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Just watched a great story done by AL.com on Mike Shula
Posted on 8/24/23 at 7:31 pm
Posted on 8/24/23 at 7:31 pm
and his time at Bama on YouTube.
Bama had been hammered with sanctions in 2002. No bowl for 2 years and a reduction in 23 scholarships. NOBODY and I mean NOBODY wanted a dead end job that would last until 2009. It came down to 3 guys. Richard Williamson, Sylvester and Mike. None of those guys would be on a list of 200 candidates today but he took a job that was a no win. He probably even knew he wouldn't succeed.
The impressive part is that he did 2 things. he got Bama out of the headlines (for the wrong reasons) and brought in a nucleus of what would become bringing back Bama to being Bama. John Parker Wilson, Greg McElroy, Glen Coffee, Rashad Johnson, Mike Johnson, Andre Smith, Javier Arenas, Dj Hall, Keith Brown, Nakita Stover to name a few. Now, he wasn't gonna turn these players into elite guys but he had an eye for talent. He should have beaten Auburn in 05 and 06 and didn't and that's on him but the eye for talent can't be denied. He just didn't have the scholarships. Mike took the job when the UCF coach, Ga Tech coach, Va Tech coach and Wake Forest coach turned us down (for good reason). I know we honor national title teams at halftime of games but I would hope one day we bring back Mike, who got the program turned back in the right direction and built a nucleus of players that would help Bama become Bama again. It took balls to take that job at that time when you were gonna play with one hand tied behind your back.
Bama had been hammered with sanctions in 2002. No bowl for 2 years and a reduction in 23 scholarships. NOBODY and I mean NOBODY wanted a dead end job that would last until 2009. It came down to 3 guys. Richard Williamson, Sylvester and Mike. None of those guys would be on a list of 200 candidates today but he took a job that was a no win. He probably even knew he wouldn't succeed.
The impressive part is that he did 2 things. he got Bama out of the headlines (for the wrong reasons) and brought in a nucleus of what would become bringing back Bama to being Bama. John Parker Wilson, Greg McElroy, Glen Coffee, Rashad Johnson, Mike Johnson, Andre Smith, Javier Arenas, Dj Hall, Keith Brown, Nakita Stover to name a few. Now, he wasn't gonna turn these players into elite guys but he had an eye for talent. He should have beaten Auburn in 05 and 06 and didn't and that's on him but the eye for talent can't be denied. He just didn't have the scholarships. Mike took the job when the UCF coach, Ga Tech coach, Va Tech coach and Wake Forest coach turned us down (for good reason). I know we honor national title teams at halftime of games but I would hope one day we bring back Mike, who got the program turned back in the right direction and built a nucleus of players that would help Bama become Bama again. It took balls to take that job at that time when you were gonna play with one hand tied behind your back.
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Posted on 8/24/23 at 9:37 pm to TouchdownTony
Posted on 8/24/23 at 9:44 pm to TouchdownTony
Given the sanctions and that he had a 10 win season in 2005, it was controversial at the time to let him go, especially given than Saban wasn't a slam dunk. Some even compared it to Nebraska's firing of Frank Solich from a few years before.
Posted on 8/24/23 at 9:52 pm to Draconian Sanctions
Lost me at great Mike Shula
Posted on 8/24/23 at 10:15 pm to TouchdownTony
Shula was definitely the guy who agreed to come in and fall on the sword while Bama was under sanctions, and I think he did an admirable job with what he had to work with. If I'm not mistaken Bama was playing some walk ons on the DL during his tenure. I was at the LSU/Bama game Saban's first year and you could tell during warm ups there was no comparison between the talent of the two teams. Saban still managed to keep it close.
Posted on 8/24/23 at 10:21 pm to TouchdownTony
quote:
NOBODY and I mean NOBODY
I’d swear I’ve seen you in a dental office waiting room…..just joking
Posted on 8/24/23 at 10:28 pm to Draconian Sanctions
quote:
Given the sanctions and that he had a 10 win season in 2005, it was controversial at the time to let him go, especially given than Saban wasn't a slam dunk. Some even compared it to Nebraska's firing of Frank Solich from a few years before.
Yes, it was really controversial for fans of other teams. They didn't want Alabama to have a coach like Saban because they cared for Alabama.
They wanted Alabama to have a good coach, not a hired mercenary that could never put down roots. He only stayed at Toledo for one year, for God's sake. His stints at Michigan State and LSU were only for four years a piece.
And, he was a liar. He said he wasn't going to be the coach at Alabama and then he became the coach at Alabama. That made him a liar and therefore not a good person.
Fans of other SEC teams and 100% of the analysts and commentators and personalities on ESPN, etc... were just looking out for Alabama because they wanted us to be good again and they knew in their hearts that Saban wasn't the one to help Alabama. He would not last over a single season, maybe two. I mean, look at how he did poor Miami.
And, frankly, he may not last at Alabama because Bammer fans are just too irrational and hick and who the frick really wants to live or work anywhere close to a slum town like Tuscaloosa?
This is probably his last season. So, the joke is on Bama fans after-all.
Posted on 8/24/23 at 10:34 pm to Draconian Sanctions
quote:
Given the sanctions and that he had a 10 win season in 2005, it was controversial at the time to let him go, especially given than Saban wasn't a slam dunk. Some even compared it to Nebraska's firing of Frank Solich from a few years before.
I don't remember much love for him. That ten win season was the only winning season right?
Posted on 8/24/23 at 10:51 pm to TouchdownTony
Interesting story however I was not aware or maybe just don't remember bama trying to hire George O'leary. Auburn pursued him but don't remember bama going after him.
Posted on 8/24/23 at 11:32 pm to TouchdownTony
One thing about those Shula teams is they were always outmanned but played their asses off. I don’t remember them ever getting just destroyed.
Posted on 8/25/23 at 12:20 am to JackieTreehorn
quote:
One thing about those Shula teams is they were always outmanned but played their asses off. I don’t remember them ever getting just destroyed.
Not that many Alabama fans seriously disliked Shula, in my opinion. It was simply time for a change. How many times can a team heart-breakingly lose in the 4th quarter?
Posted on 8/25/23 at 12:28 am to JackieTreehorn
The thought of Sylvester Croom as the head coach at Alabama is insane to me. He still fully believes he should’ve gotten the job and has alluded to his belief that him not getting it was a race thing. But that would have been an abject disaster, kinda like it was when he was at State.
I know that Croom beating Shula in ‘06 was basically the final nail in Shula’s coffin. But Croom just flat out sucked. Never had a single offense to finish in the Top 100, and the embarrassing losses State had in that era are way too many to count.
I know that Croom beating Shula in ‘06 was basically the final nail in Shula’s coffin. But Croom just flat out sucked. Never had a single offense to finish in the Top 100, and the embarrassing losses State had in that era are way too many to count.
Posted on 8/25/23 at 12:32 am to SECWizard
Mike Sheila was a huge piece of shite and 2003 was easily the worst HC job I have ever seen. Thank God he was the end of we gotta hire a bammer man. He literally hid and avoided Mal Moore for 2 days in Nov 2006 so he couldn't fire him. Junior Soprano used to talk about his sisters count....That was Mike Sheila.
Posted on 8/25/23 at 1:44 am to skipjackbama
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Mike Sheila was a huge piece of shite
Are you retard?
Posted on 8/25/23 at 2:16 am to TouchdownTony
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He should have beaten Auburn in 05
The year Alabama allowed 11 sacks?
I realize the final score was “closer” (10 points thanks to a very late TD and 2 pt conversion) because Tubs called off the dogs at halftime on offense, as he liked to do, but Auburn beat Alabama’s arse that day up and down the field.
Mike Shula could’ve won in 2006, and Alabama put up a great fight in 2004, but in 2005 the game was over as soon as Chris Capps started as one of your offensive tackles.
Posted on 8/25/23 at 2:52 am to skipjackbama
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skipjackbama
You are a Finebaum caller, aren't you?
Posted on 8/25/23 at 7:34 am to jonnyanony
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I don't remember much love for him. That ten win season was the only winning season right?
2003 4-9
2004 6-6
2005 10-2
2006 6-7 (didn’t coach bowl game)
Posted on 8/25/23 at 7:36 am to Cocotheape
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the game was over as soon as Chris Capps started as one of your offensive tackles.
Bucket Step Bob. He’s still coaching OL at Northern Arizona or someplace similar.
Posted on 8/25/23 at 7:39 am to TouchdownTony
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I know we honor national title teams at halftime of games but I would hope one day we bring back Mike, who got the program turned back in the right direction and built a nucleus of players that would help Bama become Bama again.
I can't help but believe that part of this reminiscing has to do with Mike Shula the QB. He was a fan favorite. He orchestrated 2 of the best comebacks in BAMA folklore against Georgia and of course "The Kick" vs the barners.
But as a head coach, he frustrated me to no end. Just turn the offense over to someone who has a clue. Instead, we get the neverending Jumbo Package and are beaten by our main rivals just because we have no imagination.
If Mike Shula doesn't come back to the Capstone, it's because he chooses not to. Having a day for him, we might as well have a day for Mike Dubose too. He beat Florida twice in '99' and won the SEC.
Posted on 8/25/23 at 7:39 am to Cocotheape
quote:
Tubs called off the dogs at halftime on offense
Classic Senator Tubs. He made me so angry not destroying teams when he could’ve.
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