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Could Shula see a "Willingham"?

R

rolltideas

All-SEC
Aug 21, 2003
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Tusc. AL USA
I have really high hopes for next year, but then again, I had high hopes this year. Does anyone think the Crimson Nation will call for Shula's head like the Domers did in South Bend if we see a lower-than-expectations year? I hope that they will give him a chance because stability is still very important to rebuilding the tradition of excellence at the Capstone.

Personally, this year should give all fans much more hope for the future considering how well the team performed in such a difficult predicament.

Then, again...Tis the age of "instant fix" in the HC position.
 
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rolltideas said:
I have really high hopes for next year, but then again, I had high hopes this year. Does anyone think the Crimson Nation will call for Shula's head like the Domers did in South Bend if we see a lower-than-expectations year? I hope that they will give him a chance because stability is still very important to rebuilding the tradition of excellence at the Capstone.

Personally, this year should give all fans much more hope for the future considering how well the team performed in such a difficult predicament.

Then, again...Tis the age of "instant fix" in the HC position.
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Guess it all depends. IMO, the team must show improvement next year (injuries or not). I think realistically that's what most of us have asked for. We let 2003 pass due to the strange and unprecedented circumstances, and there was improvement made this year. I think you'll see that trend continue this year, followed by the next. Does that mean SECCG next year? Probably not. I think we'll need to see a 7/8/9 win season or some grumbling will start.

Personally unless next year falls apart I think he'll be given the remainder of his contract time to right the ship. After that it will all be judged by his record and the state of Alabama football.
 
I would hope not given the history of the program since around '99. Any college coach needs 4-5 years to turn a program around. Alabama especially given the scholarship sanctions and negative recruiting of the past four+ years.

Let's at least give the guy a chance with the players he is recruiting.
 
With as much adversity as Coach Shula & Co. overcame this year, I see him at the helm of this football team for a long time.

I could count on one hand how many other good coaches would have done the same or better under such odds with the probation and injuries this season. To be honest, I am surprised at 6-5 with those injuries. I think its great.

If we had know ahead of time the injuries we would have, we all would have predicted another 4-7 season. With the injuries and probation Bama showed improvement...I have no doubt in my mind there will be improvement next year.

I think he'll be here a long time.
 
We are about to land some big recruits. It would be stupid to make a coaching change in the next two to three years.

Like KanBama said...comparing other coaching situations with ours is like apples and oranges. Willingham, Cutcliffe, Zook, DiNardo...all didin't have to deal with sanctions. Injuries are one thing, but combine that with lack of depth due to sanctions.

You folks don't realize the miracle we were blessed with this season to not only get a winning season, but a bowl game, as well.
 
Dittos

Queasy1 said:
I would hope not given the history of the program since around '99. Any college coach needs 4-5 years to turn a program around. Alabama especially given the scholarship sanctions and negative recruiting of the past four+ years.

Let's at least give the guy a chance with the players he is recruiting.
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I agree whole -heartedly. C Shula is doing a good job with recruiting and as long as there's steady and incramental improvement from year to year in the W column, he deserves every chance. It's extremely hard, if not impossible for anyone to build a championship caliber team within the span of three seasons including C Shula, R Zook and/or Ty Willingham. Four to five years is more realistic.
 
Even people like me, who hasn't been sold on Shula's coaching, think that Shula needs to get his contract time to prove himself unless he shows horrible performance on the field (a non-competitive, sub-.500 team).
 
Yes, way different scenario, and what I always think about is this-all these college teams like ND,and others firing and hiring...looking for the old glory days of back when, trying to crawl back on top...just think, they have not been hammered like the Tide has, they have not seen or been through what this program has over the last decade...they have not been beat down, they have not lost tons of schollies, their programs have not been run through the mud & the muck, and have not had some of the worst luck in college football history, & just think, these teams are worst off than the Tide imo. And you know that the ncaa and their cronies and others alike, just can't figure it out, they have thrown everything in the world at Bama, but the kitchen sink, and they still can't keep us down...you can hit us & hit us, but you just cant knock us out..RTR!!!!!
 
me too, rgw

I am not sold on his coaching ability, but that should not be mistaken to mean that I am dipleased. No one could reasonably assume that he is a great coach, as he is only in his second season. All great coaches had to learn how to be a great coach somewhere! The only way to know if he is a great coach is to watch him develop right in front of us. The question is, how long will Bama fans wait? He has already shown me that he is good, but he is certainly not national championship caliber just yet.

I am also in the camp that simply wants to see continued, incremental improvement in the win column year-over-year. If we win 8 games in 2005, after losing such run blockers as Wesley Britt, Evan Mathis, Danny Martz and David Cavan, I would consider that a nice improvement. Of course, many things could happen in the next 12 months that could drastically change my perspective and my expectations. Under certain circumstances, I could see how another 6-5 season should be acceptable to the fan base in 2005. After all, Miami, who won a national title roughly 4 years removed from their severe NCAA sanctions, suffered through 2 losing seasons before they recovered. Anyway, I digress.

A point to ponder:
One thing that would be very interesting to me would be to see how the fan base would react and how the expectation level would change so quickly and so drastically if, in 2005, we were to have the good injury luck and general on-the-field luck that seems to have eluded Bama so deftly of late, and we were to go 10-1 or 9-2, and then win the SEC, and participate in a BCS bowl. Suddenly, the same fans who are saying he should have a 4 or 5 year grace period, would expect no worse than 9-2 from then on, including me!

Anyway, it was just a thought, and a terribly long and complicated sentence.

-Sully
 
Unless we bomb out next year to a 1,2, or 3 win season then Shula will at least get his 4th year. If he gets that 4th year...I don't want to hear any probation excuses if we don't see major improvement by year 4.
 
I believe we're looking at 2007 (possibly as soon as 2006) before we see a national championship contender at Alabama. If we don't see the Tide at or near that level by 2007, then some tough decisions will probably have to be made. Those who sit around and speculate about what might have been had Fran or Price stayed at the helm are just wasting time. We'll never know and it's really not worth losing any sleep over. We have Shula NOW and that's all that matters unless there are some unforseen changes. I think Mike has done well considering his lack of experience as a head coach and the circumstances at the university when he signed on. As far as I'm concerned, he must be given a fair amount of time to do the job we expect. I truly believe he will make us all proud as time goes by.
 
Shula is at Bama for as long as he wants!

He is impressing recruits and by 2006, bama will be fighting for National Titles again. Instead of just bowl games.....
 
TiderinMiss said:
We are about to land some big recruits. It would be stupid to make a coaching change in the next two to three years.

Like KanBama said...comparing other coaching situations with ours is like apples and oranges. Willingham, Cutcliffe, Zook, DiNardo...all didin't have to deal with sanctions. Injuries are one thing, but combine that with lack of depth due to sanctions.

You folks don't realize the miracle we were blessed with this season to not only get a winning season, but a bowl game, as well.
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Preach it!!

Besides all of the facts that have been stated, ND isnt Alabama :)
 
The man has to have a chance to coach out his contract, for the good of the University and the good of the football team. But I honestly believe that all of this conversation will be moot after next year. We are going to have a very good ball club in '05. Brodie will be back and healthy, we'll have the skill people and defense to win and win big. The only question mark will be the offensive line. Next year is the year we turn the corner.

Remember, in 1905 everybody said we would be down. But Coach Leavenworth would not hear it; we beat Georgia, Auburn, and Tennessee by a combined 95-0 score and in the process gave birth to a century of dominance.
 
Comparing Shula's situation to Willingham's situation is like comparing apples and oranges. Coach Shula deserves at least 5 years come hell or high water.
 
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