Replacement for Lane Kiffin

[McBaman]

Meanwhile back at USCw... one name being mentioned in ESPN articles is Jack Del Rio, currently a coordinator with the Broncos.  Probably an after-the-season hire if it were to happen.

[Catch Prothro]

Shula does not belong on that list.

I hope he was kidding.  Needed a "bs" smilie.

I just think it's past time to leave Mike Shula alone.  He came in under tough circumstances, did his best, didn't cause any new problems, and moved on when the timing was better to get an experienced coach.

Sorry, have to disagree. We must remember the past so we don't make the same mistake again. Same goes for DumBose, Bill Curry, & Mike Price. Those 3 were mistakes which deeply hurt the program. I know other posters grind their teeth when I or someone else criticizes a former coach/player, but that;s just the way I feel. Self-inflicted incompetence is not acceptable.


 

Shula took our HC job when no one else wanted it. He was in over his head. He did the best he could it just did not meet our standards so he had to go. I still think of him fondly. He was a good QB for us in the mid 80's. One of my favorite players from the Perkins era.

Yes, that's my point too.  We had just gone through Dubose, Franphony and Mike Price, were the laughing stock of the football world, had scholarship reductions and bowl bans.  Shula wasn't a mistake, he was the best we could do at the time.  Someone who, when momma called, dutifully left his NFL job and tried his best.  Yes, he was in over his head.  But he led that winning drive against Auburn -- which started a tradition in my family.  And Bama did have that one semi-magical season when they started 10-0, when Prothro got hurt in a blowout over highly ranked Florida, and the team just ran out of players and steam to stand toe-to-toe with Auburn and LSU at the end of the season.  Shula's family; you shouldn't make fun of your own.

[pmull]

Shula as a player was very good. He was starting QB in 85 & 86. In 85 he led us to a 9-2-1 record and # 13 finish. In 86 we went 10-3 with a # 9 finish. We won games over Ohio St, Notre Dame, Washington, Texas A&M and USCw.

Perkins played Shula during his true freshman year for a few downs in meaningless mop up duty in one game. That still makes me mad Perkins wasted that year.

Another note: Mrs pmull and my first date was the Notre Dame game in 1986.

[SUPERCOACH]

Shula does not belong on that list.

I hope he was kidding.  Needed a "bs" smilie.

I just think it's past time to leave Mike Shula alone.  He came in under tough circumstances, did his best, didn't cause any new problems, and moved on when the timing was better to get an experienced coach.

Sorry, have to disagree. We must remember the past so we don't make the same mistake again. Same goes for DumBose, Bill Curry, & Mike Price. Those 3 were mistakes which deeply hurt the program. I know other posters grind their teeth when I or someone else criticizes a former coach/player, but that's just the way I feel. Self-inflicted incompetence is not acceptable.


 

Shula does not belong on that list, but you forgot someone who does: Franchione.  Remember the circumstances around the Shula hire.  Fran had just lied to everybody and slipped away in the middle of the night.  We had just fired Mike Price for the strip club incident.  This was well after spring football.  We hired Shula in May.  Who else do you think you could have gotten then?  As CP mention, Shula left his NFL job to come running when mama called.  He was qualified in that he met the only qualification we had at that time:  he was willing to take the job and baby sit us through our NCAA troubles.  He did his best with the players that he had, and brought some much needed class back to the position, which had been sorely lacking since Stallings.  We owe him our respect and gratitude.

[ricky023]

Shula does not belong on that list.

I hope he was kidding.  Needed a "bs" smilie.

I just think it's past time to leave Mike Shula alone.  He came in under tough circumstances, did his best, didn't cause any new problems, and moved on when the timing was better to get an experienced coach.

Sorry, have to disagree. We must remember the past so we don't make the same mistake again. Same goes for DumBose, Bill Curry, & Mike Price. Those 3 were mistakes which deeply hurt the program. I know other posters grind their teeth when I or someone else criticizes a former coach/player, but that's just the way I feel. Self-inflicted incompetence is not acceptable.


 

Shula does not belong on that list, but you forgot someone who does: Franchione.  Remember the circumstances around the Shula hire.  Fran had just lied to everybody and slipped away in the middle of the night.  We had just fired Mike Price for the strip club incident.  This was well after spring football.  We hired Shula in May.  Who else do you think you could have gotten then?  As CP mention, Shula left his NFL job to come running when mama called.  He was qualified in that he met the only qualification we had at that time:  he was willing to take the job and baby sit us through our NCAA troubles.  He did his best with the players that he had, and brought some much needed class back to the position, which had been sorely lacking since Stallings.  We owe him our respect and gratitude.

 , well said SC. My compliments. He is still family to me.  , RTR!

[Marshal Dillon]

Shula does not belong on that list.

I hope he was kidding.  Needed a "bs" smilie.

I just think it's past time to leave Mike Shula alone.  He came in under tough circumstances, did his best, didn't cause any new problems, and moved on when the timing was better to get an experienced coach.

Sorry, have to disagree. We must remember the past so we don't make the same mistake again. Same goes for DumBose, Bill Curry, & Mike Price. Those 3 were mistakes which deeply hurt the program. I know other posters grind their teeth when I or someone else criticizes a former coach/player, but that;s just the way I feel. Self-inflicted incompetence is not acceptable.


 

Shula took our HC job when no one else wanted it. He was in over his head. He did the best he could it just did not meet our standards so he had to go. I still think of him fondly. He was a good QB for us in the mid 80's. One of my favorite players from the Perkins era.

Yes, that's my point too.  We had just gone through Dubose, Franphony and Mike Price, were the laughing stock of the football world, had scholarship reductions and bowl bans.  Shula wasn't a mistake, he was the best we could do at the time.  Someone who, when momma called, dutifully left his NFL job and tried his best.  Yes, he was in over his head.  But he led that winning drive against Auburn -- which started a tradition in my family.  And Bama did have that one semi-magical season when they started 10-0, when Prothro got hurt in a blowout over highly ranked Florida, and the team just ran out of players and steam to stand toe-to-toe with Auburn and LSU at the end of the season.  Shula's family; you shouldn't make fun of your own.

I am glad to see my fellow posters are making the exact point I am stressing. Fans have an almost blind devotion to anyone connected to Alabama, especially former players, which in the past has caused our program many problems. Surprising to hear that NO ONE is defending Mike DumBose, whose connection to Alabama is a hundred times stronger than Shula. DumBose started at Alabama, played for Coach Bryant, was ALL SEC at LB (I think),was born and raised in Alabama, played on 3 SEC Championship teams, and a National Championship (1973), was a position coach at Alabama for around 10 years, and won an SEC Championship as HC in 1999. The aroma of hypocrisy is very strong in the air right now. No one defends DumBose because he cheated on his wife, caused major sanctions to fall on the Tide, but mainly he was a LOUSY coach, just like Shula.

After Shula graduated from Alabama, he returned ONCE in 18 years for some event. Wow, he really had strong feelings and a connection to the university, didn't he? As far as Shula leaving his NFL job (QB coach making maybe $150,000 a year to take the head coaching job at a MAJOR university paying over $500,000) give me a break. It was a major upgrade for him. My overall point is, he should never of been hired, period. The AD & President screwed up, again. Joe Kines was on the staff and had prior HC experience. He should have been made interim HC then the Tide could have found a better candidate as coach for the next year. Same goes for DumBose & Curry. Curry was a proven loser at Georgia Tech, but Joab Thomas, then President of UA said that Bobby Bowden, who desperately wanted the job, did poorly on his job interview. I'm sure preppy-looking Curry made a better impression on a liberal school president than a short, stocky, down-home Bobby Bowden. How did that work out? DumBose had been a career position coach with 1 year as a DC. He should have never been selected as head coach based on such a resume` but guess what, he was the blindly devoted fan's choice and he was one of "Bear's Boys.". The athletic department received over 15,000 phone calls & emails to hire DumBose as head coach. How did the blindly devoted fan's choice work out for the football program?

I am scared to death the same situation will occur again when Saban finally retires. Fan's will demand a former or current Saban coach, who has not proved himself as a head coach first, be hired to replace him.
I don't care what if any connection a person has to the university, I want the best coach possible for the job, even if he graduated from Auburn, Georgia, or Notre Dame.

This is not an attack on any poster or fan because I really care about you guys and I think most of you are fine folks, but don't let your heart run away from your brain.


 

[SUPERCOACH]

I never wanted Dubose, Curry, Franchione, or Price.  I did want Shula, but that was because I wanted some stability with someone who would stick around until we were out of trouble with the NCAA.  We did not need another coach that would leave us hanging.  We paid Shula enough that he wasn't going anywhere.

Joe Kines had 1 year of head coaching experience with a 3-6-1 record.  Naming him interim coach for a year would not have helped.  A year later we still would not have been able to get a top name coach, and probably would have been locked in for 7 years with another Price or Franchione type coach.  2007 was the first year a big time coach would even be seriously interested.  When you are in NCAA trouble your coaching choices are limited and you have to go with someone like Shula.  Mal played the hand he was dealt quite well in my opinion, and upgraded as soon as he had the opportunity.

[pmull]

Dubose embarrassed the program with his personal life and the way he ran our program. He took over a stable program from Stallings and ran it in the ground. He should have been fired for his off the field issues and not for losing.

Mike Shula, while not a good coach, was a class person and represented us with integrity. I can't say that about Mike Dubose.

[Marshal Dillon]

I never wanted Dubose, Curry, Franchione, or Price.  I did want Shula, but that was because I wanted some stability with someone who would stick around until we were out of trouble with the NCAA.  We did not need another coach that would leave us hanging.  We paid Shula enough that he wasn't going anywhere.

Joe Kines had 1 year of head coaching experience with a 3-6-1 record.  Naming him interim coach for a year would not have helped.  A year later we still would not have been able to get a top name coach, and probably would have been locked in for 7 years with another Price or Franchione type coach.  2007 was the first year a big time coach would even be seriously interested.  When you are in NCAA trouble your coaching choices are limited and you have to go with someone like Shula.  Mal played the hand he was dealt quite well in my opinion, and upgraded as soon as he had the opportunity.

Glad to hear you were one of the more sane Tide fans who did not want DumBose. I was ambivalent about Price since I did not know much about him, except that he had taken Wash. State to the Rose Bowl twice. I thought Franchione was a good coach based on his record, but never anticipated him leaving Alabama the way he did. Also, there is no way we will ever know if we could have found a decent coach after Kines had been interim coach so that is just conjecture. We do know that Shula was a disaster. Plus, there were MANY fans who wanted to give Shula a 5th year and another chance. Amazing isn't it, what blind, ignorant devotion does to a person?

My response about this issue is more about the FUTURE and not the past. I really hope fans have learned something from the recent past and won't be obsessed with hiring one of "Saban's Boys" when he retires or we will be going down another risky path. I repeat, I want a proven coach who wins and I don't care where he went to college, where he previously coached, or if he speaks with a Yankee accent. I want a proven winner, period.


 




 

[SUPERCOACH]

I never wanted Dubose, Curry, Franchione, or Price. I did want Shula, but that was because I wanted some stability with someone who would stick around until we were out of trouble with the NCAA.  We did not need another coach that would leave us hanging.  We paid Shula enough that he wasn't going anywhere.

Joe Kines had 1 year of head coaching experience with a 3-6-1 record.  Naming him interim coach for a year would not have helped.  A year later we still would not have been able to get a top name coach, and probably would have been locked in for 7 years with another Price or Franchione type coach. 2007 was the first year a big time coach would even be seriously interested.  When you are in NCAA trouble your coaching choices are limited and you have to go with someone like Shula.  Mal played the hand he was dealt quite well in my opinion, and upgraded as soon as he had the opportunity.

Glad to hear you were one of the more sane Tide fans who did not want DumBose. I was ambivalent about Price since I did not know much about him, except that he had taken Wash. State to the Rose Bowl twice. I thought Franchione was a good coach based on his record, but never anticipated him leaving Alabama the way he did. Also, there is no way we will ever know if we could have found a decent coach after Kines had been interim coach so that is just conjecture. We do know that Shula was a disaster. Plus, there were MANY fans who wanted to give Shula a 5th year and another chance. Amazing isn't it, what blind, ignorant devotion does to a person?

My response about this issue is more about the FUTURE and not the past. I really hope fans have learned something from the recent past and won't be obsessed with hiring one of "Saban's Boys" when he retires or we will be going down another risky path. I repeat, I want a proven coach who wins and I don't care where he went to college, where he previously coached, or if he speaks with a Yankee accent. I want a proven winner, period.


 




 

Saying Kines would have been better than Shula is conjecture as well.

So, in the interest of moving the conversation forward, if Saban were to retire after this year, who would you want as a replacement?

[Marshal Dillon]

I never wanted Dubose, Curry, Franchione, or Price. I did want Shula, but that was because I wanted some stability with someone who would stick around until we were out of trouble with the NCAA.  We did not need another coach that would leave us hanging.  We paid Shula enough that he wasn't going anywhere.

Joe Kines had 1 year of head coaching experience with a 3-6-1 record.  Naming him interim coach for a year would not have helped.  A year later we still would not have been able to get a top name coach, and probably would have been locked in for 7 years with another Price or Franchione type coach. 2007 was the first year a big time coach would even be seriously interested.  When you are in NCAA trouble your coaching choices are limited and you have to go with someone like Shula.  Mal played the hand he was dealt quite well in my opinion, and upgraded as soon as he had the opportunity.

Glad to hear you were one of the more sane Tide fans who did not want DumBose. I was ambivalent about Price since I did not know much about him, except that he had taken Wash. State to the Rose Bowl twice. I thought Franchione was a good coach based on his record, but never anticipated him leaving Alabama the way he did. Also, there is no way we will ever know if we could have found a decent coach after Kines had been interim coach so that is just conjecture. We do know that Shula was a disaster. Plus, there were MANY fans who wanted to give Shula a 5th year and another chance. Amazing isn't it, what blind, ignorant devotion does to a person?

My response about this issue is more about the FUTURE and not the past. I really hope fans have learned something from the recent past and won't be obsessed with hiring one of "Saban's Boys" when he retires or we will be going down another risky path. I repeat, I want a proven coach who wins and I don't care where he went to college, where he previously coached, or if he speaks with a Yankee accent. I want a proven winner, period.


 




 

Saying Kines would have been better than Shula is conjecture as well.

So, in the interest of moving the conversation forward, if Saban were to retire after this year, who would you want as a replacement?

Wow, I have not given this any thought so I am caught somewhat off-guard. Off the top of my head without any deep thought my list would have the following names:


James Franklin
Hugh Frieze
Art Briles
Jimbo Fisher
Al Golden
Dabo Sweeney
Lane Kiffin-Is he available?

This list I came up with after 5 minutes of thought. I will think of some more after more concentration and would like some input from you & other posters. I am probably missing someone who is an obvious choice.


 

[cbbama99]

I like the idea of Dabo, and perhaps Al Golden. I don't think Jimbo would leave FSU (unless we gave him an INSANE amount of money). Not sold on any of the others on this list. Frieze has potential, as does Franklin, but neither has still proven much yet. No way do I want Art Briles. He REALLY hasn't proven anything, other than he can beat a vastly underachieving Texas team. Lane couldn't get hired at Little Sisters of the Poor.

Chris Peterson?
Gary Barnett?

[Marshal Dillon]

I like the idea of Dabo, and perhaps Al Golden. I don't think Jimbo would leave FSU (unless we gave him an INSANE amount of money). Not sold on any of the others on this list. Frieze has potential, as does Franklin, but neither has still proven much yet. No way do I want Art Briles. He REALLY hasn't proven anything, other than he can beat a vastly underachieving Texas team. Lane couldn't get hired at Little Sisters of the Poor.

Chris Peterson?
Gary Barnett?

I agree with your assessment, they have shown potential and would not be the #1 choice. Peterson ain't leaving the West and Gary Barnett is over 65 years old. Briles did a solid job at Kentucky and has done the same at Baylor. He deserves a hard look. Fisher might prefer the SEC over the mighty ACC. I am still thinking about other possible replacements.

 

[cbbama99]

I like the idea of Dabo, and perhaps Al Golden. I don't think Jimbo would leave FSU (unless we gave him an INSANE amount of money). Not sold on any of the others on this list. Frieze has potential, as does Franklin, but neither has still proven much yet. No way do I want Art Briles. He REALLY hasn't proven anything, other than he can beat a vastly underachieving Texas team. Lane couldn't get hired at Little Sisters of the Poor.

Chris Peterson?
Gary Barnett?

I agree with your assessment, they have shown potential and would not be the #1 choice. Peterson ain't leaving the West and Gary Barnett is over 65 years old. Briles did a solid job at Kentucky and has done the same at Baylor. He deserves a hard look. Fisher might prefer the SEC over the mighty ACC. I am still thinking about other possible replacements.

 

Didn't realize Gary up to that age (I won't say old, in respect to my elders here on the board.    )

[2Stater]

I would put my money on Golden. With all the crap that Miami has gone through, he has managed to do a good recruiting job and has kept the team respectable.

Don't underestimate Kirby. He has been in Saban's system a long time and can recruit as well as anybody out there.

If I were Bill Battle, providing he is still here when CNS decides to retire ('cause he ain't going to another team), I would give those 2 the hardest look.

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