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Tuna vs. Salmon in playoff matchup Coughlin faces mentor Parcells in game neither wants to play
Posted: Saturday January 09, 1999 03:48 PM
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J (AP) -- If Bill Parcells is commonly known as "Tuna" in these parts, what does that make protege Tom Coughlin in northern Florida? "The Mackerel?" Jacksonville defensive tackle John Jurkovic said. "The Coho? Tommy 'Coho' Coughlin. He could be a salmon, I think. The Coho is a tough fish." The Tuna-Salmon matchup will be, uh, uncanned on Sunday when Parcells' New York Jets meet the Jaguars in an AFC playoff game. Coughlin came to prominence as the wide receivers coach for Parcells with the New York Giants, winning the Super Bowl after the 1990 season. He then left for Boston College even before Parcells temporarily retired, and from there was hired to build the Jaguars in 1994 and coach them when they entered the league the following year. Coughlin has had Parcells-like success leading his team. The Jaguars made the AFC Championship game in '96, their second year -- they lost to the New England Patriots in the first installment of Parcells vs. Coughlin -- and the playoffs the next two seasons. That includes winning the AFC Central for the first time this season. Coughlin came highly recommended when he first met with Parcells about the Giants' job. "We sat and talked for a while, and after 15 minutes, I knew I liked him," Parcells said. "He fought his way, came up the hard way, played with [Larry] Csonka and [Floyd] Little at Syracuse, then started his own program at Rochester Tech. He paid his dues as a coach, had some hard times as an assistant coach. "He is my kind of guy; we are not unlike each other in terms of what we think about football." Coughlin also noticed that attribute almost immediately when they met at the Senior Bowl. "I had to tell him who I was," Coughlin said, laughing. "He described what he was looking for, was very organized in his ability to express his thoughts. We was able to grasp very quickly what he wanted and what my thoughts were." The pair stayed in contact while Coughlin was coaching at Boston College, particularly in 1993, the first year Parcells coached at New England. Parcells would take in some BC practices, perhaps offer some thoughts. "I don't mind saying I'm very proud to have been in his company in the short three-year period I was with the Giants," said Coughlin, who is 0-2 against Parcells in head-to-head matchups. "He's someone I talk to occasionally with things that are on my mind, and I know it will not go any further. He's always been a great influence on me, given me good advice. "When the Jaguars' job was open to me, I talked with him at great length. He gave me solid advice." There won't be any advice coming from Parcells this week. Nor will there be much reminiscing. Parcells, who has done as remarkable a job turning around the Jets as Coughlin has done turning an expansion team into a Super Bowl contender so quickly, admits he doesn't like these encounters. "I'd rather we didn't have to do this," he said. "This happens in this industry. If we can't win, then there isn't anybody I'd rather see win than him. "Tom's a guy I have an awful lot of respect for and I like him personally. We believe in a lot of the same things. He has built his team his own way, not in any way a reflection from his association with me. I learned some things from him and he from me. "I am pleased he has done well. It is a team I have always followed with interest." Particularly this week.
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