Friday, February 13, 1998

Gailey's not a big name, but might be before long

By Frank Luksa

The Dallas Morning News

(KRT)

DALLAS - Well into his coaching search but short of a decision, Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones spoke of the importance of hiring A BIG NAME.

Jones' original intent had been to reveal a head man whose magnified persona would cause gasps of gee-whiz admiration and oh-my-golly respect.

Yet as Jones kept knocking on different NFL doors for the past 34 days and was mistaken for a census-taker, he became disabused of that necessity. He explained why:

"The moment you hire him as coach of the Cowboys, he BECOMES a name."

That name turned out to be Chan Gailey.

Be still all those beating hearts. Gailey's hire Thursday failed to loose a puff of smoke from the Valley Ranch chimney. The city's cathedral bells lay still. At least such was the reaction from Cowboys' fandom who, like the fox, had grown weary of the chase. And had never heard of Gailey or knew that Chan was a shortened version of Chandler.

But Gailey's name rings bells where it counts. Peers and players know the now-former offensive coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers. They tout him in a variety of ways, many of them absent from the Cowboys' coaching chair since the original occupant left 10 years ago.

Research Gailey the man, and echoes sound like a chorus with one voice. A person of high class and character. Devoted husband to wife Lauri, sons Tate, 21, and Andrew, 17. A good man of virtue and values. Gailey's spreadsheet is so perfect that it promotes the question of why he's joining such suspect company.

Said Atlanta Coach Dan Reeves about Gailey, who served on his staff in Denver: "I can't tell you one bad thing about him."

Nor could Mike Tomczak, who lost the No. 1 quarterback job to Kordell Stewart during Gailey's tenure.

"Chan is down to earth, a morally conscious family man," said Tomczak, a description in concert with a Steelers' official who called the Americus, Ga., native, "a Southern gentleman."

So far, so good. But Gailey wasn't hired to teach the Cowboys lessons in manners, although the idea has merit. Nor has he been brought in to deliver do-right sermons. The man and his principles are a welcome addition if he just returns a shine to the Cowboys' tarnished image. No small factor, that. No small task, either.

However, to the key point of why Gailey is here. Can he coach?

This is the age of instant analysis, where the future is forecast before dawn. Experts know answers before questions are asked. There is demand for instant gratification or, in the case of Gailey, immediate assurance that Jones found the right coach before he wore out tires on his limo.

This much can be said about Gailey as head coach of the Cowboys: He's an upgrade.

People familiar with his offensive work stress the same angles. Gailey is clever. An innovator. He's imaginative and organized. A detail guy on the surface. A gambler at heart. Someone willing to take risks and accept heat if the play goes wrong. A play-caller quick to adapt against sudden, radical defenses.

Tomczak on the quality of Gailey's coaching: "That's pretty well documented by the way we play and with our performance the last three years. I think he's ready and qualified."

Gailey arrives handicapped by perception, as would any coach hired by the domineering Jones. He can be charged with compromising basic coaching principles of success. Accepting a staff with a majority already in place ranks as a no-no. Lack of personnel control in the draft and free agency are others.

If Gailey signed for five years at the same $500,000 per-season offer rejected by Terry Donohue, he allowed Jones to low-ball him on the NFL salary scale. If the owner has no more respect for his head coach than to short-sheet him on a contract, will players follow that leader?

How tough is Gailey? That's a big issue, because sooner rather than later, he'll be challenged by a case of sloth or insubordination. That facet of the new man awaits definition and an act of defiance.

There seemed a peek of the Gailey within during one moment of his news conference. Someone asked about the still-vacant offensive coordinator position. Gailey's reply came fixed and firm. "I'm going to handle the offense, no doubt about that. We may have an offensive coordinator in name, but I'll call the plays," he said. It was the way Gailey said it that perked the ear. There was a flash of command and authority in his voice. Keep it up, and Gailey will make a name for himself.

(Frank Luksa is a sports columnist for the Dallas Morning News. Write to him at: Dallas Morning News, Communications Center, Dallas, Texas 75265.)

(c) 1998, The Dallas Morning News.

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