Former University of Alabama coach Mike Shula spoke at length today about his dismissal from the Crimson Tide head coaching job back in November of 2006. Shula, quarterbacks coach for the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars, is part of the coaching staff at this year's Senior Bowl in Mobile. Shula is helping coach the South squad, which includes a handful of his former players at UA, most notably quarterback John Parker Wilson.
Executive Sports Editor Tommy Deas reports via Twitter that Shula said, "they told us to move on and we've moved on."
"Any time something like that happens, it's disappointing. But the bottom line is, we've moved on. They told us to move on, and we've moved on ... For me personally, when stuff like that happens, you move on and you sink yourself into the next job," said Shula.
Shula also said that he was happy to see four players he recruited make it to the Senior Bowl. He said that he did not "watch much college football," but that Alabama had obviously had a good season in 2008 to go undefeated in the regular season.
Shula had been hired as the Crimson Tideās football coach on May 4, 2003. The former UA quarterback had a coaching record of 26-23 in four seasons at the Tide helm.
He was given a raise and contract extension at the end of the 2005 season, following a 10-2 year which culminated with a victory in the Cotton Bowl.
However, he came under increasing fire this season as the Crimson Tide slipped to a 6-6 record, including a 2-6 mark in Southeastern Conference play. That included losses to Arkansas, LSU, Tennessee and Auburn, leaving Shula with a 2-14 record against those four annual UA rivals.
