Actually questions began about Shula after his first season. He came in in late spring and didn't have much time to prepare so 03 was pretty much a write off. A probation riddled program with a coach who didn't have spring training, you kind of have to get a pass for that season.

His back was against the wall for sure but he was brought in after the 03 season and told he needed to upgrade his coaching staff. He had questionable coaches( Radar I think was selling cars, Felker had failed at MSU, Kines was never considered a good defensive mind by any stretch. Shula said no he needed continuity at the time and he was probably right. It happened again after the 04 season and again Shula pushed back.THis time he was told you better make it work or it will be you. Needless to say after blowout losses to Auburn and State in 06 his coaches weren't getting it done.
THen he digs his grave after Auburn in 06 by saying maybe he hasn't been doing it right and needs to take a look at his staff and how he does things. Weights weren't even an organized, mandatory event with him. With numbers being down we had to do things perfectly. It's not why did he win so little. I'm shocked we won as much as we did. This Arky game was a microcosm of his career. I believe he was 1-3 against the hogs. Again, he didn't have the numbers Arky did but some of the decicions in those games were horrific.
He's a pro guy anyway. Brought up around pro ball. I could be mistaken but I think after he was done playing at Bama he never set foot on the campus again until he was named head coach.