Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda

Now that the Bama Nation is being held hostage by the Almighty Powers That Be at the University: Moore, Witt, and Portera, isn't it time to really evaluate the process used to evaluate the performance of a coaching staff?

Let's start with the hiring of Shula.

Moore recommends, Witt swallows, and Portera laps it up.

Shula's hired.

First, no head coaching experience. Second, already fired from one job for the same offenses ( or lack of an offense) that have resonated all season long at Bama, Shula's inexperience has grown increasingly worse with each year.

Now, if you are the supervisor or even CEO of a business that has put a totally inexperienced person into such a vaunted position as the head football coach at Alabama, wouldn't you periodically evaluate his and his staff's performance BEFORE the end of the first season? So why are we just now after four seasons starting to say, you know Mike, maybe we better change a coach or two?

Truthfully, unless you want to lose a huge chunk of the Alabama fans, you better change more than a coach or two.

Perhaps the real question is, shouldn't we be evaluating the lack of oversight by Moore, Witt, and Portera these last four years?

You see, the hole is dug. Shula has lost the confidence of the average Bama fan. Changing the coaching staff is now more difficult because how will you get any credible coach (hopefully Coaches) to come on board a rudderless and sinking ship whose captain refuses to change his course and is facing a dubious future? What players are willing to commit to a team that is sinking faster than the Titanic?

Moore, Witt, and Portera, there's your legacy. Hope you can live with it.

Fans Must Unite

If the Board of Trustees and the UA administration think Shula coached a good game against Auburn, then they are either complete morons or so high on their own selves that they can't see straight.

Mike Shula has become the laughing stock of college football. Every day that he is left at the helm to "evaluate" his staff is money and time lost.

Serious, I mean real serious recruiting enters some of it's final stages in the next week. Again, what quality player in his right mind would want to play at Alabama under Shula? What players, currently there, have considered transferring to a quality program?

More importantly, what options are left to the fans if the UA Administration and BOT in their infinite stupidity and idiocy retain Shula? Economics. Institutions, like individuals, think with the pocketbook.

If Bryant-Denny is empty next fall, it will send a message. If Bama merchandise does not sell, it will send a message. If contributions to the UA and the Alumni association drop significantly, it will send a message.

BAMA NATION, unite and send a message. If not, with Shula at the helm, the Tide will not rise for a long, long time.

Shula's Evaluation

The Thumb will haunt the Alabama program for years. Oh, it's not just the humiliation and ridicule dispensed by the Auburnites, but it will be another four years at least till we see relief. Why?

It's called the recruiting wars. What decent football player will sign to come play for a team that cannot win but 2 SEC games?

I don't know about you, but I don't like complacency.

Now the most insulting remarks from Shula came during his press conference on Sunday. In time he will sit down and do some evaluations. Why does he need time to evaluate the program? Where has he been all season?

Good coaches evaluate every day. Great coaches evaluate every second of every day.

Everybody admits Shula is a terrific person, but he is not an SEC coach. The Alabama program is on life support, and unfortunately we may not be able to resuscitate the great program Coach Bryant built.

If one ever believed in prayer, now is the time to pray that the powers to be are doing some very serious soul searching. Can they live with their decision to pull the life support plug that has endowed many programs for the University's academic program?

It's Iron Bowl Week

Every BAMA fan needs to remember Tommy "Thumb" Tubberville's condescending comments about BAMA the last time the Barn came to T-Town. Every BAMA fan needs to remember Tommy "Thumb" Tubberville's actions last year in the Barn.

After all, Elephants never forget!

It's time for the Red Elephants to do some stomping on the war eagles and the Thumb!

Let's ROLL TIDE ROLL!

Letter to Dr. Witt

Dear Dr. Witt, Mr. Moore, Members of the Board of Trustees:

I am writing to express my absolute dismay with the appalling disintegration of the Crimson Tide football program. The probation excuse has run its course and can no longer be acceptable for the program’s failure.

Perhaps because of your elevated positions you don’t quite understand the pain, agony, and hurt the average Alabama fan is experiencing.

I was born, raised, and will die Crimson. I was attending Alabama football games before Coach Bryant heard Mama’s call to come home and restore the glory. I chose to attend the University for my undergraduate as well as my graduate degrees. For thirty-six years I have contributed regularly to the University’s School of Arts and Sciences as well as to the National Alumni Association. In fact, my husband and I helped organize and start the South Central Pennsylvania National Alumni Association Chapter.

I don’t believe Coach Bryant and Alabama greats like Johnny Mack Brown, Fred Sington, Bill Lee, Don Hutson, etc. would rely on the probation excuse nor would they tolerate an unenthusiastic coach who had consistently failed to prepare his team to play four quarters.

For those of us who are the fans and alumni, we do have a voice that is desperate to be heard. We are the ones who tailgate, come to the games, stand to greet the players arriving at Bryant-Denny, cheer our hearts out, buy the Bama souvenirs, buy the high priced tickets, and Roll with the Tide 365 days a year. Why? Not because we’re hired by the University, but because we believe the Tide Rolls Forever. WE LOVE THE TIDE.

Your failure to hear our voices will not stop our love for the Tide, but it will slow down our desire to make financial contributions, to attend games, to buy souvenirs. Granted the majority of us don’t contribute the mega dollar donations that wealthy donors contribute, but we contribute sincere spirit and love for the Crimson Tide. The majority of fans and alumni are not the benefactors of accrued wealth, but we are the heart and soul of the Crimson Tide.

For the sake of not destroying the Glory of the Crimson that Coach Bryant worked so diligently to establish, rectify the woes of the Athletic Department and the football program. If discipline is a problem, correct it. If leadership is the problem, correct it. If accountability is the problem, correct it.

Waiting a year or two to correct the problem is not the solution. Waiting a year will only destroy beyond resurrection a once vaunted program that is now a national joke and shame. Trust me, it is not only in the state of Alabama or the SEC that the name of Alabama no longer carries with it a respect that it once carried with great pride, but it has lost the respect throughout the nation.

You are the only ones who can correct the problem. Your failure to do so will be your burden and legacy.

Thank you for your attention to this grave matter.

Time For A Tidal Wave

"Just a really tough day," Coach Mike Shula said.

My tolerance point is beyond saturation. After a humiliating defeat at the hands of a hapless Mississippi State football team, the above statement was the comment from Mike Shula. You have got to be kidding me!!

Where is the outrage? Where is the incredulous disappointment by the head coach? Where is the responsibility? Where is the accountability?

For the players, the potential recruits, the University, the fans, the students, the alumni...it is TIME NOW for leadership from the AD's office.

Every passing day is conceding that mediocrity has become our mantra.

Shula fails to show the tough leadership, the management and delegation of authority, the enthusiasm and determination required of a Head Coach.

Coaching isn't an 8-5 day at the office. Coaching is a full time calling and commitment to showing vision and leadership.

Let's hope that someone in authority at the University is tired of mediocrity, or in this case, apathy.

If the University officials are not going to take responsibility, it is time for the “A” Club members to step up and speak out. It’s time for the alumni to step up and make their voices heard. I for one will withhold my alumni contributions until this crisis is resolved. And yes, it is a crisis. It is beginning to resemble a lack of institutional control, and the voice of the fans and the alumni may be the only way to resolve this crisis.