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In 2003 were you a Croom or Shula advocate?

Posted on 6/10/20 at 3:56 pm
Posted by moester75
Anne Arundel County, MD
Member since Oct 2018
1544 posts
Posted on 6/10/20 at 3:56 pm
After seeing Coach Croom on Finebaum I thought this wold make a decent offseason thread. I’m generation x and I was a serious Croom guy. Coach Bryant’s favorite Center and the recruiting he could have done in Tuscaloosa would have been great to see. It was a win/win for me because they’re both Bama men but I definitely would have preferred Croom.
Posted by pvilleguru
Member since Jun 2009
60453 posts
Posted on 6/10/20 at 4:00 pm to
Had zero opinion. Was just glad someone was willing to come.
This post was edited on 6/10/20 at 4:01 pm
Posted by phil4bama
Emerald Coast of PCB
Member since Jul 2011
11454 posts
Posted on 6/10/20 at 4:03 pm to
Neither. Butch Davis was available and could have probably been talked into the job. Of the two, I would have preferred Croom.
Posted by JustGetItRight
Member since Jan 2012
15710 posts
Posted on 6/10/20 at 4:14 pm to
quote:

Had zero opinion. Was just glad someone was willing to come.


This. We were a shait show.

I will never speak ill of Shula because he was willing to come home with the mess we had.
This post was edited on 6/10/20 at 4:38 pm
Posted by moester75
Anne Arundel County, MD
Member since Oct 2018
1544 posts
Posted on 6/10/20 at 4:24 pm to
quote:

Neither, Butch Davis was available


This is just rumor, but I was told back then by someone that isn’t usually full of dung that Butch Davis was very motivated about coming to Bama but Tubberville and Fulmer got a third party to get word to Davis that we were getting more ncaa heat. Scared Davis away.
Posted by paperwasp
11x HRV tRant Poster of the Week
Member since Sep 2014
22849 posts
Posted on 6/10/20 at 4:32 pm to
quote:

This. We were a shait show.

Remember when Dennis Franchione urged us to "hold the rope?" I was still holding it when he bolted.

Then Mike Price showed up and met his Destiny in Pensacola.

Enter Mike Shula. Like the other posters, I was just happy to have a coach at that point.
Posted by paperwasp
11x HRV tRant Poster of the Week
Member since Sep 2014
22849 posts
Posted on 6/10/20 at 4:34 pm to
quote:

This is just rumor, but I was told back then by someone that isn’t usually full of dung that Butch Davis was very motivated about coming to Bama but Tubberville and Fulmer got a third party to get word to Davis that we were getting more ncaa heat. Scared Davis away.

Really? That's interesting.

Guess it eventually worked out okay.
Posted by PCRammer
1725 Slough Avenue in Scranton, PA
Member since Jan 2014
1446 posts
Posted on 6/10/20 at 4:36 pm to
I was Team Croom. That being said I appreciate MS coming here to get us through those years
Posted by moester75
Anne Arundel County, MD
Member since Oct 2018
1544 posts
Posted on 6/10/20 at 4:43 pm to
Yes I’ll always love Mike Shula as a QB and our HC. He came and helped us when we were in the gutter and gave it his best shot. He almost pulled Tebow too.
Posted by RescueT
Jackson MS
Member since Nov 2019
1441 posts
Posted on 6/10/20 at 4:46 pm to
Ha! Thank goodness he didn’t. May have missed out on Saban. Tebow alone could have won a SEC championship. The man loved competition and thrived when his back was against the wall. Honestly one of my favorite competitors of all time.
Posted by paperwasp
11x HRV tRant Poster of the Week
Member since Sep 2014
22849 posts
Posted on 6/10/20 at 4:53 pm to
quote:

He almost pulled Tebow too

That right there would've been the linchpin that ruined it.

I think if Shula would've pulled Tebow out of Nease (and apparently he was really close), he probably would've gotten another year or two, and we never get Saban.

I believe Shula had wanted to use him similar to a Michael Vick type, whereas Urban Meyer was running a spread offense similar to what Tebow had already had in high school.
Posted by CapstoneGrad06
Little Rock
Member since Nov 2008
72090 posts
Posted on 6/10/20 at 5:01 pm to
I had an art history final that spring semester and the bonus question was who we wanted to replace Mike Price and why? I answered Croom because he had more experience at recruiting. I still stand by it. But he likely lasts longer than Shula and we don’t get Saban. So it worked out for the best.
Posted by CapstoneGrad06
Little Rock
Member since Nov 2008
72090 posts
Posted on 6/10/20 at 5:02 pm to
Butch Davis was after the Alabama job about three times. Beamer at least twice.
Posted by SummerOfGeorge
Member since Jul 2013
102699 posts
Posted on 6/10/20 at 5:07 pm to
As others have said, neither really, though because neither was all that great I leaned towards Croom because of how awesome it would have been to have the first black coach in the SEC at Alabama (and have him be an Alabama - Tuscaloosa guy). But, there was no good option. They were both very similar in that they were NFL guys who hadn't been in college ever or in a long time with Alabama connections who would not have been hired at any other Top 25 program.

I'm glad it was Shula, because firing Croom with Shula's resume NEVER would have worked. It would have been a publicity nightmare.
This post was edited on 6/10/20 at 5:09 pm
Posted by moester75
Anne Arundel County, MD
Member since Oct 2018
1544 posts
Posted on 6/10/20 at 5:12 pm to
SOG you know me in a past life on here buddy and from Volquest. I agree with everything you said but I truly believe Croom would have recruited pretty well even with the ncaa crap. Coach Croom would have killed it in the living rooms and dens with the mamas, dads, and recruits.
Posted by moester75
Anne Arundel County, MD
Member since Oct 2018
1544 posts
Posted on 6/10/20 at 5:12 pm to
Frank Beamer turned us down buddy I’m pretty sure.

ETA: I’m thinking Bama would have taken Davis and Beamer over Shula if what you’re saying is true. Beamer got a nice raise off of us and a bunch of other coaches used us to get pay raises too.
This post was edited on 6/10/20 at 5:19 pm
Posted by Cobrasize
Birmingham
Member since Jun 2013
49680 posts
Posted on 6/10/20 at 5:19 pm to
I didn’t want either, but no one else would take the job. Basically just throw the two names in a hat and whoever you pull out, gets the job.
Posted by imjustafatkid
Alabama
Member since Dec 2011
50184 posts
Posted on 6/10/20 at 5:41 pm to
I wasn't really paying attention back then.
Posted by CapstoneGrad06
Little Rock
Member since Nov 2008
72090 posts
Posted on 6/10/20 at 5:42 pm to
quote:

Frank Beamer turned us down buddy I’m pretty sure.


In 1997 and 2000. But he still had his name out there. That was my point.
Posted by RollTide1987
Augusta, GA
Member since Nov 2009
64877 posts
Posted on 6/10/20 at 5:51 pm to
quote:

Had zero opinion.


Ditto.

After the Mike Price fiasco it wasn't like people were beating down the door to coach Alabama. The only thing I was sure of is the person we did hire would be a sacrificial lamb that would (likely) be fired as soon as we emerged from the other side of probation.

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