Page 49 - Wallingford Magazine Issue 52 Winter 2025

Mike Cavanaugh

witnesses at the restaurant that fea-
tured the Owls in Milford, no longer
open. I was in my forties, Shane was
18.

Both Shane and I felt that this was an
important lesson in Blair’s life. Mike Cavanaugh and his
The list of Division II schools includ- grandson Khari
ed Murray State of Kentucky, and
Ferris State, Alma. I can’t keep track. Staying with the color scheme, when
Mike’s brother John Cavanaugh, a the Chargers let go of June Jones,
basketball coach, has hoodies from he took Mike with him to the Rain-
all these schools. bow Warriors. It was football in par-
adise-four bowl games in six years.
In 1997 Laurie Cavanaugh’s broth- For some reason, teams like play-
er Kevin Gilbride became the head ing in Hawaii. In 1999, the Rainbow
coach of the San Diego Chargers. Warriors beat Oregon State at the
Mike Cavanaugh was assistant line Oahu Bowl.
Mike Cavanaugh and his coach and director of quality control.
kids and friends The significance of that victory was
Kevin Gilbride was let go by the that Cavanaugh’s next stop would be
From there he was the offensive line Chargers on October 14th. June Oregon State. Oregon State under
coach at Wesleyan in Middletown. Jones took over the Chargers with head coach Michael Riley’s direction
He was offensive coordinator at Sa- Gilbride’s departure. was like a family. Mike and Laurie
cred Heart of Bridgeport. spent ten years at Oregon State.

It is important to note that some- While at the El Paso Sun Bowl, I dis-
times a missing ingredient in foot- covered that Laurie needed a kidney
ball is heart. transplant. Danny Langsdorf, Oregon
In 1982 he met the love of his life, State’s offensive coordinator, donat-
Laurie Gilbride of North Haven. Their ed his. He said, “We ask our players
first date was in January 1983. to sacrifice, so I am setting an exam-
ple.”
They have two tremendous sons.
Shane, 37, married to Vyonnah, and Recently I was able to talk to Mike.
they have grandson Khari Michael He graciously thanked me for telling
Cavanaugh who does a supreme his story. He said, “It has been quite
impression of an elephant. Blair Ca- a ride!” I asked him if there were any
vanaugh is 31 now. He is the special pro players he coached that I could
teams coordinator at San Antonio, speak with. Mike told me to call
Texas. Sorry ladies, but Blair is en- Andy Levjtre. I called the fifteen year
gaged to the lovely Morgan Drake. pro player. He was a perfect gentle-
man. After we spoke I called Mike
Let it be known that many years ago Mike Cavanaugh & his wife and told him with Tarn’s permission
Shane and I taught Blair and one Laurie we need to do a two-part story. So,
of the Gilbrides a lesson in com- see you next issue.
petition. We kicked their butts in a Mike Cavanaugh had gone from the
two-on-two basketball game. Blair V.N.H. Chargers to the San Diego
will deny that happened but I have Chargers. Color blue and gold.

WallingfordMag.com 49