I don't know if that's true or not either, but he was in the difficult position of having fewer scholarships and a post-season ban. So, how many "quality" players actually wanted to come to Alabama? You have to remember, LSU had already gotten their hands into the Mobile area and Auburn was beginning their 6 game win streak.
In retrospect, best altar boy 'Bama's ever had for a head coach.
I always felt like that was his purpose. We needed someone who would do things on the up-and-up, who would "hold the rope", and who was expendable if he didn't work out. He served his purpose and he has the money to show for it, but in the short-term, his stint at Alabama probably hurt his career. So, i wish we would dispense with this notion that he was paid enough money that we shouldn't feel the least bit sorry that he and the University parted ways as they did.
Exactly. He stepped into a very bad situation. He ws dealing with the fallout from DuBose, Fran and Price. The NCAA was at the height of their power and arrogance and had hammered Bama as hard as they could. Shula kept the program together, kept it out of trouble and handed a foundation over to CNS. Given the situation, the fact that he did not win much was understandable and excusable.
Yep, I would definitely look good calling plays with Cam Newton being my do everything QB.
thats exactly it, he was immature and didn't know how to handle it. So it all fell apart. I don't think anyone is arguing that Mike Shula was great. What I don't get is the animosity towards him from some fans (and I have no idea your position) He was the guy we could get at the time, he came in under unbelievably bad circumstances and as far as we can tell didn't try to cut corners or make anything substantially worse. He did his best and left the program better than he found it, even without having a clue how to the job.
And their defense deserves more credit for their offensive success than either of those guys.
It could've been worse and could've been better in how we handled it, but the writing was on the wall after the msu game. I know people who went to that game and they said walking out of that game was weird in the fact that people weren't so mad and pretty much optimistic of getting a new coach. It was like everyone was forecasting getting rid of him.
My greatest "fear" was that Sonnyboy Shula was going to be the second coming of Rev. Richt record-wise, with a perennial 9-10 wins a year, and given the program's prior history from Dumbo onward, that kind of faux-stellar W-L record would appease the fan base forever. And 'Bama would never again be 'Bama but for the odd coincidence. (In other words, NCs about as coincidental as 4th quarter comebacks achieved on Sonnyboy's watch - never.)
Hey, I'll admit I would have been one of those that would have been happy with 9-10 wins a year IF we played .500 or better against the Barn, Vols, and LSU. At that time, I feared the balance of power had permanently shifted to Florida.
Cam Newton didn't need a great or even good OC to be great. He's the most dominant individual football player I've ever seen. Cam Newton has the ability to make Mike Shula a "Great", OC. Mike Shula doesn't have the capability to make Cam Newton a great QB. All Carolina really does is run Auburns option offense. It's pretty simple. It's very smart that Shula decided to do that, but he's not the football genius everyone tries to make him. And no, he was not a good coach at Bama.
Ditto and I agree with 'Sip on the dominant individual thing too.
