Post by Banana Cat on Mar 25, 2011 4:17:45 GMT -5
hamptonroads.com/2011/03/schottenheimer-officially-named-virginias-ufl-coach
Schottenheimer officially named Virginia's UFL coach
By Tom Robinson / The Virginian-Pilot
March 24, 2011
VIRGINIA BEACH - Marty Schottenheimer says he's back as a head football coach at 67 because he was restless with retirement in Charlotte, N.C., and Palm Springs, Calif. Because he loves teaching the game and the vicarious thrill of seeing players succeed. Because he believes the bond between people working in tandem to win "is almost magical."
And because of the kids - his four grandchildren.
Go coach, Schottenheimer said his daughter Kristen urged him, "so they can be a part of what was your life."
At that, Schottenheimer choked up, as he did another time or two Wednesday during his introduction as coach and general manager of the Virginia Destroyers, the United Football League team slated to begin its first season at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex in August.
"If you'd have asked me a little over two weeks ago if I would've entertained returning to coaching, I would've said, 'No,' " said Schottenheimer, who won 200 regular-season NFL games over 21 seasons with four teams - the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins and San Diego Chargers.
But Schottenheimer, who hasn't coached since being fired by the Chargers after the 20006 season, was interested enough to play golf in Palm Springs with Michael Huyghue and hear what turned out to be the UFL commissioner's winning pitch.
"He didn't want promises," said Huyghue, who has said the 2-year-old league considered folding recently because of massive financial losses. "He's a relationship guy. He wanted to know what kind of person are you, what kind of trust do I have in you, because we're going to be doing this together."
In his rambling introductory remarks to an array of media and UFL supporters at a Town Center restaurant, Schottenheimer digressed often about his career, his reputation for conservative, so-called "Marty Ball" game strategy, and his beliefs about what it takes to win.
But he delivered his comments with the fire of a halftime orator, drawing bursts of applause and even "amens" from fan-club members taken by his pastoral fervor.
"I am here to win, and that's what we're gonna do," Schottenheimer said. "I promise you this: Marty Schottenheimer is here for one reason, and that's to take this group of young men, this organization and more importantly this community to the championship."
By April 1, the Destroyers actually will have 40 players of Schottenheimer's choosing from a roster transferred here when the UFL shuttered the Florida Tuskers after last season.
One of them presumably will be Newport News' Darryl Blackstock, a former University of Virginia and NFL linebacker who attended Schottenheimer's introduction.
"I think this is exciting news for the fans and for our area," Blackstock said. "For players to have something like this at home, and with this quality of a coach, is a bonus."
In a later interview, Schottenheimer revealed he considered joining the UFL during its formation because his friend, the financier T. Boone Pickens, was considering investing in the league.
Pickens ultimately declined, and Schottenheimer said he thought no more about it. Three years later, though, Schottenheimer said the more he considered Huyghue's offer, the more his adrenaline surged.
"And I don't think you ever lose it," said Schottenheimer, whose son Brian is offensive coordinator for the New York Jets, "because somewhere in the back of your mind or in your heart you say, 'You know, I can still do that.' And we all like to do things we're successful doing."
Schottenheimer, whose teams made 13 playoff appearances but never reached the Super Bowl, said he planned to set up local residency in a week and proceed with hiring assistants; he said no staff decisions have been made.
He has a little more than four months before the UFL opens its third season with what Huyghue said would be a spotlight game at the Sportsplex against the Omaha Nighthawks.
Omaha, of course, is coached by Joe Moglia, the man originally announced as Virginia's coach before the UFL allowed him to stay home in Omaha and run that team. A second head coach, Jay Gruden, also vacated the Destroyers job to become offensive coordinator of the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals.
"I really felt I was no longer going to coach," Schottenheimer said. "But Michael called and said we've got an opportunity here and if you'd be interested I'd like to visit with you.
"And I said, 'Yeah, fine. Go for it.' "
His man signed and delivered, Huyghue could joke with his audience.
"I could say deja vu all over again, or the third time is a charm," Huyghue said, "but I can assure you this is the last time."
By Tom Robinson / The Virginian-Pilot
March 24, 2011
VIRGINIA BEACH - Marty Schottenheimer says he's back as a head football coach at 67 because he was restless with retirement in Charlotte, N.C., and Palm Springs, Calif. Because he loves teaching the game and the vicarious thrill of seeing players succeed. Because he believes the bond between people working in tandem to win "is almost magical."
And because of the kids - his four grandchildren.
Go coach, Schottenheimer said his daughter Kristen urged him, "so they can be a part of what was your life."
At that, Schottenheimer choked up, as he did another time or two Wednesday during his introduction as coach and general manager of the Virginia Destroyers, the United Football League team slated to begin its first season at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex in August.
"If you'd have asked me a little over two weeks ago if I would've entertained returning to coaching, I would've said, 'No,' " said Schottenheimer, who won 200 regular-season NFL games over 21 seasons with four teams - the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins and San Diego Chargers.
But Schottenheimer, who hasn't coached since being fired by the Chargers after the 20006 season, was interested enough to play golf in Palm Springs with Michael Huyghue and hear what turned out to be the UFL commissioner's winning pitch.
"He didn't want promises," said Huyghue, who has said the 2-year-old league considered folding recently because of massive financial losses. "He's a relationship guy. He wanted to know what kind of person are you, what kind of trust do I have in you, because we're going to be doing this together."
In his rambling introductory remarks to an array of media and UFL supporters at a Town Center restaurant, Schottenheimer digressed often about his career, his reputation for conservative, so-called "Marty Ball" game strategy, and his beliefs about what it takes to win.
But he delivered his comments with the fire of a halftime orator, drawing bursts of applause and even "amens" from fan-club members taken by his pastoral fervor.
"I am here to win, and that's what we're gonna do," Schottenheimer said. "I promise you this: Marty Schottenheimer is here for one reason, and that's to take this group of young men, this organization and more importantly this community to the championship."
By April 1, the Destroyers actually will have 40 players of Schottenheimer's choosing from a roster transferred here when the UFL shuttered the Florida Tuskers after last season.
One of them presumably will be Newport News' Darryl Blackstock, a former University of Virginia and NFL linebacker who attended Schottenheimer's introduction.
"I think this is exciting news for the fans and for our area," Blackstock said. "For players to have something like this at home, and with this quality of a coach, is a bonus."
In a later interview, Schottenheimer revealed he considered joining the UFL during its formation because his friend, the financier T. Boone Pickens, was considering investing in the league.
Pickens ultimately declined, and Schottenheimer said he thought no more about it. Three years later, though, Schottenheimer said the more he considered Huyghue's offer, the more his adrenaline surged.
"And I don't think you ever lose it," said Schottenheimer, whose son Brian is offensive coordinator for the New York Jets, "because somewhere in the back of your mind or in your heart you say, 'You know, I can still do that.' And we all like to do things we're successful doing."
Schottenheimer, whose teams made 13 playoff appearances but never reached the Super Bowl, said he planned to set up local residency in a week and proceed with hiring assistants; he said no staff decisions have been made.
He has a little more than four months before the UFL opens its third season with what Huyghue said would be a spotlight game at the Sportsplex against the Omaha Nighthawks.
Omaha, of course, is coached by Joe Moglia, the man originally announced as Virginia's coach before the UFL allowed him to stay home in Omaha and run that team. A second head coach, Jay Gruden, also vacated the Destroyers job to become offensive coordinator of the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals.
"I really felt I was no longer going to coach," Schottenheimer said. "But Michael called and said we've got an opportunity here and if you'd be interested I'd like to visit with you.
"And I said, 'Yeah, fine. Go for it.' "
His man signed and delivered, Huyghue could joke with his audience.
"I could say deja vu all over again, or the third time is a charm," Huyghue said, "but I can assure you this is the last time."