Where would we be if Fran had stayed?

[RollTideNAlbertville]

I often wonder where our program would be right now if Fran had stayed?
Would our record be better this year? How about last year?
I hate what Fran did to us, but he is a good coach. :BigA:

 

[lnadell]

Thats too hard to answer, I mean last year we had a tough schedule, tons of injuries and a first year head coach with no experience as a head coach. This year we've got a young coach and tons of injuries. Regardless of what any of the naysayers want to think we are a much better team this year in part to Coach Shula actually having a season to go through practices with the team which he didn't have last year. I hate the above mentioned coach in your post and choose not to call him by name because it makes me sick, yes he was a good planner and payed alot of attention to detail and I will never forget that its because of him that Coach Shula had to take over under very difficult circumstances, that other person is nothing but a coward so I just don't think about where we might be right now, he's no better then Tator Tot and Phatty when it comes to having intentionally hurt our school and players.

 

[CapstoneTider]

This is a reasonable question although I suspect a few will flame.

The NCAA's last shot at us was keeping the Memphis window open and effectively helping run off Franny. I thought he was second only to Stallings in post Bear coaches but was not convinced on his recuiting ability.

If he had stayed we probably would of had a winning season last year and had a similar record this year.

He left the program because of probation but would he have been hired if not for probation?

 

[TENNTIDE1]

It is possible we would have a 3 yr. winning streak against UT right now.

 

[rtrcam]

Its a question that has been asked before. First, if had fRan had any intentions of staying, Alabama would have most likely beaten the barn in '02 and finished that season 11-2. Last year would've been much smoother and an 8 or 9 win season may have been possible. This year would probably be a 7 maybe even a 9 win type year.

But, who knows what kind of recruiting fRan would have had? It wasn't spectacular while he was here. Who knows if the injury situation would have been better or worse? We don't. Its needless speculation that can serve no benefit to the program. fRan is no doubt a good coach. It pains me to say that, but its true. However, he is a terrible man, without character or morals. Its all about fRan, not the team. Coach Shula WILL silence the doubters. That is, if he's given the chance.

 

[bobmack12champs]

Well, for one thing, we...

if he were still here, we would still be rallying around him. I think we would be undefeated at this time because of the running backs and Pennington would be an option qback.
However, this is all a moot point now, but the queston was asked and this is just my opinion.

 

[mlh]

I felt like there were 3 games we lost last year that we would've won with an experienced HC. So I'm guessing 7 or 8 wins last year. It's hard to say how fRan would've done this year with the injuries we've had. Beyond that, who knows? I think Shula is bringing good talent, but it's not the kind of guys fRan would be recruiting. We wouldn't have the freshmen WRs we have now. JP Wilson would probably be playing right now and not sporting a grayshirt. Guillon wouldn't be here and Barnes would not be a commitment. So the team would be different in some ways.

 

[deliveryman35]

Not meant as a knock on Shula but, since it's a hypothetical question, I would say our record would probably be better than it is and we would have won in Knoxville. That being said, I am not personally fond of Franchione.

 

[RollTideinGA]

Who cares?

We have Coach Shula, move on.

What if Coach Bryant was still alive and coaching, would we be like Penn St and Joe Pa?

Move on people.

What if, what if.

"If if's and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a Merry Christmas"

 

[ROTYDE]

What if a frog had wings?....... He would not bump his butt every time he hopped....................>LOL :biggrin: :biga:

 

[deliveryman35]

Who cares?

Probably no one. But I simply answered the question of the thread.

 

[Really Big Bama Fan]

I felt like there were 3 games we lost last year that we would've won with an experienced HC. So I'm guessing 7 or 8 wins last year. It's hard to say how fRan would've done this year with the injuries we've had. Beyond that, who knows? I think Shula is bringing good talent, but it's not the kind of guys fRan would be recruiting. We wouldn't have the freshmen WRs we have now. JP Wilson would probably be playing right now and not sporting a grayshirt. Guillon wouldn't be here and Barnes would not be a commitment. So the team would be different in some ways.

Mlh,
I agree with you. I think the Tide would have had at least 7 or 8 wins last year with an experienced head coach like either Fraud-phony or Good Ole Boy Price. Coach Price has already turned a doormat team into a winner out at UTEP. But Coach Shula's first year is behind us now, and things are only going to get better!

 

[jdpas29]

the option.

 

[rtrcam]

the option.

Yes, I do miss that. Tyler Watts was one of the best option qbs I've ever seen.

 

[TommyMac]

I hate the phony scumbag, but make no mistake, he's a good football coach. Without a doubt, our record would've been better last year, if for no other reason than continuity. I was a big supporter of his, but I'm glad he's gone. Heck, it pi$$e$ me off that he got to walk the same sideline that Coach Bryant walked.

I had some serious doubts about Coach Shula after the Arkansas game, but I think he's really growing into the job and I'm very optimistic about the future. I want Coach Shula to be the last BAMA HC I see in my lifetime.

 

[i4bama2]

Do you think the QB's Bama has right now could run the offense Fran had? Too small and not fast enough. Then again, he probablly would have sign a QB who could run and throw and Brodie might be sitting on the bench.

 

[rtrcam]

I hate the phony scumbag, but make no mistake, he's a good football coach. Without a doubt, our record would've been better last year, if for no other reason than continuity. I was a big supporter of his, but I'm glad he's gone. Heck, it pi$$e$ me off that he got to walk the same sideline that Coach Bryant walked.

I had some serious doubts about Coach Shula after the Arkansas game, but I think he's really growing into the job and I'm very optimistic about the future. I want Coach Shula to be the last BAMA HC I see in my lifetime.

God bless you, TommyMac, you're one of my favorite posters. I really feel like Coach Shula is the man for the job. It's hard to convince some BAMA fans of that. I guess, ultimately, we'll just have to wait and see.

To i4bama2, as far as what Brodie could have done with fRan's offense, I look back to the 2002 Arkansas game and the 2001 Auburn game. Those are two games in which the starting qb, Brodie in '02 and Andrew Zow in '01, weren't option style qbs but Alabama had over 500 yards and 30 pts in each game. A lot of what ifs, but who really knows the answers?

 

[i4bama2]

God bless you, TommyMac, you're one of my favorite posters. I really feel like Coach Shula is the man for the job. It's hard to convince some BAMA fans of that. I guess, ultimately, we'll just have to wait and see.

To i4bama2, as far as what Brodie could have done with fRan's offense, I look back to the 2002 Arkansas game and the 2001 Auburn game. Those are two games in which the starting qb, Brodie in '02 and Andrew Zow in '01, weren't option style qbs but Alabama had over 500 yards and 30 pts in each game. A lot of what ifs, but who really knows the answers?

True, but Fran's last year was a 10-3 season and Tyler was the QB most of the year. The QB Fran has now is a mobile Qb that can also throw the ball. Who know? That is in the past and I'm all for the future.

 

[ihatefulmer]

I hate the phony scumbag, but make no mistake, he's a good football coach. Without a doubt, our record would've been better last year, if for no other reason than continuity. I was a big supporter of his, but I'm glad he's gone. Heck, it pi$$e$ me off that he got to walk the same sideline that Coach Bryant walked.

I had some serious doubts about Coach Shula after the Arkansas game, but I think he's really growing into the job and I'm very optimistic about the future. I want Coach Shula to be the last BAMA HC I see in my lifetime.

Once again I agree with everything you said.I think we m9ight have won 9 or 10 last year with fran.that team had a lot of talent.I think more talent than this year.Tommy Mac your the man.

 

[NYBamaFan]

Okay, here is my take. We would have had a much better record last year and this year with the Fraud as our HC. But, we still would not have played in a bowl game last year - remember the probation? - and we would still not be nearly deep enough to win a NC this year. Net effect, more wins in the short term while Fraud built up his stock to move on later. Know this - he was going to leave. It was just a matter of time. The probation just chased him away sooner rather than later.

Now, we don't know how good Shula is or will be, but I would rather have him right now than Fraud (we now understand his true character) - even though we have fewer wins as a result.

I'll take character over wins, to a point. Shula needs a few more years, then the University will have enough information from which to form an opinion of his abilities as a HC. Let's not think of what might have been. Rather, let us think of what will be...