The new Derrick Thomas documentary is on tonight at 8:00 (SECN)

[TiderMan]

Re: be sure and catch the new Derrick thomas documentary on tonight at 8

You have to wonder how many times Curry has looked and mirror and realized that if we was just a competent coach that he could have dominated with the talent he had and brought to Alabama.

It must be tough on him.

He was a competent coach, to say otherwise is just being bitter towards him. He wasn't the best coach that we have had but he is far from being the worst that we have had. His biggest issues were that he never beat Auburn and that he was from the Bobby Dodd - Georgia Tech coaching tree. There was a large portion of Bama fans that were never going to accept him no matter what he did. He beat UT all three years, he beat Penn St all three years, and his record improved every single year (7-5, 9-3, 10-2). Personally, I have more hard feelings towards Coach Ray Perkins and Coach Fran than him because they had the support of Alabama fans for the most part and decided to leave. Curry left because he basically had very little support. Some others may disagree with me on this but he was more than competent.

By the way, the special on DT was very good and well done. I enjoyed watching it.

 

[Blindside13]

Re: be sure and catch the new Derrick thomas documentary on tonight at 8

He was a competent coach, to say otherwise is just being bitter towards him. He wasn't the best coach that we have had but he is far from being the worst that we have had. His biggest issues were that he never beat Auburn and that he was from the Bobby Dodd - Georgia Tech coaching tree. There was a large portion of Bama fans that were never going to accept him no matter what he did. He beat UT all three years, he beat Penn St all three years, and his record improved every single year (7-5, 9-3, 10-2). Personally, I have more hard feelings towards Coach Ray Perkins and Coach Fran than him because they had the support of Alabama fans for the most part and decided to leave. Curry left because he basically had very little support. Some others may disagree with me on this but he was more than competent.

By the way, the special on DT was very good and well done. I enjoyed watching it.
I agree with you on Curry, missed the special maybe I can catch a re-play on it.

 

[jef0071]

Re: be sure and catch the new Derrick thomas documentary on tonight at 8

He was a competent coach, to say otherwise is just being bitter towards him. He wasn't the best coach that we have had but he is far from being the worst that we have had. His biggest issues were that he never beat Auburn and that he was from the Bobby Dodd - Georgia Tech coaching tree. There was a large portion of Bama fans that were never going to accept him no matter what he did. He beat UT all three years, he beat Penn St all three years, and his record improved every single year (7-5, 9-3, 10-2). Personally, I have more hard feelings towards Coach Ray Perkins and Coach Fran than him because they had the support of Alabama fans for the most part and decided to leave. Curry left because he basically had very little support. Some others may disagree with me on this but he was more than competent.

By the way, the special on DT was very good and well done. I enjoyed watching it.

i've always felt this same way about curry, h did good for us...and was never given a fair chance. i really enjoyed the documentary tonight.

 

[BamaInBham]

i disagree completely on the support for Curry.

First he was a mediocre coach at best. His only success was at Bama. At GT he had the 2nd worst record in the history of the program since 1900 with more than one season. At UK he also had the 2nd worst record since 1900 with more than one season. That includes 24 coaches. Even Joker Phillips had a better record. In 7 years he never had a winning team.

Though he poses as a crusader, he left his alma mater, who had given him unconditional support and stuck with him through troubled times, to make more money and play on a bigger stage at Alabama. Though there was surprise and some resentment, directed mostly at Joab Thomas, Curry was received warmly by most of the Bama fanbase. The concern was not as much that he was from GT, it was that he was soft (thud tackling, etc). He was contemptuous of the fanbase from the start, whatever his motivation, speaking derisively of their desire for physical football and their unrealistic expectations to the national media, who lapped up the confirmation of their Southern and Bama stereotype. Something he has made a living on and from which he has garnered much attention and favor over the decades. (Again, the media is mostly to blame: they go to Curry, who was at Bama for 3 years, for comment, rather than Stallings, who coached at Bama for 14 years.) This regarding the people who for the most part were supporting him and paying his large salary and to whom he presented a smiling face.

I personally know of no other coach in any sport who has so consistently stabbed his own former fanbase in the back and face than Bill Curry. He has done more to damage Bama's image than anyone I know. I personally think the administration was less supportive than the fanbase, though that is said "from afar".

 

[Vinny]

Tonight. SEC Network. 8 pm

No SEC Network for me thanks to Optimum.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bamaro]

Re: be sure and catch the new Derrick thomas documentary on tonight at 8

Other than Bill Curry's veiled insults clearly aimed toward Alabama fans, I thoroughly enjoyed the documentary.

I watched the show but didn't pick that up. What did he say?

 

[deliveryman35]

Re: be sure and catch the new Derrick thomas documentary on tonight at 8

I watched the show but didn't pick that up. What did he say?

His comments regarding Denny Chimes being like an "altar" where Bama fans come to worship--his usual, derogatory insinuation that all we southern bama hicks care about is winning football games and nothing else matters.

 

[Bamaro]

Re: be sure and catch the new Derrick thomas documentary on tonight at 8

His comments regarding Denny Chimes being like an "altar" where Bama fans come to worship--his usual, derogatory insinuation that all we southern bama hicks care about is winning football games and nothing else matters.

I thought that was complimentary of fan support, not derogatory.

 

[deliveryman35]

Re: be sure and catch the new Derrick thomas documentary on tonight at 8

I thought that was complimentary of fan support, not derogatory.

My interpretation was different. Most of us have things in our life that are more important than football.

 

[CrmznApklps]

Re: be sure and catch the new Derrick thomas documentary on tonight at 8

His comments regarding Denny Chimes being like an "altar" where Bama fans come to worship--his usual, derogatory insinuation that all we southern bama hicks care about is winning football games and nothing else matters.

Yeah, I picked up watching at that point and was taken aback by his comments. Then, I realized who was talking.

 

[Al A Bama]

Re: be sure and catch the new Derrick thomas documentary on tonight at 8

He was a competent coach, to say otherwise is just being bitter towards him. He wasn't the best coach that we have had but he is far from being the worst that we have had. His biggest issues were that he never beat Auburn and that he was from the Bobby Dodd - Georgia Tech coaching tree. There was a large portion of Bama fans that were never going to accept him no matter what he did. He beat UT all three years, he beat Penn St all three years, and his record improved every single year (7-5, 9-3, 10-2). Personally, I have more hard feelings towards Coach Ray Perkins and Coach Fran than him because they had the support of Alabama fans for the most part and decided to leave. Curry left because he basically had very little support. Some others may disagree with me on this but he was more than competent.

By the way, the special on DT was very good and well done. I enjoyed watching it.

I sure would take him over Coach Dumbose, the Fran man, and Coach Ears any day.

But competent and losing to the Barn don't belong in the same paragraph!?. Or do they? Now, I do think he is a man of HIGH moral character.

However, Curry should never have been hired at Bama. There are other coaching trees that could have been accessed instead of Bobby Dodd's tree. And that tree did not have to be a Coach Bryant tree descendant. Now, I do understand that there is a Bobby Dodd award for a winning coach with outstanding CHARACTER and I do think Bobby Dodd had great moral character.

If only Coach Perkins and Curry could have taught Derrick to slow down a little in that auto. Was his son who was in the video a high school athlete in the state of Alabama? It did look like he had good size.

Another question: why would anyone in their right mind want to leave their alma mater to go coach at Alabama? Because of something that I've known since I was knee high to a grasshopper, the Alabama Crimson Tide is the very best! Did Bart Starr have anything to do with Coach Curry coming to Alabama? He did take the snap from Curry at Green Bay.

 

[Con]

Re: be sure and catch the new Derrick thomas documentary on tonight at 8

I will be honest, Coach Curry's part of the show didn't bother me that much. I just enjoyed hearing and being able to watch something about Derrick Thomas. He was a great player and he died way too young. For some of you in the know, were Cornelius Bennett and him friends off the field or were they more viewed as rivals? That letter he wrote on the piece of paper makes it seem like DT didn't like Bennett or something.

 

[Bamaro]

Re: be sure and catch the new Derrick thomas documentary on tonight at 8

I sure would take him over Coach Dumbose, the Fran man, and Coach Ears any day.

But competent and losing to the Barn don't belong in the same paragraph!?. Or do they? Now, I do think he is a man of HIGH moral character.

However, Curry should never have been hired at Bama. There are other coaching trees that could have been accessed instead of Bobby Dodd's tree. And that tree did not have to be a Coach Bryant tree descendant. Now, I do understand that there is a Bobby Dodd award for a winning coach with outstanding CHARACTER and I do think Bobby Dodd had great moral character.

If only Coach Perkins and Curry could have taught Derrick to slow down a little in that auto. Was his son who was in the video a high school athlete in the state of Alabama? It did look like he had good size.

Another question: why would anyone in their right mind want to leave their alma mater to go coach at Alabama? Because of something that I've known since I was knee high to a grasshopper, the Alabama Crimson Tide is the very best! Did Bart Starr have anything to do with Coach Curry coming to Alabama? He did take the snap from Curry at Green Bay.

Perkins and Curry played together with the Colts and I believe they roomed together on the road.

 

[37bamagreats55]

Re: be sure and catch the new Derrick thomas documentary on tonight at 8

I will be honest, Coach Curry's part of the show didn't bother me that much. I just enjoyed hearing and being able to watch something about Derrick Thomas. He was a great player and he died way too young. For some of you in the know, were Cornelius Bennett and him friends off the field or were they more viewed as rivals? That letter he wrote on the piece of paper makes it seem like DT didn't like Bennett or something.

I wouldn't say I'm in the know, but Biscuit and DT were very close friends. They weren't rivals at all. DT had a football camp at Samford University in 1990 and Biscuit was one of the players helping with the camp. From everything I ever saw, they were tight.

 

[imauafan]

Re: be sure and catch the new Derrick thomas documentary on tonight at 8

It's hard to compare eras, but I still have vivid memories from my boyhood of Biscuit and DT in crimson. I personally believe that 2009 Rolando McClain and (in lesser degrees), Upshaw, pre-knee injury Hightower, and Mosley would have excelled in similar fashion against the offenses of the mid & late 80s.
I do know that if you were to trot out an all-time Bama defensive lineup, there would be some NFL HOFers standing on the sideline in the LB 2-deep chart.

Not even remotely close. DT (and biscuit) was head and shoulders above those guys.

 

[Padreruf]

Re: be sure and catch the new Derrick thomas documentary on tonight at 8

Let's don't turn this into a "bash Bill Curry" thread. He was an excellent salesman, but not as good a head coach. He did hire some really good associates that he trusted. What he did not do, could not do, was develop a following among the fan base. That was not his fault...the odds were stacked against him...but beating AU would have helped. As far as Denny Chimes being an altar -- you better believe it!!

The DT piece was good...but left more questions than it answered. How many children did he have? Are they being taken care of? How would we know?

I found it refreshing that the producers faced the race issue honestly...I cannot imagine how the mother of DT's son in the video handled all the pressures she would have received. Kudos to her, her family and her husband now who obviously stepped up to the plate and did the right thing. I have nothing but admiration for them...

DT was an incredible football player...a charismatic personality...and a human being with faults like all the rest of us.

 

[Con]

Re: be sure and catch the new Derrick thomas documentary on tonight at 8

I wouldn't say I'm in the know, but Biscuit and DT were very close friends. They weren't rivals at all. DT had a football camp at Samford University in 1990 and Biscuit was one of the players helping with the camp. From everything I ever saw, they were tight.

That is good to hear then. Biscuit sounded like they were close, but the letter just threw me off a little. I also have to agree with imauafan abuout Biscuit and DT being head and shoulders above the others. They were just nasty getting to the ball.

 

[Tider in Illinois]

Re: be sure and catch the new Derrick thomas documentary on tonight at 8

I thought Joe Lavine did a excellent job on the film. Hope everyone enjoyed it. I was thrilled to have helped play a small part in the making of this film. I was also honored to have been able to attend the premier last week at The Summit. It was a once in a lifetime event.
Cornelius said after the event, he didn't do anything that he remembered other than just being himself to push Derrick to another level. Biscuit also said that every time they played against each other in the NFL, that they would go out to dinner together. He said they were close, but not as close as some of the other guys in Derrick's class, such as Howard Cross or Kermit Kendrick.
Hope this helps.

 

[Tider in Illinois]

Re: be sure and catch the new Derrick thomas documentary on tonight at 8

Wish they would have gone into his recruitment at Bama. What coach recruited him? How did we learn about him in Miami? How did Miami not get him? What other schools were recruiting him? What made him decide to come to Bama?

Derrick was recruited by George Henshaw. It came down to us and Oklahoma for Derrick's LOI. It was a tough decision, but Derrick chose Alabama over OU simply because Coach Henshaw showed up at South Miami HS first on National Signing Day.
Derrick actually was made fun of on his recruiting trip to Tuscaloosa because he showed up wearing a OU jacket.
Jimmy Johnson didn't pay much attention to Derrick is why he didn't end up at Miami, and he told him didn't know if Derrick would ever start at the U.

 

[bamablood6]

Re: be sure and catch the new Derrick thomas documentary on tonight at 8

You have to wonder how many times Curry has looked and mirror and realized that if we was just a competent coach that he could have dominated with the talent he had and brought to Alabama.

It must be tough on him.

The guy could not sign a QB to save his life....Ray Stanton was his lone QB signee in his 3 years. My Biggest complaint of many about Curry. Stallings had to come in and sign like 4 QBs in his first class because of not having any on the roster. Barker, Jack and Christopher were 3 I remember he signed his first year to just have some depth.

Screw discussing Bill Curry......DT was a complete Bad ... on the football field....no one could stop the guy off the edge, or wherever he lined up. I remember QBs looking all over to find out where he was....but it didn't help. He found the QB soon enough.