Wednesday, May 10, 1995 - The Michigan Daily- 11
Search for new coach to begin soon
By Scott Burton
Daily Sports Writer
Back in December 1968, Michigan
Athletic Director Don Canham faced the
biggest dilemma of his young administra-
tive career. Wolverines football coach
Bump Elliot had resigned following the
conclusion of the season and attendance
at Michigan Stadium had dropped despite
an 8-2 record.
As a result, it became Canham's re-
sponsibility to find a coach who could
further elevate an already successful pro-
gram. So he turned to Miami (Ohio) - a
school that had produced a slew of coach-
ing legends - and handed a five-year
contract to someone who changed Michi-
gan football forever.
Canham's appointee - Bo
Schembechler-- turned out to be a two-
decade investment. Michigan was one of
the most preeminently successful teams in
the nation during Schembechler's reign
(1969-1989) and continues to thrive on the
foundation that Schembechler built.
However, with Gary Moeller's resig-
nation Thursday, Michigan's current ath-
letic director, Joe Roberson, faces
Canham's dilemma. Moeller led the Wol-
Many fans
verines to two Rose Bowls in his five-year
career and leaves his successor a talented
team. Yet, Roberson's choice of coach
must both overcome the stigma of
Moeller's misconduct and revitalize the
program.
It is not surprising then that the names
most prominently mentioned to replace
Moeller share one thing in common -
youth. The top candidate is Cam
Cameron, 34, a former Michigan quarter-
back coach and Washington Redskin as-
sistant coach. Tony Dungy, 39, an assis-
tant coach for the Minnesota Vikings is
also another possible leading candidate.
"Obviously, we are looking for some-
one with strong, strong leadership quali-
ties," Roberson said in a press conference
Thursday after announcing Moeller's res-
ignation. "We would like to have some-
one who is publicly articulate and who is
comfortable. We would like to have
someone who is a motivator and who's
inspirational with young people."
Cameron, who won't comment on
the situation until Michigan contacts him,
has never been a head football coach at
any level. However, he seems to fit
Roberson's desire for someone "who's
inspirational with young people."
In his one year at Washington, he
was instrumental in the development of
young quarterbacks Heath Schuler and
Gus Ferrote. At Michigan, he guided the
careers of receivers Desmond Howard,
Greg McMurty and Chris Calloway, all
of whom play in the NFL.
Many NFL personnel say that Dungy
- who was also mentioned as a candidate
for Michigan State's coaching position be-
fore they hired Nick Saban-is destined to
one day coach a
top football pro-
gram, be it a pro-
fessional or col-
legeteam.- qu<
legeteam. Redskins; young, talen
H ow evyer,
he was spurred -
in the offseason - si
by ah numbersof Michigan native; Big Te
by a number of
NFL teams with - head+
coaching vacan- record; young with mu
cies and Minne-
sota Vikings - h
spokesman Bob ailing Blue Devil progra
Hagen said that
Dungy was - hea
somewhat bitter with bad talent
at having been overlooked. He interviewed
for Jacksonville's coaching spot two years..
ago and for the Philadelphia Eagles this
year.
Dungy, the Vikings' defensive coor-
dinator, has made Minnesota one of the
best defensive teams in the NFL since
joining the organization in 1992. The
Jackson native and University of Minne-
sota alum has also coached for Pittsburgh
and Kansas City since beginning his
coaching career in 1981.
arterbacks coach, Washington
ted; knows Michigan well
tant coach, Minnesota Vikings;
en star; solid defensive mind
coach, Youngstown State; great
ch enthusiasm
ead coach, Duke; turned around
am
)d coach, Northwestern; good coach
sympathize with Moeller's plight
By Scott Burton
Daily Sports Writer
If anyone knows the perils of excess alcohol consumption, it is college students.
Yet, Michigan students struggled with whether Wolverines football coach Gary
Moeller's arrest for assault, battery and disorderly conduct should have resulted in his
resignation.
The debate whether Moeller should have resigned or not centered around "second-
chances." Was Moeller's behavior at Excalibur Restaurant reprehensible enough to
exclude Moeller from forgiveness? Or does everybody, including public figures, de-
serve a chance to make up a single mistake?
"It is unfortunate that just one mistake like that can basically ruin his whole career,"
University alum Dave Durant said. "It was kind of an ugly incident, but at the same
time, I feel kind of bad for him."
"He was the coach of a major program, so he should watch out what he does,"
Engineering senior Jon Stephens said. "But it was a one night thing, and it is unfor-
tunate that that stuff is io much in the public eye."
Although Ann Arbor resident John Lloyd is not a huge football fan, he followed
the aftermath of Moeller's resignation. He said that like any person in a prominent
public position, Moeller should be held accountable to higher standards of conduct.
"He is in a political position, and like any politicians in the public eye, he can't
really afford to do what he did - and he should have known that," Lloyd said. "He
represents the University more than just a student does."
LSA senior Rachel Rouse agreed, saying that not only did Moeller put his career
in jeopardy with his conduct, but also the viability of the whole football program.
"I think it was the appropriate thing to do, as far as the program goes," Rouse said.
"When you take the circumstances on the whole, he shouldn't have had a second
chance, because obviously the reputation of the program was damaged and that might
hurt recruiting.
"Maintaining the respect of the players might have been a problem. You have to
SEE FANS, PAGE 14
Tapes' release just went too far
Just one week ago, I wrote that
Michigan football coach Gary
Moeller would not lose his job over
his drunken outburst in Southfield's
Excalibur Restaurant.
What a difference a week makes.
Then-Michigan football coach Gary
Moeller is now ex-Michigan football
coach Gary Moeller, and the Athletic
Department has delved full-throttle into
a search for his successor.
Now, I've been wrong many times
before, but I should not have been
wrong this time, and I shouldn't have
been wrong as fast as I was.
Less than a week after the incident
became public knowledge, Moeller
gave up his position as the Wolverines'
coach, a job that is one of the most
coveted in college football.
He surrendered his job four days
before he ever set foot in a courtroom,
four days before
he ever even --_ -
entered a plea to
the charges that
were facing him.
What ever
happened to "
innocent until;
proven guilty? - -
I'll tell you RYAN
- audio tapes. WHITE
It seems that White on
in order to Target
protect
themselves, the
Southfield police decided it was
necessary to tape Moeller once he was
delivered to Providence Hospital.
The result was a recording of
Moeller cursing at police one moment
and apologizing for his behavior the
next.
The tapes were released last
Wednesday, and the next day Moeller
resigned. There is no way to know if it
was the audio embarrassment that
forced Moeller to make his decision, but
it may well have been the straw that ,.,_
broke the coaches' back.
As a result, the media was made an
easy target by all who stepped behind
the podium at last Thursday's press
conference.
When asked if he had first thought
the incident had been misreported,
Athletic Director Joe Roberson
sarcastically remarked that the media
SEE TAcer, oPAGo14
I chigan Athletic Dirctor Joe Roberson was dismayed by last week's events.