ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, December 30, 1996 TAG: 9612310039
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: Jack Bogaczyk
DATELINE: MIAMI
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
It's a long list. Impressive, too.
In 23 football seasons at seven colleges, Jim Cavanaugh has been an assistant to Bob Thalman, Bo Rein, Sonny Randle, Dick Bestwick, Bobby Ross,0 Joe Krivak, Mack Brown and Frank Beamer.
That's naming them in coaching chronology. In Cavanaugh's opinion, in several ways, the last name on that list belongs first.
``When you take all aspects of the head coaching position, Frank Beamer is the best head coach for whom I've worked,'' Cavanaugh said. ``Each of those guys has their strong and not-so-strong points, but overall, total package, Frank is the best.''
Cavanaugh isn't a defensive assistant trying to get a raise from his boss as 10th-ranked Tech prepares for Tuesday night's Orange bowl date with No.6 Nebraska. In his first season on the Hokies' staff, Cavanaugh has found in Beamer what he was told to expect.
He says that's refreshing, if not rare.
``Frank's reputation in the coaching business is that he's a heck of a coach and a good guy,'' said Cavanaugh, who coaches outside linebackers and strong safeties. ``That sounds nice, but you can't say it - being honest - a lot. There aren't many good guys in our business. He's one.''
After eight seasons as an assistant at North Carolina, Cavanaugh lost his job when Brown fired offensive coordinator Darrell Moody, who moved to Clemson. A New York City native and former William and Mary receiver, Cavanaugh is at his third coaching stop in Virginia, following VMI and UVa.
``I played against Frank in the late '60s, when he was at Tech,'' said Cavanaugh, 48. ``The one year, I think I caught 12 passes against Tech. My senior year, he covered me, and he knocked the hell out of me.''
Cavanaugh said he has been particularly impressed with Beamer's reaction to Tech's repeated off-field woes. The Hokies' head coach has become somewhat embattled, thanks to the numerous arrests of Tech players in the past 15 months, but he has remained about as unflappable as possible.
Cavanaugh not only said some coaches would become unhinged by some of what's happened at Tech, he said he has worked for some who in time of crisis became flustered or worse.
``I think all that's happened has worn on Frank a bit, and you'd expect that,'' Cavanaugh said. ``But he's good at crisis management, the injuries and off-the-field stuff.
``How even-keeled he has stayed in the face of problems is impressive. He's dealt with each of the situations the same. He asks questions, gathers information and goes from there. There's nothing snap about it.
``It's his personality. He's the same way with fourth-quarter decisions. He listens to the other coaches, and then he weighs the situation and makes a decision.
``Coaching has a lot of impulsive people. Frank's very even-keel. He's not what are referred to as `high-low' guys. He's tough, but he's not impulsive, and maybe that's why he's the best decision-maker I've seen in those situations.''
Beamer's staff reflects the Hokies' head coach, who is finishing a decade as his alma mater's football chief. It's a ``very even-personality group,'' said Cavanaugh, who fits.
Although Cavanaugh knew Beamer from crossed paths in recruiting, most of what he learned about the Tech head coach came from their mutual friend, Ralph Friedgen, the San Diego Chargers' offensive coordinator and longtime Ross assistant with whom Cavanaugh and Beamer previously worked.
``What Ralph told me about Frank is what I've seen,'' Cavanaugh said. ``He lets his coaches coach. He puts his players in position to play their best. He's very good on the sideline during a game.
``His practice temperament is the best I've experienced, too. The hitting, the aggressiveness, the crispness, the tempo. His toughness and fairness carries over to games and practices. And he has a great feel for when to kick a kid in the butt and when to hug him.''
Beamer, a head coach for six seasons at Murray State before moving to Tech in 1987, is enjoying his professional zenith, although not reveling in his success. That wouldn't be Beamer.
``Frank hasn't surprised me in anything he's done,'' Cavanaugh said. ``His personality, his demeanor plays a part in the kind of coach he is.''
LENGTH: Medium: 80 linesby CNB