*IF* they were going to make a change, they made it at the only possible time. AU coaches had a come-to-the-lord meeting with the powerbrokers after the UA-AU game and it leaked out. If the decision had already been made to axe Lovett and Mazzone -- I contend it was made before the bowl, but the coaches could have earned a reprieve and didn't -- then waiting until after signing day would have simply allowed rumors to fester over the course of the recruiting season. This news hurts them in the short term, but there is enough time to repair the damage especially if they hire some big names within the next 7-10 days.
The Spurrier resignation will hurt them a little, as practically any coach would prefer the situation in Gainesville to the morass that awaits any coach heading to a job at AU under the current state of that program. On the other hand, they are helped by every day Alabama doesn't receive its judgment from the NCAA.
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Jess Nicholas
Editor-In-Chief
TideFans.com