Alabama is going to get murderized.

cj8lvr wrote: Al wrote: Alabama is going to get murderized. Thought you didn't watch sports?

Didn't Hemmingway say that there are only three sports - auto racing, horse racing, and mountain climbing.  Everything else is just a game.

YJWonderboy wrote: mdmTJ wrote: Didn't Hemmingway say that there are only three sports - auto racing, horse racing, and mountain climbing.  Everything else is just a game. Ooooo Hemmingway! ...and when you REALLY think about it...he's right! ...and yes, auto racing is all inclusive, meaning Off-roading is a sport!

I like the way this guy thinks!

It's amaizing to me to see how far down the Tide has fallen.  I don't think they have beeten but one top ten team in the last 10 years.  I don't see anything that's going to change that any time soon.

The statistic they showed at the end of the first half was hard to believe.  Shulla has not won a single game of the 18 games in which he was behind at the end of the 3rd quarter.  Does that make now 19 games now?

Brad (Fair weather Bama fan)

You gotta support the team, stick with 'em through the good times and the bad.  Bama has been a powerhouse in the past, and they will be again.  Firing Shula would be a very good move....for Auburn.  I think Shula is one of the better things that's happened to UAT since Stallings retired.  Bama fans need to learn some patience.

The sad truth is that Auburn is the one who has problems.  We have not improved since our first game of the season; we have been on a steady decline.  Cox is a lousy QB, if anyone gets fired it should be him.  If it werent for AU defense which is incredible, we would not be winnning ANY games.

As someone who has a degree from each school, I am for AU in every game and Bama every game but one.

I would have been inssaulting if Auburn lost, considering that MSU beat Bama.  Shula better start looking for a new home.

GO BULLDOGS!!!!

Al wrote: I don't need to watch sports to know that Alabama is going down the tubes Auburn-wise. The more immediate and real question is:  Will Shula be allowed to keep his job?

Latest Tide loss brings questions about Shula

Walter Cronkite, called "the most respected man in America'' when he was anchoring the CBS News, once enthusiastically supported America's involvement in Vietnam.

But by the time of the Tet offensive in 1968, his disillusionment had reached a point where he publicly expressed the opinion that the war in Vietnam was "unwinnable.''

Upon hearing this, President Lyndon Johnson is said to have exclaimed: "If I've lost Walter, I've lost the country.'' Not long afterward, Johnson announced he would not seek, nor would he accept, the nomination of his party in the '68 presidential race.

The LBJ story came to mind during a perusal of Cecil Hurt's column in Sunday morning's Tuscaloosa News the day after Auburn's 22-15 victory over Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Hurt, who grew up in Huntsville and attended Butler High before heading off to college at Alabama, is one the state's most gifted and insightful sports writers. No mainstream journalist anywhere is better connected when it comes to the University of Alabama football program.

After Alabama's fifth straight loss to Auburn, which saddled this year's disappointing team with a 6-6 regular-season record, Hurt openly voiced a question that he has obliquely danced around in recent weeks. Namely: Does the Crimson Tide football program have the best head coach it could have?

The clear implication was no.

Which begs the question, "If Mike Shula has lost Cecil Hurt, has he lost the Alabama nation?"

This is not to suggest that the Alabama president Robert Witt, Alabama athletic director Mal Moore and the Alabama board of trustees make decisions on personnel matters based on the opinions of newspapermen, even those as respected as the sports editor of the Tuscaloosa News.

What it does suggest, however, is Shula's job may not be as secure as recent public statements of support would seem to imply. There seems little doubt that the loss to Mississippi State three games ago might have signaled a tipping point, and that subsequent losses to LSU and Auburn - leaving Shula 0-8 against those two SEC Western division rivals - only exacerbated the snowballing level of discontent in the unhappy Alabama family.

At a minimum, it now seems fairly clear that Shula will have to cut loose one or more assistant coaches. Whether that would be enough, however, is uncertain.

This much is certain: Despite all the well-documented hardships and handicaps Shula inherited when he was hired by his alma mater in 2003, a 26-23 record after four years - not to mention a long string of futility against your in-state rival - is not acceptable at Alabama.

There are a variety of options, of course. But one or more of them need to be undertaken without undue delay.

No coaching change should be contemplated lightly, especially one that would require a buyout in the neighborhood of $4 million. It should also be remembered that seldom does such a change produce immediate enduring results. Consider the history of Alabama football since Gene Stalling's departure in 1996.

On the other hand, there's something to be said for those who argue that the sooner you stop the bleeding, the quicker the healing can begin.

Contact John Pruett at johnp@htimes.com

Shula's job security uncertain

Mike Shula's job as Alabama's football coach is uncertain, three days after the Crimson Tide lost its third straight game to wrap up a disappointing 6-6 season.

Athletic director Mal Moore and university president Robert Witt are expected to meet with Shula regarding the future of the program. It wasn't clear if that meeting took place Monday or is yet to occur.

Momentum appears to be growing toward possibly removing Shula but the situation was termed as "fluid" by an athletic department source on Monday.

Other sources said that Shula still had strong support among key members of the school's board of trustees. But some staunch Shula supporters on the board also seemed to be weakening.

The school considered releasing a prepared statement regarding Shula's status Monday. But officials opted against it.

The gist of Shula's meeting with Witt and Moore is expected to revolve around an inconsistent offense that struggled to score touchdowns in every Southeastern Conference game this season.

Shula calls every play on offense in consultation with offensive coordinator Dave Rader.

The next step after the meeting could be, according to one source, Witt possibly bringing a recommendation to the board of trustees' athletic committee.

Meanwhile, Shula met with his staff for most of the day Monday in preparation for recruiting visits that will resume next week. Shula said Sunday that his staff would likely be on Thanksgiving vacation starting today.

Sources spoke to The Times on Monday on the condition of anonymity.

Shula's job security uncertain

A decision on whether Shula remains or is dismissed is considered imminent - possibly as early as today or as late as early next week.

And if he is not brought back, it would be the culmination of a spectacular free fall for the son of Don Shula, the winningest coach in NFL history.

He guided the Tide to a 10-2 record in his third season last year, including landmark wins over Florida and Tennessee. Alabama capped the season by defeating Texas Tech 13-10 in the Cotton Bowl.

It seemed to be a breakthrough season after the Tide went 10-15 in Shula's first two seasons as the school endured crushing sanctions for NCAA violations committed before Shula was hired.

He was then rewarded with a new six-year contract worth $1.8 million, which Shula signed on May 4, 2006.

If he is fired, the school would owe Shula $3 million, plus $200,000 for each year remaining on the contract. That raises the buyout to $4 million.

Meanwhile, Alabama officials are busy on another front.

The Tide has been in contact with officials from the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego and the Motor City Bowl in Detroit. Alabama could be left out of the SEC bowl tie-ins because of its 6-6 record and may need to look elsewhere for a postseason game.

The Poinsettia Bowl, played on Dec. 19, has an at-large bid against a Mountain West Conference opponent.

The Motor City Bowl, played on Dec. 26, matches a Mid-America Conference team against a Big Ten Conference team. But the Big Ten will not have enough eligible teams to fill its bowl tie-ins.

Alabama could still land in the Independence Bowl if South Carolina loses to Clemson on Saturday or if the SEC gets two teams in the BCS.

Source says Shula will return in '07

But other changes could involve staff, source says

Mike Shula will return as Alabama's coach in 2007, but there will be changes to the football program, a knowledgeable source said Tuesday.

High-ranking university officials have no intention of making a change in the head coach, according to the source who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The school has not made a formal statement regarding Shula since the regular season ended Saturday with the 22-15 loss to Auburn.

Numerous requests for comment from athletic director Mal Moore have not been granted. If a statement is made, it apparently won't be made until after the Thanksgiving holidays.

But Shula will return for a fifth season, the source said.

The Tuscaloosa News reported on its Web site Tuesday night that the evaluation of the football program was ongoing and that no decision had been made on Shula or his staff. The report cited sources close to the Alabama athletic department.

There are expected to be significant changes within the program after the Tide has had just one winning season under Shula in four years (Alabama still could improve to 7-6 this season with a bowl win, assuming it receives an invitation).

Those changes likely will involve members of Shula's coaching staff.

That's consistent with what Shula has described as a comprehensive evaluation of the program that will take place in the wake of what the coach has termed a disappointing season.

Shula is gone, fired.  What a stupid move for UA, what a good move for AU.  War Eagle!!

Nope, time for him to go.  Nice guy and I'm sure he gave it his best, but he just didn't have the leadership qualities to be a head coach at a Bama.  If I were an Auburn fan, I would have wanted him to stay to.  He had 4 years.  He came in under bad circumstances.  He did get crapped on a bit.  I'm sure he will cry all the way to the bank with his millions.

Now, looking forward.  Bama needs Spurier and Spurier needs Bama.  Will the good 'ole boy network in Tuscaloosa offer him the job, I don't know.  Will he take it if offered?  Absolutely.

Brad

I cant support Spurier no matter who he's coaching, he just too much of a (o)

Old Spurier joke: why does Steve Spurier always wear a ball cap or a visor?  It covers up his circumcision scar.