Patience: A Virtue Among Some Fans of College Football

[MrMustang1965]

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Frank Beamer wrapped up his sixth year at Virginia Tech with the sort of numbers that usually get a coach fired.

Twenty-four wins. Forty losses. No bowls.

But the Hokies stuck with Beamer, and look what's happened over the past dozen seasons.

Twelve straight winning records. Twelve straight bowl games. Four conference championships.

``When you think of Virginia Tech football, you think of Frank Beamer,'' said former Hokies quarterback Michael Vick, now a star with the Atlanta Falcons. ``Coach Beamer's a winner.''

So, here's a memo to Notre Dame, Mississippi and Syracuse, along with any school that might be pondering whether to dump its football coach: Sometimes, it pays to be patient.

``People want to react quickly,'' said Beamer, who led the Hokies to the Atlantic Coast Conference title in their first year after moving from the Big East Conference, where they won three titles. ``This is not a business that it usually happens quickly.''

He should know.

No. 9 Virginia Tech (10-2) meets third-ranked Auburn (12-0) in the Sugar Bowl on Monday night -- a normal ending to the season for the Hokies. This is their third trip to the New Orleans in the past decade.

But the program was far from a national contender in Beamer's early years. After being hired by his alma mater in 1987, he went 2-9. The following year wasn't much better, the Hokies stumbling to a 3-8 mark.

Beamer managed a couple of winning seasons before Virginia Tech took two more steps backward, tumbling all the way to 2-8-1 in '92. At that point, no one would have blamed the Hokies for going in a different direction.

But then-athletic director Dave Braine -- a former coach himself and now at Georgia Tech -- decided to stick with Beamer. That turned out to be a stroke of genius. The Hokies went 9-3 in '93, won the Independence Bowl and haven't looked back.

``I was fortunate to have Dave Braine,'' Beamer said Wednesday, ``and a president and vice president who realized we had the foundation in place to be OK.''

In another precarious year for coaches, Beamer stands out like someone who belongs in a museum.

Just look what happened to Tyrone Willingham, fired after only three seasons at Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish broke the long-standing tradition of allowing a coach at least five years (yep, even Gerry Faust) to prove whether he was up to the pressure-packed job.

Not too far from New Orleans, Ole Miss handed a pink slip to David Cutcliffe after a 4-7 season, even though he was just one year removed from being named Southeastern Conference coach of the year. No one seemed to take into account that the Rebels had lost a pretty good quarterback, Eli Manning.

Then, on Wednesday, Syracuse reversed course and dumped Paul Pasqualoni -- less than a month after saying the second-winningest coach in school history would be back for his 15th season.

Others have been gobbled up, as well. Ron Zook was fired before he finished his third year at Florida, overwhelmed by the expectations that went along with being Steve Spurrier's successor. Gerry DiNardo got only three years at Indiana.

``I certainly think there have been a couple of situations where you question if they gave the coach enough time,'' Beamer said.

The Sugar Bowl is the most striking example of two programs that benefited from NOT firing their coaches.

Auburn was poised to give Tommy Tuberville the boot when the Tigers failed to meet lofty expectations last season. But top school officials bungled the search for a possible successor, generating enough sympathy for Tuberville to save his job.

This season, the players rallied around their embattled coach, winning the school's first Southeastern Conference championship since 1989. In just about any other season, Auburn would have gotten a chance to play for the national title, but two other undefeated teams, top-ranked Southern Cal and No. 2 Oklahoma, will meet in the Orange Bowl.

``It takes a while to do it the right way,'' Tuberville said. ``You've got to have a solid base. There are no shortcuts. You hope everyone will look at a situation and factor that in. Obviously, a lot of schools don't do that.''

While the virtues of patience are certainly exemplified by the Sugar Bowl coaches, Tuberville understands the enormous expectations that go along with the job.

The football coach is the highest-paid employee on many campuses -- and he's expected to provide a return on that investment.

Winning seasons and bowl games aren't always enough. Willingham, Cutcliffe, Pasqualoni and Zook had more victories than defeats, but they didn't win enough to satisfy influential alumni and impatient administrators.

``We make a lot of money,'' said Tuberville, who has agreed to a new seven-year, $16 million contract. ``People watch it. You've got the Internet, the chat rooms. There's a lot more media attention.''

In all fairness to trigger-happy schools, the coaches must take some of the blame for the merry-go-round that takes place every offseason.

Nick Saban was one of the highest-paid coaches in college football, but that didn't stop him from leaving LSU to take an even better-paying job with the NFL's Miami Dolphins. Even Tuberville falls into that group, defecting from Ole Miss after the '98 season when Auburn came along with a more lucrative deal.

So, if a coach who doesn't win enough, he'll get fired. If he does win enough, there's usually a better job waiting elsewhere.

Which makes Beamer an anachronism from another era, when coaches such as Joe Paterno and Bobby Bowden settled into lifetime positions.

``I haven't moved around a lot,'' Beamer said. ``If you're happy, I don't think you necessarily need to move. Money has never been the biggest issue with me.''

He paused for a second.

``But it's only great if you can win. In this business, the only thing that matters in the end is: Can you win enough games to keep everyone happy.''

[MrMustang1965]

'`It takes a while to do it the right way,'' Tuberville said. ``You've got to have a solid base. There are no shortcuts. You hope everyone will look at a situation and factor that in. Obviously, a lot of schools don't do that.''

While the virtues of patience are certainly exemplified by the Sugar Bowl coaches, Tuberville understands the enormous expectations that go along with the job.

The football coach is the highest-paid employee on many campuses -- and he's expected to provide a return on that investment.

Winning seasons and bowl games aren't always enough. Willingham, Cutcliffe, Pasqualoni and Zook had more victories than defeats, but they didn't win enough to satisfy influential alumni and impatient administrators.

``We make a lot of money,'' said Tuberville, who has agreed to a new seven-year, $16 million contract. ``People watch it. You've got the Internet, the chat rooms. There's a lot more media attention.''

In all fairness to trigger-happy schools, the coaches must take some of the blame for the merry-go-round that takes place every offseason.

Nick Saban was one of the highest-paid coaches in college football, but that didn't stop him from leaving LSU to take an even better-paying job with the NFL's Miami Dolphins. Even Tuberville falls into that group, defecting from Ole Miss after the '98 season when Auburn came along with a more lucrative deal.

So, if a coach who doesn't win enough, he'll get fired. If he does win enough, there's usually a better job waiting elsewhere.

Which makes Beamer an anachronism from another era, when coaches such as Joe Paterno and Bobby Bowden settled into lifetime positions.

``I haven't moved around a lot,'' Beamer said. ``If you're happy, I don't think you necessarily need to move. Money has never been the biggest issue with me.''

He paused for a second.

``But it's only great if you can win. In this business, the only thing that matters in the end is: Can you win enough games to keep everyone happy.''

[Water Pony]

MM65, good post. Beamer is an excellent example as is Joe Novak of Northern Illinois. From NIU site:

In this fast-moving dot-com world, Northern Illinois University head football coach Joe Novak has molded such so-called old-fashioned virtues as work ethic, patience, loyalty, respect, and integrity into success. His unassuming personality and perseverance are stamped all over a Huskie program that has steadily ascended into the nation’s Top 40 from the depths of the major-college ranks. Whether 0-11 or 10-2, the Novak demeanor and method never changed. Through feast or famine, the 59- year-old has been the epitome of patience and vision.

This revitalized Northern Illinois program has turned heads on a regional and national basis. After seeing the Huskies share Mid-American Conference West Division titles in 2001 and 2002, then beating opposition such as Wake Forest University (2002), Bowling Green State University (2002), Maryland (2003), the University of Alabama (2003), and Iowa State University (2003), the world finally has taken notice of his Huskies and their old-school, low-key leader. Novak’s Northern Illinois program has resided in the nation’s Top 40 for most of the time since November, 2002. In late 2002, the Huskies received votes in the major-college polls for the first time since 1989.

A year ago, the Northern Illinois overachievers turned out to be the
nation’s Cinderella story by stunning three Bowl Championship Series opponents and winning their first seven games. In DeKalb, it was Mardi
Gras, New Year’s Eve, and Fourth of July, all in one. By mid-October, the unheralded Huskies ranked No. 10 in the initial BCS standings, No. 12 in the Associated Press poll, and No. 14 in the ESPN / USA Today version. Novak’s team set a school record with 10 regular-season wins and recorded its fourth consecutive winning campaign. All of this light years from the dismal three-digit national rankings when Novak’s reconstruction project began in 1996.

Due to this dramatic turnaround, Novak’s contract was extended for three more seasons through 2005, 2006, and 2007 last April. “Joe Novak is one of the most respected football coaches in the country,” said Northern Illinois President John G. Peters. “In extending his contract, NIU renews its commitment to an individual who not only has elevated the competitiveness of our football program to a high level among Division 1-A schools, but to an individual who places the welfare of the student-athlete and the integrity of the program first.”

Under Novak’s tutelage, the Huskies have captured 22 of their last 29 overall games, won 20 of their last 24 at home, and put together two seven game winning streaks. Individually, Northern Illinois led the Mid-Am with two postseason All-America selections—Turner and placekicker Steve Azar, 10 all-league performers, and 16 MAC Player of the Week picks in 2003.

While the visible accomplishments were many, it was Novak’s integrity and insistence on staying with The Plan, building the program with high school talent and avoiding the temptation for the “quick fix.” In a major feature story in 2002, the Chicago Tribune referred to Novak’s persistence as “dogged resolve.”

Win or lose, Novak maintained the cool, calm behavior. His engaging smile and funny oneliners hid many of the early frustrations. Enduring those early Northern Illinois years tested his resolve to the ultimate degree, but not to the point of compromise. Novak and his staff stressed the long term. His program would win The Right Way. By any standard, the Huskies have.

From rock bottom to Top 40 respectability. That was The Plan all along. Nine years ago, Novak placed a sign on the wall in his team’s locker room. The placard read: “Those Who Stay Will Be Champions.” It was a promise that if the players worked and overcame the many obstacles through the reconstruction period that a MAC championship ring would eventually follow.

One of Novak’s long-time trademarks has been maintaining strong relationships with high school coaches. From running free coaching
clinics, hosting summer camps, and making school visits, the Huskie staff regained a foothold in the area and region prep recruiting battles. To that end, a survey of 41 Chicago area high school coaches in Gridiron Report named Novak as their favorite collegiate head man in 2001.

While all these testimonials, records, and statistics may seem light years from the situation that Novak, his staff, and Huskie players suffered through the first three years (1-10, 0-11, and 2-9 seasons, including the
infamous 23-game losing streak), it’s not the ultimate destination. All along, the Northern Illinois goal has been to win the MAC.

[Water Pony]

One of Novak’s long-time trademarks has been maintaining strong relationships with high school coaches. From running free coaching
clinics, hosting summer camps, and making school visits, the Huskie staff regained a foothold in the area and region prep recruiting battles. To that end, a survey of 41 Chicago area high school coaches in Gridiron Report named Novak as their favorite collegiate head man in
2001.

He received 20 votes, ahead of Ron Turner of Illinois (11 votes), Bob Spoo of Eastern Illinois University (6), and Randy Walker of Northwestern University (4). “(Joe) Novak is extremely well perceived by high school coaches,” said Joe Henricksen, editor and publisher of the Gridiron Report. “He’s made an extreme effort to get out and know the coaches in the Chicago area.“

Novak’s sideline contemporaries have noticed, too. “I think Joe Novak has done a tremendous job there,” said Turner. “I know how they recruit. It’s a great program. They’re light years ahead of where they were. They (NIU) don’t get the respect on the outside from the public, who don’t know as much about football. But they sure get it from the coaching profession. ”

While all these testimonials, records, and statistics may seem light years from the situation that Novak, his staff, and Huskie players suffered through the first three years (1-10, 0-11, and 2-9 seasons, including the
infamous 23-game losing streak), it’s not the ultimate destination. All along, the Northern Illinois goal has been to win the MAC.