Posted on 11/26/2006 11:25:54 PM PST by catholicfreeper
Tuscaloosa - A tumultuous week for Mike Shula is over. ABC 33/40 sports has learned Shula will not be retained as the Alabama head football coach.
We first reported the story just after midnight. The Alabama coaches out on the road recruiting have been summoned back to Tuscaloosa.
After a 10-win season last year, this season was full of disappointments. There were second half letdowns against Arkansas, Florida, Tennessee and Auburn, and a brutal loss at home to Mississippi State. His inability to win games against his Western Division rivals was especially disappointing.
Looking at his overall record in the last 4 years, Shula was 26-and-23, 13-and-19 in the SEC, 1-and-3 against Tennessee and Arkansas, 0-and-4 against LSU and most disturbing, 0-and-4 against Auburn.
Where Alabama goes from here isn't clear. There's been a lot of talk about Steve Spurrier and Nick Saban. There is however no reason to believe either guy will come to Tuscaloosa.
Other names mentioned: Rich Rodriguez, Jim Grobe and Paul Johnson.
Jeff Speegle will be in Tuscaloosa later this morning, and we will continue to follow this story throughout the day.
ping MikefromOhio;ABG(anybody but Gore); aft_lizard;
UAL sinks a bit further. Maybe this time they can hire just one coach this off season.
Cecil Hurt of the the Tuscaloosa News alluded to the fact he was just too darn stubborn to change his staff. He's an upstanding guy, no doubt about it. I feel bad in one sense, but hey he's 4 million richer, just hope his father doesn't trash the University of Alabama for a tough choice they had to make.
If Saban goes to Alabama and you hear of him getting shot in the scrotiods, I repudiate my culpubiliality as I am insanitary.
Tigs looked good last Fri., oh yeah.
"There were second half letdowns against Arkansas, Florida, Tennessee and Auburn, and a brutal loss at home to Mississippi State. His inability to win games against his Western Division rivals was especially disappointing."
And it took OT to beat a 4&8 \ 2&6 Ole Miss team.
IIRC
The Dolphins coach?
Oh please take him away from the fins. Please.
When Bama was going through the "revolving coach" period I was very much in favor of Shula becoming their coach. I was willing to give the team a chance to get in shape. However, I want Bama to become the powerhouse they once were in college football (its been too damn long since they were one) and if it means Shula being replaced in order to accomplish this then I'm all for it.
God, I hope they don't hire Spurrier. Anybody but Spurrier.
Word I am getting through friends at Bama is that THey gave Mike an "OR ELSE" deal -- fire his assisstants or else they fire him. He stayed Loyal to his staff, so the school let him go.
"...his play calling was too conservative."
I nominate Mike Leach from Texas Tech. I'd like to see the spread offense tried at a school that gets top quality recruits.
I think Nick Saban has managed to salvage his job in Miami. This move is kind of stunning because I figured Bama would give Shula one more year to turn things around. Everybody, except for Tide fans, alums, and the administration, knew this was a rebuilding year. Likewise, I don't see Darth Visor plunging into that cesspool. Maybe they can talk Gene Stallings or Pat Dye out of retirement...
Yes it has, but Steve Spurrier has already said he's not interested in another job, he's happy being a Gamecock. Besides, after yesterday's win over Clemson, I'm sure he's a bit more convinced Carolina will be able to compete for the SEC Championship sooner than later.
From LindysSports.com one week ago:
He is 0-19 when trailing going into the fourth quarter, which means two things: 1) he has not been able to rally his team to any come-from-behind victories, and 2) his teams have trailed going into the fourth quarter 19 times in that span. In four years, good teams don't trail 19 times going into the fourth quarter.
"0-and-4 against Auburn"
Nuff said!
And this is not in "Chat" because . . . . ?
I believe it's now 0 and 5 against Auburn. Fear the thumb.
Urban Meyer has been experimenting with it at Florida. He gets roundly castigated for it by Florida fans who insist that SEC defenses are too fast and athletic for "gimmicky" spread offense plays to work.
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