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AS OF 12-2-03 --- NOTE:
It is apparent that Denny Creehan is no longer in the
running for the head coaching job at Army. Not only is
Army not going to be a Wing-T team, it is not even certain
that Army will be a running team.
Thanks to the help of those who
wrote in his behalf, Denny has been given consideration, and
Denny asked me to thank those who have supported him. He
said that when he has time he intends to thank everyone who
has written on his behalf.
Time for Plan B. There are
several other positions for which he has applied, and I
believe that we would all like to see him get one of them
and implement the Wing-T. But unlike at Army, where many
people understand the need to run the ball, it is not
necessarily the best approach to try pushing the virtues of
the Wing-T at another college, whose AD may be scared off at
the thought of a grind-it-out offense. (Not that the Wing-T
is a grind-it-out offense - it is as wide-open as it needs
to be - but through personal experience, Denny feels that
it's best to soft-pedal the Wing-T.)
So I plan to write to the places
where Denny has applied, and the thrust of my letter
will be that Denny has the support of a large number of
high school coaches from all corners of the US, coaches
who would definitely be interested in advising kids to play
for him.
It won't be very effective without
proof of support, and that is where you come in. You
don't have to write anything - just let me know ASAP if we
can use your name as a signatory on the letter. I'd like
to shoot for a minimum of 100 high school coaches' names.
(Your signature matters. If there is not a strong
show of support, there's no sense in writing a
letter.)
If you wish to sign on, send
your name, your position, your school and its location to
coachwyatt@aol.com
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Denny
Creehan, nationally-known expert on the Wing-T, is now
on the coaching staff at West Point, and he has an outside shot at
the now-vacant head coaching position there. The Army program is now
one of only three Division I-A teams that have yet to post a win in
2003, and a major reason is its offense - the former coach was a
spread-it-out and open-it-up offensive guy. As a result, Army now
ranks dead last in rushing among the nation's Division I-A teams,
with an average per game of just 59.6 yards. After eight games, Army
is not yet halfway to 1,000 yards rushing as a team.
Apart from what Denny Creehan and the Wing-T could do for the
Army program, I believe it is in our best interests as
Wing-T/Double-Wing coaches to have a major college program leading
the way for us. If nothing else, it could be an answer to the
knuckleheads who keep asking, "How come no colleges run your
offense?"
It also would be a lot of fun to watch Army show people that
our old-fashioned offense still wins games. I have spoken with Denny
and after spending six of the last seven seasons on the defensive
side of the ball, he is as convinced as ever that the Wing-T will win
at the Division I-A level.
Many of you already know Denny Creehan from his tapes and
clinics. Many of you have told me how helpful he has been to you.
Now, it's time to do something for him. The important task at this
point is to get Denny into the minds of the people at West Point as a
viable candidate.
For that reason, I've asked coaches if they would be willing to
write to the Superintendent of the United States Military Academy,
Lieutenant General William Lennox, in the hope that as he conducts
his search for a new head coach he will give consideration to Coach
Creehan.
What follows is information to assist anyone who wishes to
write on Denny's behalf.
Denny Creehan- Professional
Resume
Born 1949, Pittsburgh PA
Education: BS Edinboro University 1971; MS
Duquesne University 1973; M.Ed., HPER, Univ of Pittsburgh
1977
Coaching Experience (33 years)
Army - 2003 - Special Teams Coach
(D-IA)
Duke - 2001-2002 - Inside Linebackers/Special
Teams (D-IA)
Rutgers - 1998-2000 - Defensive Coordinator
(D-IA)
Arkansas State - 1997 - Defensive Coordinator
(D-IA)
South Dakota - 1992-1996 - Head Coach
(D-IAA)
Edmonton Eskimos - 1991 - Special Teams
(Pro)
San Francisco State - 1990-1991 - Head Coach
(D-II)
California - 1987-1989 - Special Teams
(D-IA)
Edmonton Eskimos - 1985-1986 - Special Teams
(Pro)
Edinboro University - 1979-1985 - Head Coach
(D-II)
Edinboro University - 1976-1978 - Defensive
Coordinator (D-II)
Carnegie-Mellon University - 1975 - Offensive
Coordinator (D-III)
University of Pittsburgh - 1974 - Graduate
Assistant (D-IA)
Keystone Oaks HS - Pittsburgh - 1971-1973 -
Assistant coach
Family: wife, Linda, sons Kevin, professor
at Virginia tech and Casey, assistant football coach at James Madison
U.
For
more on Denny Creehan
--------------------------------------------------
Writing to the Superintendent:
You are, of course, free to write anything you wish, but in the
event that you might find it useful, I have included a number of
ideas that you may feel free to use.
ABOVE ALL -- PLEASE DO NOT JUST CUT AND
PASTE! PEOPLE ARE SMART ENOUGH TO RECOGNIZE "BOILER PLATE" - WORDING
THAT IS THE SAME FROM LETTER TO LETTER - AND YOUR EFFORT WILL BE
WASTED.
The correct e-mail address is
yj7298@usma.edu
For those wishing to use conventional mail, the correct address
is:
Lieutenant General William J. Lennox, Jr.
Superintendent
United States Military Academy
West Point, NY 10996-5000
Your "subject" line should be something on the order of ---
For General Lennox: re Dennis Creehan; or General Lennox: concerning
Denny Creehan; or Recommending Denny Creehan to LTG Lennox; or
Recommending Dennis Creehan for Head Coach; or General Lennox: Head
Football Coach
(Remember that you are writing to the Superintendent of the United
States Military Academy, and you are addressing a person who is
accustomed to formality. Do NOT address him by his first name, and do
not say "Hi.")
The only appropriate way to address him is---
Dear General Lennox:
Next- tell him briefly who you are --- ("I am a football
coach in the state of Alabama...")
Tell him briefly why you are writing ---
("I am writing to try to persuade you to look closely at Denny
Creehan as your next head football coach." or "I am writing because I
believe that Denny Creehan could be the man to turn the Army program
around." Etc., etc. - you get the idea.)
Tell him why you believe a running offense is best for
Army, or for a service academy:
Pick a few - MIX UP THE ORDER AND DON'T CUT AND
PASTE
1. A running team is tougher. By its nature, it is more aggressive
than a passing team. It plays a more physical game on both sides of
the ball. It forces skilled opponents to play a more physical game
than they might like.
2. A running team can keep the score close. It can control the
ball, keeping it out of the hands of more skilled opponents.
3. A running team is unusual, and causes unique preparation
problems for opponents.
4. A running team has access to a different and largely untapped -
talent pool from the one which most teams recruit from. Many
academically-qualified players who are overlooked by passing teams
can be outstanding players in a run-oriented program.
Tell him why you believe the Wing-T is a good choice of running
offense:
Again - pick a few - MIX UP THE ORDER AND DON'T CUT AND
PASTE
1. It has everything you need in an offense
Power
Misdirection
Option
Play Action Passes
Roll Out Passes
Drop Back Passes
2. It takes away defensive aggressiveness by creating conflicts in
defensive responsibilties
3. It is adjustable to the talent you have on hand
4. It depends on a relatively small number of plays executed to
perfection
5. It depends on only having to teach one set of assignments that
work against any defense
6. There is a play-action pass for every major running play
7. It is sequence football. One play sets up another.
8. It is fun for all the offensive players, and not just the ones
who throw and catch.
9. Few opponents ever see it, which creates a problem for them in
preparing to play you.
10. There is an enormous number of high school teams around the
United States running variations of the Wing-T who would immediately
be in your camp and interested in your success.
Tell him why you think West Point should consider Denny
Creehan
Again - pick a few - MIX UP THE ORDER AND DON'T CUT AND
PASTE
1. He is widely-known and unmatched as an expert on the
Wing-T.
2. He is a proven leader. He has head coaching experience at
Edinboro (PA), San Francisco State and South Dakota.
3. He has college or professional experience in all phases of the
game - in addition to his offensive expertise, he has worked as a
defensive coordinator and as a special teams coach.
4. He has experience coaching at schools with high academic
standards - at Duke, as well as West Point.
5. He is currently on the staff at Army, and has a basic
understanding of and respect for the unique culture of West
Point.
6. He is nationally-known and respected. As a result of his Wing-T
clinics and materials, he has a national following of high school and
youth coaches.
Summarize--- Tell him that you believe that Army should
commit to a running offense, that the Wing-T is ideal for West Point,
and that Denny Creehan, a man who is already on the West Point staff,
would be a good man for the job.
Tell him that you hope he'll be given consideration.
Thank him and sign off "Sincerely," or "Respectfully,"
IMPORTANT: Sign your full name,
followed by your mailing address and your phone
number.
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After you have sent your e-mail to
General Lennox, it would be a good idea to send me a separate copy
(do not carbon-copy me at the same time you send your
letter to the General), because the day may come when Coach
Creehan may want to thank you for your support.
Hugh Wyatt
coachwyatt@aol.com