sides
Well, I thought Alabama was smarter than this. I said they wouldn’t (and shouldn’t) fire Mike Shula because he led the University out of NCAA probation well, he put Bama back in the bowls, and they just gave him a $4 million guaranteed contract extension. Obviously I was giving the Tide way too much credit.
An Open Letter to Mal Moore, the AD at Alabama and his immediate subordinate Robert E. Witt, the President of the University.
Dear Sirs,
As a life long Tide fan, let me first congratulate you on paying more to coaches who aren’t coaching at Alabama than the ones that currently are. It’s a rare gift to spend millions of dollars on coaches to make sure they don’t coach for you. (I would like to let you know that I am much cheaper to pay to not coach Alabama than your next hire. I’m available.) It’s good to see Alabama being the pioneer of new hiring practices – at least on the college level. I would be wary of Al Davis of the Oakland Raiders, however. He will probably sue for copyright infringement.
It’s good to know that you fired Mike Shula so that Alabama could return to the “College Football Elite.” As a warning, you should know that Miami University is doing the same. You might want to consult with them on their coaching candidates to save time.
It’s quite clear now that Mike Shula was of the same ilk of Mike Dubose, Dennis Franchoine, and Mark Price – other than of course he didn’t cheat with his secretary, lie to students, pay recruits, visit strip joints and land Alabama on NCAA probation. I mean, other than that – he was exactly like those other coaches – he didn’t win enough.
I’m sure you’ll hire the right guy this time. Don’t let the rejections of Butch Davis, Steve Spurrier, or Nick Saban deter you. Neither allow history to sway your search either. Does it matter that no coach has ever won a national championship then went to another school to win it again? Does it matter that most coaches who have a record of success have it because they were allowed a time to grow and recruit their own players? Of course not. I’m sure Alabama will be the exception.
Finally, thank you for not hiring Sylvester Croom 4 years ago. Looking back, it would have been a disaster – the first African-American football coach in the SEC at Alabama? Much to forward thinking for us. An alumni with ties to Bear Bryant, a national championship, and a Super Bowl ring to lead the football program? A black man who is known first as a leader, then a coach recruiting for Alabama? It’s amazing the kind of insight you two have. I sleep so much better knowing that the future of Alabama football and higher education is in your capable hands.
Sincerely,
Grant English
[tags]Alabama Football, Mike Shula, Mal Moore, University of Alabama, Robert E. Witt[/tags]
7 responses so far ↓
1 H // Nov 27, 2006 at 5:31 pm
Hate to say it….and mean I really do, I thought Shula was a class guy…..but….I told you so.
2 travis // Nov 27, 2006 at 8:03 pm
You want Croom? You can have him.
signed the Mississippi State fanbase.
3 Heath // Nov 28, 2006 at 11:30 am
Croom? Have you lost your ever-loving mind?
Geez…
I agree though, Shula probably deserved another year, but after losing to MS State I knew it wouldn’t happen.
4 the G sides » A Response to Tide Fires Shula // Nov 28, 2006 at 1:02 pm
[...] Original post is here. [...]
5 The Big Lead » blog » The Roundup: Body Language, Keeping Manny, Vandertwat, and No Love for Brady Quinn // Nov 29, 2006 at 5:43 am
[...] A guy writes Alabama brass a letter about the firing of Mike Shula. (G Sides) [...]
6 Error Spotter // Nov 29, 2006 at 7:06 am
Miami University is in Oxford, Ohio and they have a head coach in place.
The University of Miami is in Coral Gables, FL and have an opening.
Alumnus is singular, alumni plural (alumna and alumnae for the ladies). Croom is therefore an alumnus and so far not a very good head coach.
7 will // Nov 29, 2006 at 10:12 am
We need a new direction for Alabama football. I remember in 1982 before Bear Bryant retired he said there needed to be changes made starting at the top, Bum Phillips said he thought Bear was talking about the president of the University. Well its time we started talking about Mal Moore if he doesn’t have any more vision than this for the future. Only Mal Moore and a maggot can live off a dead bear for 20+ years. The time has come for Mal Moore to go and take the president with him if they can’t quit living in the past. No coach can come in and start winning championships form the start with the conditions that Shula started with.
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