🏈 Is Mike Shula headed back to college?

[BAMANEWSBOT]

The former Alabama head coach is reported to be a lead candidate for the vacancy at East Carolina.

Read More Here...

 

[Bo]

Good Luck to Mike, I hope he gets it and does well. Though, it would not surprise me if he turned it down even if offered. I've always gotten the impression from him the only reason he took the Bama job was because it was his Alma mater.

 

[alagator]

I just get the impression Shula does not have the personality for the college game.

Frankly, I do not get the impression he is willing to work hard enough nor has the professional drive to be a Head Coach at any level. The latter is not intended to be overly critical of him as a person. Many people are content being a Colonel instead of a General - and there is nothing in the world wrong with that being the ceiling of your ego.

I agree with Bo, had his alma mater not offered Shula an opportunity to be a Head Coach it would not have been a surprise if he never filled such a role at the college or professional level. Of course, if he learns he is about to be fired in Jacksonville and the ECU job is offered, he might take it out of the need for a job and income (although our payments to him give him a little wiggle room for another year or three as far as his checkbook is concerned).

 

[BamaDelta]

I get that similar impression gator. I don't know that it has to do with his work "ethic" though. He has what 3 little girls at home? He saw the demands of a head coaching job and what it does to family life. Yes, ECU wouldn't be in the same stratosphere as Alabama but it's still the head job. And with the head job comes being in charge of coaches, players, staff, administrators, etc... It's just a ton of time no matter the location.

He knows both sides and knows he gets paid well for a lot less investment of himself and his family. I don't see the inner drive to have it all. I see him content just having his small piece.

 

[Lyrically_N_Gaged]

He could be a pretty good recruiter, though

 

[psychojoe]

As a player Mike Shula had an enormous amount of competitive fire, just ask ray Perkins or some of his teammates. That fire and leadership in the huddle does not necessarily carry over to a HC position though. Being a competotor, I wonder if he has learned from what went wrong and wants to give it another try. Good luck to him in any case.

 

[alagator]

I get that similar impression gator. I don't know that it has to do with his work "ethic" though. He has what 3 little girls at home? He saw the demands of a head coaching job and what it does to family life. Yes, ECU wouldn't be in the same stratosphere as Alabama but it's still the head job. And with the head job comes being in charge of coaches, players, staff, administrators, etc... It's just a ton of time no matter the location.

He knows both sides and knows he gets paid well for a lot less investment of himself and his family. I don't see the inner drive to have it all. I see him content just having his small piece.

Most of this is why I would be surprised if he took a job at, or at the level of, East Carolina.

Many people correctly state that cutting your teeth at a school like ECU is a good way to learn the job, but I think most people miss why this is so.

It is true there is less pressure at such a school, but the learning experience comes mostly, in my opinion, from the fact the Head Coach at that level has to be even more hands-on than at Alabama, Florida, LSU, Georgia, etc.

At the top-tier schools, the head man has much greater support personnel and resources to succeed. The head man really can just set a series of events in motion and then depend on the layers of people to carry them out. Not so much at a school like ECU. Thus, the head man has to be even more time committed into even minor details. And that is a truly great opportunity to learn how everything works - so you know how to structure your 'process' and hire people competent to implement same.

Actually, I would think Shula would have a learning curve just as steep at ECU as he had at Alabama. Having never devoted the time or attention at Alabama to immerse himself into the everyday detail of what it takes to build a program, and seeing most of it already in place on the day he first walked into the building, I doubt he would have the first-hand experience of what would be necessary at ECU.

I just do not see Shula spending 16-hour days in the office necessary to learn and grown and succeed. Mostly, as you say, because he just does not have the desire to sacrifice his time away from his wife and girls. And if that is his decision, there is nothing wrong with it. I just do not see him willing to "work hard enough" to be the top man giving what he would have to forgo at home.

He can make a pretty good income for life being nothing more than a QB-coach in the NFL and not have to spend months of the year on the road trying to brown-nose 17-year old egomaniacs to come play for him or appear before Joe Billy Bob Dan fan to speak about the upcoming season and how bad he will be their arch-rival. I do not see the drive in Shula to be a teacher of young players and a builder of young men. He just seems more comfortable instructing someone the techniques and skills of how to be a successful player at one position and go home every night to his girls. Nothing wrong with any of that if that is his goal. Just because his last name is "Shula" does not automatically mean he must be the 5-star General of a team or program or organization just because his father was just such a legend.

 

[UAgrad93]

I think Shula is more than content with the pro game. You might see him eventually come back to the college game in 8-10 years but I really think he likes it coaching QBs in the NFL.

 

[ExiledTidefan]

yes, that assistant job in the NFL is a totally different animal than the head coach at a D1-A school. East Carolina, West Carolina, or Up/Down Carolina. He's a better fit as an assistant for Carolina, in the NFL.

But I still have reservations about the way he was shown the door from Tuscaloosa. I've got a great deal of regard for him as an individual, but he sucked as an SEC head coach. WAAAAYYY too big of a job. He gave us some stability while Mal Moore upgraded the facilities.

Speaking of guys with competitive fire...How long before Tim Tebow is the Head Coach or a high ranking Assistant at Florida? Most people who think they know football talent think he's not got all the tools to be successful in the NFL. I don't see him leaving the sport for missions: loves the attention too much. I'd be willing to put money on him taking over in a co-head coach role at UF within 10 years.

 

[tidenumber1]

I think at a smaller school like ECU he would do well. I am sure he has learned from some of his mistakes. He now has head coaching experience.

If he accepts the job or not I wish him the best.

 

[crimsontidecasey]

I love Shula! I hope he takes the ECU job!

 

[PyroNismo2000]

Mike Shula....... 3rd and goal...........FIELD GOAL!!!:td::shock: WTF??:headscratch:

 

[rammerjammer]

Not gonna happen.

ECU hired Ruffin McNeill today to replace Skip.

 

[ElephantStomp]

I'm glad Ruffin got the job. I can't believe he wasn't considered for the TT job. Had ECU hired Shula they could expect at least one thing to happen and that is that the team would be tanked by the time the 4th quarter started.

Cory

 

[Bamsambo]

He's still not HC material so it doesn't matter. Geez.

 

[planomateo]

McNeill a pirate again...kinda fitting in a few ways. good for him.