Six years ago, folks couldn't stand Mike Shula. Two national championships and 5 straight 10-win seasons later, folks say he did the best he could.
Let's don't overlook the fact that Bama made Shula a relatively wealthy man. Tell me another job where "it doesn't work out" and you walk away with several million.Mike Shula is a good man. He came back to his University when they needed someone and not many were willing to jump into the fire. For that, I'll always be grateful for his willingness to assume control of the reins and lead the team for several years. It was unfortunate that it didn't work out. I think we all wanted Mike to succeed at Alabama.
It happens every year in college football and several just in the past few weeks:Let's don't overlook the fact that Bama made Shula a relatively wealthy man. Tell me another job where "it doesn't work out" and you walk away with several million.
I was here throughoutNo, no, no, no, no....
Shula did not do the best he could with a bad situation.
EDIT: I won't belabor the point and Lord knows I"m glad we have CNS, but Shula did a mediocre job at best, even under the circumstances. Search the archives on this site for more information on that point.
EXACTLY!!!I don't really think it shows good taste to celebrate the firing of someone, especially a loyal Bama alum and athlete. Let's celebrate the day CNS was hired instead. :frown:
should have left it up, it was a good postNever mind. I best not comment here.
It's been a tough week at work. I let that emotion guide my comments and judgement in this thread at a time when we should be looking forward to Saturday's game. It was a better post for the offseason, if it all. There's a lot of water that's passed under the bridge since Coach Bryant died. Now is not the time to instigate discourse among certain factions of Alabama fans (at least by me). Thanks for your kind words, though.should have left it up, it was a good post
I never get tired of watching the replay of that drive. Jelks got out of bounds, then Al Bell on the double reverse, and finally, miraculously, Richardson made it to the sideline after catching the ball in the middle of the field. Shula had to be perfect to get Tiffin in range, and he was.Bama has had very few, if any, QBs that could have done what he did that night. Most recently, McCarron, as great as he has been for Bama, could not do it very late against the barn after McElroy went down in the 2010 game.
Mike Shula, laying flat of his back after being sacked on his own 12 yard line, called his final time out with 38 seconds left. Then, facing 2nd and 18 at the 12 with, as said, no time outs, picked himself up and went and won the football game. There is about a snowball's chance of any QB doing that under those circumstances. That too is the Mike Shula I remember. Just like it was yesterday!
I don't know of any fan that would say Shula's tenure was a success, by any measure. However, some of you act like he personally let you down and should be tarred and feathered, burned at the stake, etc., such that we're even commemorating the day he was fired. That kind of attitude is a shining example of the kinds of things that are wrong in sports. :mad2:Maybe in a decade or two people will finally be able to admit what a colossal failure Shula was and stop apologizing for him.
The only thing "wrong" with it is people taking it so personally. There's absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to be better and constantly attempting to move your program/team/self up the ladder of success in sports, or life for that matter. I'd say being complacent and settling for mediocrity in our program was a large part of the problem in the years after Coach Stallings left (and the years between CPB and CGS). As a fan base, we moaned and gnashed our teeth, but the PTB didn't have a sense of urgency that they were able to translate into a good enough hire. It wasn't until MM managed to secure CNS that I was convinced that UA finally understood that you cannot rest on the laurels of your past successes because, other than fond memories, it means absolutely nothing in terms of present success.I don't know of any fan that would say Shula's tenure was a success, by any measure. However, some of you act like he personally let you down and should be tarred and feathered, burned at the stake, etc., such that we're even commemorating the day he was fired. That kind of attitude is a shining example of the kinds of things that are wrong in sports. :mad2:
He received a raise and contract extension a few months before he was fired. Someone apparently thought he was more than a colossal failure. http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/sec/2006-05-03-alabama-shula-contract_x.htmMaybe in a decade or two people will finally be able to admit what a colossal failure Shula was and stop apologizing for him.
That was four months after finishing 10-2 because of a great defense and senior leadership.He received a raise and contract extension a few months before he was fired. Someone apparently thought he was more than a colossal failure. http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/sec/2006-05-03-alabama-shula-contract_x.htm
Funny thing about this "loyal Bama alum," he never saw fit to set foot back on campus after graduating until Bama waved $900,000 at him.I don't really think it shows good taste to celebrate the firing of someone, especially a loyal Bama alum and athlete. Let's celebrate the day CNS was hired instead. :frown:
Bama has had very few, if any, QBs that could have done what he did that night. Most recently, McCarron, as great as he has been for Bama, could not do it very late against the barn after McElroy went down in the 2010 game.
Mike Shula, laying flat of his back after being sacked on his own 12 yard line, called his final time out with 38 seconds left. Then, facing 2nd and 18 at the 12 with, as said, no time outs, picked himself up and went and won the football game. There is about a snowball's chance of any QB doing that under those circumstances. That too is the Mike Shula I remember. Just like it was yesterday!
And you know that because you have a house just outside the entrance to the campus and you monitor all the comings and goings? The truth is you don't really have any idea, nor do I. People come and go around this country all the time, that's one of the freedoms we enjoy. Not every person of celebrity status announces where they are every minute. There are literally thousands of ex Alabama football players, do they all come to every homecoming?Funny thing about this "loyal Bama alum," he never saw fit to set foot back on campus after graduating until Bama waved $900,000 at him.