groundgame
Rotational Player and Threatening Starter's Job
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Shula Sr.'s also probably ticked off that Saban takes over the Bama job his son was just fired from.
Updated:2007-01-05 10:55:11
As Saban Leaves, Don Shula Talks of ‘Lies’
The New York Times
As Nick Saban was introduced as football coach at Alabama yesterday, Don Shula, who coached the Miami Dolphins to two Super Bowl titles, criticized Saban, saying he had “run away from the challenge” in leaving Miami with three years left on his contract.
“There were four or five direct statements that were blatant lies,” Shula told The Miami Herald, referring to denials from Saban that he had an interest in the Alabama job. “That tells you a bit about the guy.”
Shula added, “The guy likes to hear himself talk and then doesn’t follow up on what he says.”
Shula’s son Mike was fired as Alabama’s coach on Nov. 27. The Tide went 6-7 this season.
At his introduction in Tuscaloosa, Saban spoke of his championship aspirations and cited his love of college football as a reason for taking a pay cut to leave the Dolphins after 9-7 and 6-10 seasons, The Associated Press reported.
“My heart’s here; I love it here,” said Saban, who was making $4.5 million a year with Miami and reportedly has agreed to an eight-year, $30 million deal. “I like to affect people, and that’s why I’m here. This is obviously one of the best places in the country to have an opportunity to do that.”
Fanhouse Bloggers React
AP
Get in the NCAA Fanhouse for up-close coverage of your team.
Pete Holiday Says: "The bottom line is that it means more wins immediately. ... But the whole process has shown us something else, too. The national media has made it a point to say as often as possible that the Tide was washed up. ... Instead, national sports media basically stopped in their tracks this morning waiting for the announcement." -- Alabama Blogger Reacts Taking over a program that won five national titles under Bear Bryant, Saban refused to dwell in the past.
“It’s what you do now,” he said.
His résumé features the one thing Alabama fans hunger for: a national title.
“I know there’s tremendous expectations here,” Saban said. “I can tell you that, however you feel about it, I have even higher expectations for what we want to accomplish. I want to win every game we play.”
Saban led Alabama’s divisional rival Louisiana State to a national title in 2003 and two Southeastern Conference championships before joining Miami in late 2004.
Alabama has not won the conference or even the Western Division since 1999 under Mike DuBose. The Crimson Tide’s latest national title — its sixth — came in 1992 under Gene Stallings. Alabama has had four losing seasons since 1997.
“His teams always play with confidence and pride and I know that in order to win a national championship, a team has to be mentally as well as physically tough,” said Alabama’s athletic director, Mel Moore, who played and coached under Bryant.
As for the salary, Moore said, “I just think it was a very crucial hire for us in this time in our history.”
Updated:2007-01-05 10:55:11
As Saban Leaves, Don Shula Talks of ‘Lies’
The New York Times
As Nick Saban was introduced as football coach at Alabama yesterday, Don Shula, who coached the Miami Dolphins to two Super Bowl titles, criticized Saban, saying he had “run away from the challenge” in leaving Miami with three years left on his contract.
“There were four or five direct statements that were blatant lies,” Shula told The Miami Herald, referring to denials from Saban that he had an interest in the Alabama job. “That tells you a bit about the guy.”
Shula added, “The guy likes to hear himself talk and then doesn’t follow up on what he says.”
Shula’s son Mike was fired as Alabama’s coach on Nov. 27. The Tide went 6-7 this season.
At his introduction in Tuscaloosa, Saban spoke of his championship aspirations and cited his love of college football as a reason for taking a pay cut to leave the Dolphins after 9-7 and 6-10 seasons, The Associated Press reported.
“My heart’s here; I love it here,” said Saban, who was making $4.5 million a year with Miami and reportedly has agreed to an eight-year, $30 million deal. “I like to affect people, and that’s why I’m here. This is obviously one of the best places in the country to have an opportunity to do that.”
Fanhouse Bloggers React
AP
Get in the NCAA Fanhouse for up-close coverage of your team.
Pete Holiday Says: "The bottom line is that it means more wins immediately. ... But the whole process has shown us something else, too. The national media has made it a point to say as often as possible that the Tide was washed up. ... Instead, national sports media basically stopped in their tracks this morning waiting for the announcement." -- Alabama Blogger Reacts Taking over a program that won five national titles under Bear Bryant, Saban refused to dwell in the past.
“It’s what you do now,” he said.
His résumé features the one thing Alabama fans hunger for: a national title.
“I know there’s tremendous expectations here,” Saban said. “I can tell you that, however you feel about it, I have even higher expectations for what we want to accomplish. I want to win every game we play.”
Saban led Alabama’s divisional rival Louisiana State to a national title in 2003 and two Southeastern Conference championships before joining Miami in late 2004.
Alabama has not won the conference or even the Western Division since 1999 under Mike DuBose. The Crimson Tide’s latest national title — its sixth — came in 1992 under Gene Stallings. Alabama has had four losing seasons since 1997.
“His teams always play with confidence and pride and I know that in order to win a national championship, a team has to be mentally as well as physically tough,” said Alabama’s athletic director, Mel Moore, who played and coached under Bryant.
As for the salary, Moore said, “I just think it was a very crucial hire for us in this time in our history.”
