the trifecta
Wow… lots has happened since Christmas.
First, James Brown dies on Christmas day. Bummer for the world of music. And, for Eddie Murphy in that matter. He did a great imitation on SNL.
Then, President Gerald Ford died. Of course, he was 93… so it was somewhere down the line. It’s strange to be living in Washington, D.C. with all of this going on. With Ford lying in state, I will most likely drop down to the Capitol and see him. After all, due to the federal government’s day of mourning set for Tuesday, I’m allowed an extra day off. I feel I should be grateful, and mourn with the country. Ford has a unique place in U.S. history, as he is the only un-elected president to serve, and one of the few congressmen that became president. For that, and for the efforts he put forth to unite the country after a violent disgraceful war in Vietnam, and a shameful presidency ending in resignation by Nixon, he should be honored. Not many would be able to carry that burden on their shoulders.
Of course when a person dies, you always expect it to come in threes. For the perfect three, it has been an intentional death by hanging… that being Saddam Hussein. While I believe it is best for humanity that he is not the ruling power in Iraq, I feel that his death wasn’t exactly justified by the means that the U.S. captured him. But, that’s another story for another day. It goes along the lines of my feelings about the entire Iraq war in general.
So, with that, Happy Holidays… and Happy New Year. Here’s to 2007, and what it might bring. I don’t know if 2007 will be fabulous (but, the Dems to lead the House and Senate shouldn’t hurt), but I’m definitely looking forward to 2008, with Edwards declaring his run for the presidency, and a very hopeful Barack Obama announcement to come.
To be honest, I just hope to hear 2 great announcements from the University of Alabama… first that we have a new head coach, and second that we have fired current Athletic Director Mal Moore. Those would make my 2007 just perfect.
open letter to mal moore
Below is a letter that I sent to Mal Moore today, earlier before we found out that WVU counteroffered, and Rodriguez stayed.
Hello Mr. Moore,
I am writing to you to today as both a former student and an avid fan. But, nonetheless, I’m very concerned about the football program at the University of Alabama.
There are a few things that worry me about the recent decisions that have been made in the athletic department. First of all, while I’m one of the first to be excited that we have a new head coach named for next year. Having Rodriguez come on board at this time will be great, allowing him to build relationships and trust with the players. However, I am concerned about the strategy that was used. I’m sure you remember former coach Dennis Franchione, and how he left Alabama in disgrace, by not being upfront with the University, and leaving within a contract that he promised to fulfill. Most fans believed he would be at UA for a long time… but, he abandoned the program. I’m ashamed that we are receiving Rodriguez in the same fashion. He will be responsible for the same departure toward the players, students, and fans of West Virginia. It is appalling that we, as the University of Alabama with strong ties to class and tradition, would conduct a deal such as this.
I must also confess that I was upset to hear that Coach Shula had been released. He has made great strides in the program at the University, bringing great players in while we were still under probation, and building the program up to its former glory. He knows what it means to play for UA, and he understands the great tradition that all players, students, and fans hold dear to their hearts. To release him before his work was completed, to me, is unacceptable. I also sincerely hope that your decision to release him was not based solely on the fact that he lost 4 years in a row to Auburn. He had many hurdles to jump to get the team back to our standards. The athletic department cannot assume that anyone is able to make such drastic changes when our team has been plagued by controversy and scandal in the past decade.
I hope that Rodriguez will be given opportunity that was not given to Shula (even though, it would be unfair). Because, if any man is expected to live a parallel coaching career as one great coach did before, in the likeness of Bear Bryant, we will continually fail at our goal. I urge you to allow the football program to grow as it should, and not burden it with impossible expectations.
I remain a loyal fan, even though displaced from the state, to Alabama football. I will always cheer and sing Rammer Jammer to the top of my lungs when Alabama claims victory. I will also mourn when we’ve had a difficult loss. But, I also desire to see stability in the program, so that it can be what we all believe it to be: Alabama football.
Thank you for your time, Mr. Moore.
let it
SNOW! It’s snowing here in D.C., and it’s just December 7! Exciting stuff… now if it would just accumulate!
I can dream…
bama now says…
The new head coach of Alabama football will now be Rich Rodriguez, who is currently/will be formerly head coach of the University of West Virginia. At least we’re not the last ones to hire a coach… thank goodness.
This doesn’t mean that I like Mal Moore, though.
Update (12/8/06, 7:13): Or, maybe WVU will offer Rodriguez a counter-offer… Bama stays coachless.
coaching change… again.
So, everyone now knows that the University of Alabama’s head coach, Mike Shula, was currently fired. Most Auburn fans would love to think that it’s because UA has lost to Auburn for 5 straight years, 4 of those years under Shula’s leadership. However, this is just not the case. I know I don’t live in Alabama any longer, but as an alum, I feel that I have an insight into this. Mike Shula was, in fact, a great coach, but he had a few flaws… namely that he couldn’t let go of the offense. As a former QB, he is inclined to want to run the offense. But, as a head coach, you’ve got to have some staff that can make just as informed decisions. Your job as a head coach is to lead the assistant coaches.
Now, to say that it is all Shula’s fault is not fair. I mean, the man came into a program under heavy probation and no scholarships. Bama’s team is INCREDIBLY young now, because we finally got scholarships back and have now been redeemed in the eyes of the NCAA (no thanks to Tennessee head coach Phil Fulmer). Just as famed presidents (and now future presidents) have incurred, Shula inherited problems created by coaches before his time, and he shouldn’t be punished… and neither should the next POTUS, either. 
However, I will state that this cop-out by the spineless athletic director, Mal Moore, is only proof that he serves the big-paying alums rather than the school. Yes, UA is a program of tradition, but when that tradition is tainted by Mike Dubose, Dennis Franchione, and Mike Price, it takes time to build it back up. For Moore to make such quick judgments off of the big spenders is a serious flaw he will never overcome.
Yes, Shula made 2 HORRIBLE calls during the Alabama/Auburn game. Yes, we had a less-than-desired season. Yes, we lost to the worst team in the conference. But, just as every dog has its day, so goes the football team. I mean, FSU had a few good years, and where are they now? Will they axe Bowden because of a few bad year? Nonsense.
One thing, though, that I will stand by in the coaching replacement decision, is that whomever becomes the new head coach at the university should have strong ties to the program. Whenever we have ventured outside of that longstanding tradition of Alabama football, we have been shamed and embarrassed by the men in the position. And, I refuse to let my school go down like that. So, if we must find an exact replica of the Bear, I’m totally for it. I mean, it’s ALABAMA FOOTBALL. We expect nothing but the best.
Therefore, as my brother has shared with me today, UA has unleashed a new program to establish our new head coach:
And, if you’re a Bama fan, you still have to laugh…
