CECIL HURT: Does Alabama have the best coach it could have?

[DKW 86 7,428]

http://tidesports.com/article/20061118/NEW...1067/SPORTS0106

Hurt knows something or he would never write multiple articles like this.

CECIL HURT: Does Alabama have the best coach it could have?

There could be a million questions asked about Saturday’s Alabama-Auburn game — and 999,999 of them don’t matter.

Forget about asking the many obvious strategic questions that came up — they don’t matter.

The first-quarter decision not to go for a touchdown when the offense bogged down (again) inside the Auburn 5-yard line? It doesn’t matter.

The second-quarter decision to pursue a frivolous 2-point conversion (after a timeout to think about it)? It doesn’t matter.

The fourth-quarter decision to go for a fourth-and-15 at the Auburn 18 with 5:17 remaining, after sending the kicking team on and (again) wasting a valuable timeout to think about it? It doesn’t matter.

The swinging gate at the right end of the Alabama offensive line that allowed two crucial fumble-causing hits on John Parker Wilson? It doesn’t matter.

Debate those strategic decisions — what play was called, what players were in the game — all you want. They had an impact on the outcome, of course, but are just symptoms that have recurred in one form or another in every single game this season, six less-than-stellar wins and now six dismal losses, including all three games in November.

To continue with the questions...

Should 6-6 Alabama accept a bowl bid, in the increasingly unlikely event that one is extended by the Independence Bowl, or one of the couple of off-brand bowls that might have an opening? It doesn’t matter.

What about the inability to come back from a fourth-quarter deficit for the 19th — or is it the 20th — straight time? It doesn’t matter.

The staggeringly consistent failure to score more than 20 points in regulation in any SEC game this season? It doesn’t matter.

The 2-8 record in the last 10 SEC games? It doesn’t matter.

The five straight losses to Auburn, including one Saturday that confirmed that the Tigers don’t even have to play at the top of their form to win the game on Alabama’s home turf. Certainly, AU did most of the little things better than Alabama did — but their quarterback was hurting, and their defense made some mistakes. It didn’t matter. Auburn now feels it can win, regardless, against Alabama, and while it’s futile to look four years down the road, one can rest assured that the Tigers have Paul Bryant’s series record of nine straight wins prominently on their orange-and-blue “To Do” list.

Some day, there will be time to reflect on all those things. This morning isn’t that time.

There is just one question that matters today. I can ask it, or you can ask it, but it doesn’t matter unless the right person at the University of Alabama asks it.

Does the Crimson Tide football program have the best head coach it could have?

If the answer is “yes,” then nothing more needs to be said.

If the answer is “no,” then there are a few follow-up questions, like “why?” and “what is to be done about that?”

No other considerations should make any difference. Yes, there is a short list of reasons to keep Mike Shula as the Tide’s head coach in the wake of a 6-6 season and a fifth straight loss to Auburn. Most of them are financial, or perceptual. It would cost a lot of money — $4 million, give or take a little — to buy him out.

Or it might be that, since Shula took the job when Alabama was in dire straits, it wouldn’t be gentlemanly to make a move, even as the gap between UA and the league’s top programs seems to be widening, not narrowing.

Or it might just be the path of least resistance to simply stick with the status quo, to not go about the tough chore of attracting a proven replacement.

But unless the reason is that he is the best coach Alabama could have right now, do the above considerations really matter?

Will someone at the University of Alabama actually ask the hard question?

One has to hope so. It’s been debated over the past few weeks and, despite what some have said, there was no firm answer reached before the Auburn game.

Shula himself said there would be “an evaluation” of the wreckage of the 2006 season, a reconnaissance of the smoldering ruins that would involve his own evaluation of the coaching staff and would “probably” involve Athletic Director Mal Moore and University President Dr. Robert Witt.

No one is surprised that the higher-ups want answers, ones which should have been demanded before now, frankly. In that process, perhaps Shula can make his case, and explain how things that did not get one iota better from the first week of the season to the last week, will get better with another spring, or another offseason.

Perhaps he’ll recommend staff changes — he made a postgame allusion to Tennessee’s improvement from 2005 to 2006 that clearly begged the question of a new offensive coordinator, at a minimum.

Things like staff changes, or philosophy changes, or recruiting changes, are all trivial details, though, when compared to the one important question.

To repeat it: Does the Crimson Tide football program have the best head coach it could have?

It isn’t an easy question, even if increasingly frustrated UA fans have a quick answer ready. It’s tough to factor out all the variables, like Mike Shula being a good person (which he is). But it’s got to be asked. It probably should have been asked and answered already, but the deadline for a response has now arrived, inescapably.

For Alabama’s sake, it better be the right answer. Because if it isn’t, then the question you’ll be hearing a few years from now might very well be, “Whatever happened to Alabama football?” and — what is far worse — the answer might come hauntingly back.

“It doesn’t matter.”

[Ranger12 46]

Let the crumbling begin.

Who can UAT get? They will never be able to bring on the top, proven coaches. It will have to be somebody from a lesser program. Bobby Johnson would be a good candidate. Would Nutt leave Arky? Who in the pros would come back to the college level? Is there anybody decent that is willing to saddle that horse?

[AU alum 2]

As much as I think Shula is not a good coach - the adjectives crummy, rotten, stupid all come to mind - I don't think 100% of the problem at Alabama is Shula. Part is changing coaches every few years, part is a lack of talent (sure, they have a few good players, but they don't play as a team), and I think a big part is that there are higher ups at Alabama that don't allow Shula to act autonomously as a coach should. They are running the show, and he wouldn't be allowed to make a decision, if indeed he can. Y'all may agree or disagree. I hope he stays at Alabama forever. That will make our job easier.

[Ranger12 46]

Shula is not a good/winning coach anywhere he has been, which made his hire even more confusing. If have to disagree with him not having talent. He has a butt-load of talent on that team. He just can't control them and he can't coach him. Problem I hear, and David can back this up, is that Shula is in too much control and does not give his coaching staff the support they need.

I have a very good source connected to the program. Shula has shut off programs that was their for support and guidance to the players. These programs have been there for years.

[sntemp 0]

Shula is not a good/winning coach anywhere he has been, which made his hire even more confusing. If have to disagree with him not having talent. He has a butt-load of talent on that team. He just can't control them and he can't coach him. Problem I hear, and David can back this up, is that Shula is in too much control and does not give his coaching staff the support they need.

I have a very good source connected to the program. Shula has shut off programs that was their for support and guidance to the players. These programs have been there for years.

More puzzling than the original hire is the extension they gave him.

[PChamp119 96]

Believe it or not: Spurrier was in town eating lunch earlier this week or something of the sort.

Rumor is Shula told his players in the locker room "This was my last game as a head coach"

[AUloggerhead 2,238]

Cecil has been consistently critical of Shulla all year. I still believe uat won't get rid of him until the end of next season. He has one year to produce some significant wins or he's gone. A few coaching staff shakeups are in order, though.

[Tigermike 3,037]

I have a very good source connected to the program. Shula has shut off programs that was their for support and guidance to the players. These programs have been there for years.

Logan Young died, that had something to do with those programs being "shut off".

[tigernt'town 4]

i believe the mike shula era in tuscaloosa is over, they will probably do it before christmas. i feel bad for him. i don't like to see anyone celebrate anyone losing their job, i agree with sonny and wimp, it is a bad thing.

[WarTim 3,456]

Y E S ! ! !

"MR. SHULA" is a GREAT, I say GREAT, Coach and should be retained for AT LEAST FOUR more YEARS ! ! !

WDE ! ! !

GIMME' F I V E ! ! ! !

[Fosterdude 0]

The commentators here just didn’t know what was coming down the pike.   Did they? 😂 🤣

It was Saban riding a dragon.