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.
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