Cutcliffe learned at feet of the Bear

DURHAM, N.C. -- After a rewarding career at once storied Banks High School in Birmingham, Ala., David Cutcliffe pondered his football future.

He could accept a scholarship from one of several small colleges or go to Alabama and work as a student assistant on legendary coach Bear Bryant's staff.

Cutcliffe -- who became Duke's new head coach last month-- figured four years with the Bear would be best for a kid harboring lofty coaching aspirations.

Life had already dealt him a hard knock. When he was 15, Cutcliffe's father died unexpectedly. His high school coaches, notably Shorty White, became influential figures Cutcliffe wanted to emulate.

"At age 16 I knew I wanted to coach," Cutcliffe said, reflecting on those days recently while sitting in his office overlooking Wallace Wade Stadium. "I wanted to be like those men who were important to me at a critical time in my life. And I wanted to be like Paul (Bear) Bryant. I thought Coach Bryant hung the moon."

Cutcliffe, a wide receiver, tight end, defensive back and backup quarterback in high school, knew football when he arrived at Alabama. He would learn much more studying Tide tapes, going to practice, absorbing the Wishbone offense and various defenses.

"I learned more of what it was to be a football coach during that era than at any time in my life... I had a tremendous experience," said Cutcliffe, who also saw the value of organization from observing Bryant. "People used to wonder what he did in that tower (at practice). He saw everything. His attention to detail and practice planning were outstanding."

Cutcliffe clipped pages from the Alabama book, took them back to Banks High, where he worked first as an assistant, then had a successful stint as head coach.

While guiding his old high school, former Tennessee coach Johnny Majors dropped by to check on prospects and was impressed with the way Cutcliffe conducted practices.

That led to a graduate assistant's position with the Vols for $7,500 a year, but meant selling his Cadillac to make ends meet. Single at the time and a tireless worker, Cutcliffe tackled the job with the fervor he still exudes at age 53.

Soon he became a full-time assistant, then offensive coordinator and an acclaimed quarterbacks coach who helped develop quarterbacks such as NFL stars Peyton Manning, Eli Manning and Tennessee's standout quarterback last year, Erik Ainge.

His 19 years at Tennessee were sandwiched around reviving a slumping Ole Miss program, resulting in four bowls trips and a 44-29 record.

He has helped show that a coach who didn't play football in college can make it as a college coach, just as former N.C. State coach Dick Sheridan, Notre Dame's Charlie Weis and others have.

But it's not the norm.

"I never had an inferiority complex (about not having played in college)," Cutcliffe said. "If a coach has knowledge, the players realize you can help them, and that you are sincere, you will have the respect."

Cutcliffe's football coaching book would perplex even some Phi Beta Kappa students at Duke. It's thicker than a dictionary and infinitely detailed. In a separate book, Cutcliffe has recorded every snap at Ole Miss, including practices.

But there is more substance in his system than schemes, scouting reports and game plans. Cutcliffe stresses faith, family, futures (preparing for post-college life) and football to his players.

While the job is demanding, Cutcliffe has long been convinced he chose the right profession, a belief he says was reinforced after reading "The Purpose Driven Life."

"I was intended to do this," he said in his folksy, sincere way. "At 15 I needed a coach. Somewhere along the line I knew I was going to be that coach to other young men at a time that was critical in their lives. Hopefully, I've been able to scratch the surface."

(Contact A.J. Carr at aj.carr@newsobserver.com.)

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)