Mike Shula is our guy for the long-term

[crimsonaudio]

If Shula's a great recruiter, why do we have threads suggesting so few of our starters would actually start at any other SEC school? You can't have it both ways...

 

[montoya1978]

I honestly cannot believe someone can still say "Mike Shula is our guy for the long-term" with a straight face. He is NOT the guy for the long term. I am no football expert, but i know a well coached team when i see one and its not the 2006 Crimson Tide.

Lets imagine Shula does stay another couple of years. Remember what happened after Dubose stayed on too long? As a result of his desperation, we got severe NCAA sanctions.

As far as the comment about him being "a good recruiter," it really doesnt matter how good of a recruiter you are if you cant develop high school players into college football players. There is a big difference.

 

[termite]

Bottom line is that Shula was expected to take this program to the next level and he has not done it. He is in his 4th season and the program is "spiriling downward". How many seasons does it take for him to move this program forward?

I haven't read where any Bama fan is going to quit, but we deserve to be heard. Maybe we all should let the University president know how we feel.

What's the answer?

....
What's the answer? I think almost everyone with any knowledge of Alabama football knows what needs to be done to stop the bleeding. Will that happen?
I seriously doubt it. If some drastic changes are not made soon, then we can expect to see more games like the MSU debacle.

 

[IHateUT]

The bottom line is that we can't do any better. Think about it.

I don't know about anyone else, but I could not bring myself to read any further than that line.

That's just not true.

 

[drfrankfree]

To say that we cant do any better than Shula is just plain false. Butch Davis would be here tomorrow if offered. He would bring with him superior coordinators and staff. We are not a mid level SEC program. We have a mid level coaching staff who have brought in mid level talent for the most part. How many 5 star recruits would come play for Butch Davis? My guess is alot more than would come play for Shula. Sugar coat it all you want. Mike Shula did an awesome job of bringing this program stability from sanctions. Now we must return to prominence. Are you listening Mal Moore?

 

[stallingsstyle]

Who says a great recruitor can't win, just look up there in knoxville.

 

[Whiz]

I've been reading the threads about how awful Shula is and how he should resign etc. The bottom line is that we can't do any better. Think about it. As much as it pains me to write it, we are a mid-level SEC team and are probably gonna be that way for a while. Has any one noticed that in the last five years or so that when Bama is shown on any highlight reels it's the opposing team doing something good (save Prothro's godlike catch)?

Shula took a job that no one really wanted and gave many of us hope that we could rebuild and I firmly believe we are on the right track. Sure there are missteps along the way, but we are improving in the talent and depth department and are moving in the right direction. You read right. I believe this program is headed for greatness. Our defense has been stellar the last few years and the offense moves the ball well between the twenties and we are only a hair away from being a high scoring team.

Shula is a great recruiter and was agonizingly close to signing Tim Tebow last year. Obviously if we had someone like Tebow, our prospects for greatness would be more obvious, but it only takes one great recruit along with a few good ones to make a good program a great program.

Shula is young and he has alot of years to lead this program into 21st century greatness. Obviously, a shake-up is needed in the OC position as well as a couple position coaches. If Shula can recruit a good OC, and there is no reason to believe he can't, we will be a contender for NC in the very near future. This is my vote of confidence for Coach Mike Shula on Election Day.

RTR

Are you being serious??? This looks like something that would be written by one of the aubies on keepmikeshula.com. Our coach is a joke!

 

[bayoutider]

If those rumors are true and CJK leaves after this season, we won't win six games next year.

If Mike Shula is still here for the 07 season and honestly I think the possibility of that happening is better than 50/50 and if Joe Kines retires, Chris Ball will most likely be promoted to DC and a new LB coach brought in.

 

[JTM]

If Mike Shula is still here for the 07 season and honestly I think the possibility of that happening is better than 50/50 and if Joe Kines retires, Chris Ball will most likely be promoted to DC and a new LB coach brought in.

Good grief... the news just keeps getting worse. I realize Shula will likely be here next year rolleye2: ), but the news about Joe Kines possible retiring is distressing... but, who could blame him?

 

[GulfCoastTider]

Good grief... the news just keeps getting worse. I realize Shula will likely be here next year rolleye2: ), but the news about Joe Kines possible retiring is distressing... but, who could blame him?

Ball is a capable coach and has built some very impressive defensive secondaries in his career. He would make a good DC, but he is no Joe Kines.

 

[adkinsca]

Give me a break....

I for one am tired of the attitude of "We owe Shula more time."

A program like Alabama deserves and should demand excellence from the football program. The fact that people are still questioning whether he is a good coach FOUR YEARS into his head coaching term answers the question resoundingly that he is not a good coach.

If you go back to his first season, sure he came into a difficult situation, but would any other football coach at any D-1A school have had a worse record than 3-9? I think its doubtful.

Look at the teams he has beaten this year...
Alabama's SEC record is 2-4.

Those two wins are against the teams with the worst record in the West (Ole Miss), and the worst record in the East (Vandy). Those teams are a combined 2-10 in the SEC.

The other wins are against LA-Monroe, Duke, and FL International (all ranked in the bottom 10 in most division 1-A rankings). The only "quality" win is against Hawaii in the first game. I for one would hate to have to play them now.

In my mind, there isn't a question whether Shula is a good coach, or whether he should even remain at Alabama. Shula must be fired. The simple facts show he is not a quality coach. A change must be made.

 

[BamaBlake]

I just don't understand all of the people saying that he needs more time or that we owe him more time. Why wait! It's quite obvious that he is in over his head. From the first bungled press conference to the last game. I am in the same state of mind now that I was in at the end of Dubose's career. Lets not waste any more time. He did a good job of stabilizing the program, but we cannot afford to allow him to learn on the job any longer. I know we won 10 games last year, but they were much like this year, with the exception of the fla game. 3 or 4 games last year could have gone the other way, just like this year. His offense is and always will be at or below average. Lets move on

 

[GulfCoastTider]

Give me a break....

I for one am tired of the attitude of "We owe Shula more time."

A program like Alabama deserves and should demand excellence from the football program. The fact that people are still questioning whether he is a good coach FOUR YEARS into his head coaching term answers the question resoundingly that he is not a good coach.

I'm not saying that I disagree with you. I will however, make three points I'd like you to consider.

The first point is that it took Tommy Tuberville six seasons to build a championship caliber football program. Yes, he did it while there was a gaping chest wound in the cross-state rival program, but it still took six years.

The second point is that May 2003 was pretty much Alabama's darkest hour. Mike Shula did something no one else wanted to, and the alternative candidates were just not acceptable. What he did was pretty brave. He's earned some respect.

The third point is made in the form of a trivia question. Can you tell me the head coach and the year in which all of the players on the team were recruited by that head coach and without any NCAA scholarship reductions?

I think it's time for changes, too. But the decision can't be made on a whim. I'm of the opinion that Shula does deserve a chance to explain what changes will be made before next year, and if his answers don't appear to be taking the program in the right direction, we cut the man a check and thank him for his service.

 

[Littlewing]

I'm not saying that I disagree with you. I will however, make three points I'd like you to consider.

The first point is that it took Tommy Tuberville six seasons to build a championship caliber football program. Yes, he did it while there was a gaping chest wound in the cross-state rival program, but it still took six years.

The second point is that May 2003 was pretty much Alabama's darkest hour. Mike Shula did something no one else wanted to, and the alternative candidates were just not acceptable. What he did was pretty brave. He's earned some respect.

The third point is made in the form of a trivia question. Can you tell me the head coach and the year in which all of the players on the team were recruited by that head coach and without any NCAA scholarship reductions?

I think it's time for changes, too. But the decision can't be made on a whim. I'm of the opinion that Shula does deserve a chance to explain what changes will be made before next year, and if his answers don't appear to be taking the program in the right direction, we cut the man a check and thank him for his service.

Amen

 

[JTM]

Ball is a capable coach and has built some very impressive defensive secondaries in his career. He would make a good DC, but he is no Joe Kines.

Well, that's good to hear. I'll be the first to say that I am not familiar with the capabilities of a few of the assistant coaches, but I do know that having Joe Kines as our DC for the past few years has at least provided us with some amount of respect.

Thanks for the info.

 

[briancm]

I think some need to look at some stats.

Bama is the number one team in TOP and we get in the redzone more than any other team. (least that is what I have read).

Now, with just that much information and the OL RSF we have coming in next year, the OL should be better next year. We start scoring 75% in the redzone, we will be very hard to beat. We go 90% and no one will touch us.

So, I would suggest that CMS make some changes to get better coaching/production from the OL as a whole and do so quickly so we can be better next year.

Now, if CMS will not make changes for the good of the team, and we tank next year, then yes fire him.

If we give CMS a chance to manage the team and give up the duties to the staff (corrected staff) and he still doesn't get it done, then change.

If asked to fix it and he says no I will not fire anyone, then I don't know if I could support that. But, give him that chance first and then based on his moves or non-moves, take the next step.

AU had issues, made changes, staff took the lead, and now look at them.

I don't think it is fair to count year 1, so with that, he has been here 3 years (2 games left on 3rd year). Anyone should be given at least 4 years.

If you bring in a new coach, you may have to sit a wait 1 to 2 years to get going with new offense, etc.

Keep in mind this team is young. CMS can't be evaluated totally at this point with that in mind. I'm not happy either, but Rome wasn't built in a day. Maybe at least let's see if someone can p*** him off enough we get to see what he can do when he is mad as h e double hockey sticks.

Just food for thought.

 

[crimsonaudio]

briancm, some good points. Would be nice were it that simple...

For me, it's not the losses that have forced me off the CMS bandwagon, it's the off the field stuff. When a DE can literally drive your tackle back into the QB, that shows a lack of strength, pure and simple - one of the hallmarks of this staff (specifically the offensive line). The buck stops at CMS - so far his managerial skills have been sorely lacking.

 

[LTBamaFan]

I believe that Mike Shula is a genuine nice guy BUT, I also think that is the main problem. He won't make the hard decisions regarding his staff. He won't maintain discipline in the program. He won't be downright nasty when the situation demands it. I'm reminded of Fischer DeBerry , head coach of Air Force . During the 1st half and leading 36-0, his kicker missed an extra point and he went ballistic on the sidelines.And I'm sure he vented on the kicker just as hard.
I'm not sure that just showing players the errors on film are enough to get the job done. Can anyone name a highly successful coach who was as laid back ?

 

[derek4tide]

Now, with just that much information and the OL RSF we have coming in next year, the OL should be better next year. We start scoring 75% in the redzone, we will be very hard to beat. We go 90% and no one will touch us..

The world looks great through those crimson glasses, huh?

So, I would suggest that CMS make some changes to get better coaching/production from the OL as a whole and do so quickly so we can be better next year.

Now, if CMS will not make changes for the good of the team, and we tank next year, then yes fire him.

That time has passed.

If we give CMS a chance to manage the team and give up the duties to the staff (corrected staff) and he still doesn't get it done, then change.

That time has passed as well. Overall, the time has come for the BOT, President Witt, and CMM to make a decision to end this nightmare.

 

[Crimson Bourne]

The bottom line is that we can't do any better.

RTR

Mal just needs to open up the checkbook and pony up. I bet if we were to be willing to pay lets say 4 million a year we would have some very good coaches interested.