THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 8, 1994 TAG: 9412070154
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 25 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DENISE MICHAUX, SUN SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Long : 109 lines
AFTER TAKING a 49-14 beating at the hands of Western Branch in a preseason scrimmage, Nansemond River's football coaches were wondering if the Warriors could win five games.
When head coach Jerry Varacallo signed on as an assistant coach at John Yeates in 1978, he never imagined he would still be here in '94.
Oh, how things change.
The Warriors responded to the beating with a 16-0 season-opening shutout of Lakeland and went on to repeat as Bay Rivers District and Region I champions before losing to Spotsylvania, 13-10, in the Division 4 state semifinals.
Varacallo, 42, moved from Pennsylvania when William and Mary offered him a football scholarship in 1971 to play for Lou Holtz in his final year with the Tribe.
``I just fell in love with the area,'' Varacallo said. ``I was all set to go to Pennsylvania when William and Mary called.''
The original plan was a career in physical therapy, but Varacallo quickly decided that he didn't have the patience required and would rather spend time outside. So he opted for the coaching route.
Still, when he landed his first football coaching position in Suffolk, this wasn't where he expected to spend his life.
``When I first came I was figuring on being here maybe two or three years,'' Varacallo said. ``But I don't like change and I just kept sticking around.''
Varacallo, also known simply as ``V,'' stuck around long enough to take over as head coach at Yeates in 1983 with Lei Kendale, now his offensive coordinator, as his quarterback.
He compiled a 37-37 record there and produced two region runner-up teams in 1987 and '88.
``I really enjoy the area. The pace is slower and the people around here are real friendly. Where I come from (outside of Philadelphia) everything is so rushed.
``I've had inklings to go other places, but that is really all it's been is an inkling.''
Yeates and the three other Suffolk schools were combined into Nansemond River and Lakeland in 1990. After taking a couple of years to sort things out, the Warriors have gone 41-20 - 23-4 over the past two years - with a pair of district and region titles.
``It took time for this group to form coherent attitudes,'' Varacallo said. ``I think the reason we have done so well recently is I've had the same coaching staff for the last three years.''
Varacallo has adjusted to the pace of life in Suffolk. But the city's casual interest in football still baffles him.
``I was so amazed at the crowd we had on Saturday,'' Varacallo said of the group that traveled to Spotsylvania. Three busloads of fans plus the marching band, which wowed the Spotsylvania crowd at halftime, made the long drive to support the Warriors.
``I want to thank them. That is the best road support we have had. I'm just sorry we disappointed them.
``Around here it seems that if you don't play on Friday night you aren't going to get much of a crowd. In Pennsylvania on a Friday night even a bad crowd would be standing room only here.''
The Warriors' support in Spotsylvania may be a sign that things are changing somewhat and the product Varacallo is putting on the field is finally drawing some attention.
That may be the one kind of change Varacallo can like.
``I say I don't like change, but things evolve and things change,'' he said. ``I was a bit of wild man once and I've learned that you have to approach each kid differently.
``Some kids respond to a good chewing out, others you need to put things differently. I'm still learning.''
Varacallo said it took him four or five years to stop blaming himself for every loss, although he does think it was his mistake that caused the interception that killed Nansemond River's last drive in Saturday's game.
``I used to always say `I didn't do this right' or `I didn't prepare this way.' It took me years to learn that if you don't have the horses you aren't going to move the wagon,'' Varacallo said.
Varacallo and his staff have already removed the seniors from the depth chart and are staring at some huge holes for next year. There was certainly no lack of horses on this team.
``Donald Turner was a highlight of the season in himself,'' Varacallo said. ``I've never had a player emerge at every position on the field the way he did.''
Sophomore Clarence Skinner's emergence at running back before breaking his wrist stands out as one of the other high points of the '94 season.
``I was glad to see this team come together the way it did after that Western Branch scrimmage,'' Varacallo said. ``The first shutout was a boost to the defense.
``The first York game (a 35-14 win) was a great win.''
Without question the low point was the one regular season loss - 19-7 - to Southampton. It was in that game that they think Skinner may have first injured his wrist.
But it wasn't until two games later against Smithfield that he broke it. ``He just fell on it, he wasn't even hit,'' Varacallo said. ``When he went to the doctor he said it looked like an old break.''
Finally there was the loss to Spotsylvania.
``This loss was a lot harder to take than the loss in the final last year,'' Varacallo said. ``At least last year we knew we got beat. We beat ourselves this year.
``But you know every week is an adventure.'' ILLUSTRATION: The Warriors' defense can't stop Spotsylvania's Rocky Woolfolk
from making the winning touchdown in Saturday's game. At right, a
dejected Donald Turner, front, and Hermon Kee commiserate after the
game.
``We beat ourselves this year,'' says head coach Jerry Varacallo.
by CNB