Legendary teams at Furman with a championship
Dick Sheridan, former NC State and Furman coach, dies at 81 - ESPN
Dick Sheridan, former NC State and Furman coach, dies at 81 - ESPN
Dick Sheridan gone at 81
- Thread starter Prestonyte
- Start date
And one of the most hurtful championship game losses in the history of college football versus Erk Russell and Georgia Southern. Sheridan professed never to be able to watch the video of that game.
He moved to N.C. State where he came to be considered one of the hottest coaching prospects in the country, and was so regarded when he turned us down flat, but to be fair, he also turned down Georgia.
N.C. State was his self-imposed ceiling. He established his comfort zone and stayed in it. He remained at N.C. State until 1993, resigning for what he described as health reasons, and went to the beach. I'd rate him as outstanding but not transcendent.
Guess, one might add former jawja coach to that too
I’ll have to make some phone calls to get the story straight on his championship team stopping on the side of the road to eat homemade sandwiches.
As a Wofford grad I always appreciated Sheridan’s integrity and sportsmanship. He was an excellent coach and a better human being.
When we played Furman in 1976 Art Baker was the head coach. They beat us 56-14. If that wasn’t bad enough Baker tacked on an in your face TD with under a minute to play, then ran a fake to score a 2pt conversion AND kicked an onsides kick which they recovered. They then attempted 4 passes trying to score again. Wofford players and coaches were livid and there was almost a brawl.
The next year in Spartanburg, we upset them 13-7 and there was almost another brawl. Game probably sealed the deal on Baker leaving to go to Citadel.
The next year Sheridan was the head coach and he went out of his way to patch up the animosity. They beat us 36-12 but the cheap shots stopped and it all was about football. He never beat Wofford again
When we played Furman in 1976 Art Baker was the head coach. They beat us 56-14. If that wasn’t bad enough Baker tacked on an in your face TD with under a minute to play, then ran a fake to score a 2pt conversion AND kicked an onsides kick which they recovered. They then attempted 4 passes trying to score again. Wofford players and coaches were livid and there was almost a brawl.
The next year in Spartanburg, we upset them 13-7 and there was almost another brawl. Game probably sealed the deal on Baker leaving to go to Citadel.
The next year Sheridan was the head coach and he went out of his way to patch up the animosity. They beat us 36-12 but the cheap shots stopped and it all was about football. He never beat Wofford again
Sad...he was a successful HS coach at O-W before getting on a FU. He made Furman a powerhouse in the SoCon.
Sad to hear. I saw him at lunch with his brother in law and niece several times over the past few months. He was always pleasant and friendly to me. He always seemed like a good, decent man who was a gentleman and a class act. He comes from a very nice family.
Georgia offered him the head coach job after Dooley and he was set to take the job until Georgia gave him the list of assistant coaches he had to retain from Dooley's staff. He told them he couldn't turn his back on his assistants and he walked away.
Georgia offered him the head coach job after Dooley and he was set to take the job until Georgia gave him the list of assistant coaches he had to retain from Dooley's staff. He told them he couldn't turn his back on his assistants and he walked away.
That’s real integrity. Always hoped he would land with us but I guess the timing was never right. Frankly, I admire it when a coach finds his niche and is happy at that job. Kinda like the current Wake Forrest coach. He’s happy where he is and does a great job given Wake’s limitations.
I will say this in a professional manner. Dick Sheridan was an outstanding football coach. That will never be denied. Well the reasons he left N.C. State was health reasons. Just say there is more to the story that should or ever will be known. I will leave it at. RIP Dick Sheridan.
I played for Coach Sheridan in 1984 and was part of that 1985 team that lost Georgia Southern at the Tacamo Dome. That 1985 team was truly something special. We just couldn't buy a "stop" in that game. Coach was a truly great person, coach and motivator. I am sure every former player says that the coaches really cared about the players, but he and the staff he put together truly did. To show how deep his coaching roots go, Clay Hendrix, the current head coach at Furman, played on those teams.
