neuheisel, Northwestern's Gary Barnett and former UCLA coach Terry Donahue.
Some Chargers players had heard all the rumors about Ross, but didn't think he'd leave.
``That's kind of shocking to me,'' receiver Tony Martin said from his home in Miami. ``I don't know, man. That caught me off guard.''
``I never thought it would come to this,'' safety Rodney Harrison said. ``I thought personally that it could be worked out. But I'm extremely shocked that this happened.''
Ross coached the Chargers to their biggest victory ever, a 17-13 upset at Pittsburgh in the AFC Championship game on Jan. 15, 1995. Two weeks later, the Chargers were routed 49-26 by San Francisco in the Super Bowl at Miami.
Since that AFC championship win, the Chargers are 17-17.
Ross' departure is the ninth coaching change in the NFL this season.
Ross has held his last four jobs for exactly five seasons each. He previously coached at The Citadel, Maryland and Georgia Tech, compiling a 94-76-2 record.
VMI Superintendent Suggests Ross May Come Home|
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Former NFL coach Bobby Ross, VMI Class of '59, may be interested in returning to his alma mater, the school's superintendent suggested.
Ross resigned Friday as coach of the NFL San Diego Chargers. Maj. Gen. Josiah Bunting III, the school's superintendent, was in California on a recruiting trip the same day.
``We have a vacancy. I'm on the West Coast. Let's leave it at that right now,'' Bunting told the Richmond Times-Dispatch in a Friday night telephone interview from his Los Angeles hotel. `` This is a guy who loves VMI, loves Virginia, and he's always stayed close to us, he waters his roots.''
A Division I-AA school, VMI has not had a winning season since 1981.
Ross has told family and friends he eventually intends to live in Lexington and again become part of the VMI community.
``It's unknown right now'' what Ross' plans are, said Donnie Ross, Bobby's younger brother and a VMI assistant coach. ``I think it would be marvelous (if he did). It would give us instant credibility and with his national reputation it would open a lot of doors for us in football and otherwise.''
Bill Stewart resigned as VMI's coach on Dec. 12 in the wake of allegations that he directed a racial slur at a player. Donnie Ross also interviewed for the job.
LENGTH: Long : 142 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. In five years in San Diego, Bobby Ross posted aby CNB47-33 record and led the Chargers to Super Bowl XXIX.