I am a member of, and I'll tell you, I do not understand the pure, unadulterated hatred toward Mike Shula. I mean yes, he was absolutely over his head. Yes, he was a bad coach. Yes, his Daddy beat us up in the media and he did not stop it. Yes, he cost us recruits, games, etc.... I get all that. But he answered a call when no one else would. The people who matter (AD, President of Alabama) knew he had no experience. Yet, they hired him. Mike Shula did not call, they called him. I just wish some of the guys would remember him for what he is and was. A student athlete from the University of Alabama. He may have made poor decisions and idiotic mistakes but he did his best. Is he arrogant and stubborn? Yes. That is apparent. That is the main reason he is gone. He was given a chance to make changes and would not due to some bad advice from Ray Perkins (JMHO). They thought the University would never fire him with the new extension and buy out. So, Mike stuck out his chest and refused to make changes. As in firing coaches. That was his down fall. Loyalty to his assistants. He was given 2 different chances to make changes. Shula said he was not told about his firing when he told his players he would be back. But, the truth be known, Mal Moore had been trying to contact him all day Sunday and Shula avoided him. That is why he was told late at night. Moore personally went and found him and told him. As far as Perkins, he was jockeying for the AD spot someday.
Anyway, Shula came when nobody else would and he brought with him a squeaky clean image. No baggage. That is exactly what Alabama needed. And they knew that. They needed no troubles with the NCAA. Shula did his part. He tried, and did it cleanly (except an occasional F- bomb on national tv). I just wish everyone could let it go and wish him the best. My only regret is that they extended his contract when they should not have. The 10-2 year (2005) was a fluke. Anyone who is honest with himself will admit we won games we probably should have lost. We were extremely fortunate. Everything bounced our way except the Prothro injury. We had no offense what so ever. Terrible. Anyway, just wanted to throw that out there. :?
Anyway, Shula came when nobody else would and he brought with him a squeaky clean image. No baggage. That is exactly what Alabama needed. And they knew that. They needed no troubles with the NCAA. Shula did his part. He tried, and did it cleanly (except an occasional F- bomb on national tv). I just wish everyone could let it go and wish him the best. My only regret is that they extended his contract when they should not have. The 10-2 year (2005) was a fluke. Anyone who is honest with himself will admit we won games we probably should have lost. We were extremely fortunate. Everything bounced our way except the Prothro injury. We had no offense what so ever. Terrible. Anyway, just wanted to throw that out there. :?
:wink:
