THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 22, 1996 TAG: 9605220512
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: 38 lines
Seeking to recapture past glory, Great Bridge went for experience at the highest levels in the selection of its new football coach.
Dennis Meyer, 45, played professionally for six seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Calgary Stampeders and has been an assistant coach for the past 14 years with the Toronto Argonauts.
Meyer also spent two seasons as an assistant high school coach in Georgia.
``I've prepared my entire life to be a head coach in high school, but my career has kind of taken me in different directions,'' he said.
The greatest appeal of coaching at the high school level, he said, is the interest and enthusiasm of the players.
Meyer is familiar with Hampton Roads from the CFL tryout camps he has helped run every year at Maury High.
``I understand Great Bridge has a long-standing tradition, but the last few years have not been as good as they want to be,'' he said. ``I hope we can get them back to where they want to be, but it's not going to be an overnight thing.''
Great Bridge has won or shared nine Southeastern District titles, but none since 1988. The Wildcats last had a winning season in 1992 and went 6-24 over the past three seasons under Phil Webb.
Meyer has met once with the team and 89 players showed up, he said. He plans to relocate in mid-June and will head the team during the summer passing league.
``I'd like to make football exciting, even if we can't win,'' he said.
Great Bridge principal Bob Robinson also announced two other new coaches Monday, Chris Osmon in boys basketball and Greg Jennings in baseball.
Osmon is an assistant coach at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wis. Jennings is the co-varsity coach with Martin Oliver, who is stepping down from the baseball and basketball jobs to become athletic director at Hickory High.
Jennings, who graduated from Great Bridge in 1983, has coached the JV team to a 57-5 record. by CNB