FIRE MIKE SHULA NOW! NAMED TIME PERSON OF THE YEAR!

Time Magazine has named its person of the year and it is everyone creating content on the Internet. OK, so maybe the headline is a little misleading; however, there is no doubt about the role blogs from Memphis Tider to Fire Mike Shula Now! to Roll Bama Roll and on and on have made in the way information is exchanged regarding Alabama football.

"It's a tool for bringing together the small contributions of millions of people and making them matter. Silicon Valley consultants call it Web 2.0, as if it were a new version of some old software. But it's really a revolution." --Time

With the old media composed of the Birmingham News, Huntsville Times, etc. being consistently wrong, the new media of blogs and message boards provides a check and balance on the runaway train of the 24-hour news cycle. By joining together in blogs and message boards, we can hold the old media accountable--expose mistakes--and by working together discover the truth.

Let's not stop now. Let's continue to hold the old media accountable and forge a new path via the information superhighway.

Trouble within: Alabama's Dysfunctional Management

For those that missed it:

Tommy Gallion alleged in a Friday afternoon interview on the Paul Finebaum Radio Network that persons within the athletic dept. and the administration were the reasons for the last decade of instability for the University.

Specific Gallion allegations were: Marie Robbins and Gene Marsh were major problems for the athletic department. He said Marsh stabbed the University in the back in an effort to curry favor with the NCAA so he could become chairman of the COI. He also was disappointed in Dr. Witt's reaction to the lawsuit against the NCAA. Gallion alleged the University was attempting to cover up for "one of their own."

He said former University president Andrew Sorensen and others cared about personal agendas over the good of the University. Gallion said, Dubose felt the athletic administration (particularly Marsh and Robbins) were problems for running the football program. Gallion defended Dennis Franchione and said Franchione had major problems with Marsh and Robbins. Franchione could not run the program without interference from outside the football program.

This program has been destroyed methodically over the last five or ten years and for any chance of recovery, Alabama must "burn everyone out of the nest and start over," Gallion said.

ANALYSIS: Gallion's thoughts were interesting, but in my opinion there are many additional problems within the bureaucracy. I also do not believe Dr. Witt is a problem for the University. In fact, Dr. Witt's integrity makes him the only real hope for righting the ship.

Media meltdown: Alabama coaching search

Real attention being given to the horrible media coverage of the Alabama coaching search.

While the media consistently butchers stories of far greater social and global significance (Katrina, the Sago Mine tragedy, Iraq and on and on), it's worth pointing out that the coverage of the Alabama coaching situation has been one of the sorriest two-week spectacles in the history of college football reportage. The amount of ink spilled--and technical equipment used--to document utterly false stories about Steve Spurrier, Nick Saban and (now) Rich Rodriguez is a profound waste of resources — and a profound insult to the intelligence of the masses, in both Tuscaloosa and Morgantown.

Nationally and in the state of Alabama, news outlets have made one erroneous report after another, filling broadcasts, column inches, cyberspace, and newsprint with rumors upon rumors but precious few facts. The lessons that need to be learned by military reporters and political correspondents are the same lessons that need to be learned by a great many Alabama journalists and college football insiders: get the story right, and forget about trying to get the story first. ---Matthew Zemek on Foxsports.com

Auburn, UAB: Nobody Cares

I've always wondered what a NY Met fan feels like. He's always living in the shadow of Ruth and Mantle and about 1,000 other baseball greats, and don't forget the championships.

Living in Alabama, Auburn fans (and all three UAB fans) are living in the eternal shadow of the Alabama program. It doesn't matter how many games Tuberville wins or how many championships Auburn earns, they'll always be second-rate. Alabama is the name people care about.

If Auburn were important, then you'd hear real discussion about the academic fraud at Auburn, reported in the NY Times because no sports writer in the state has the balls to tell the truth. Truth is, if it were involving Alabama, the academic fraud would be front page material around the country just like the Tennessee allegations were about a decade ago.

Nobody, not even major SEC rivals really care about Auburn. But Alabama. Now that is a different story.

Visit Alabama message boards and you have idiot South Carolina fans or idiot fans of other SEC schools trying to start heated arguments. Why? Because the Alabama name means something schools like Auburn and South Carolina and UAB lack. The Alabama name still sparks concern. Despite our decade of discontent (brought on by our own hubris), other teams worry about a resurgence of Alabama football. Look at message boards for teams like Tennessee and in the last month you'll find more focus on the Alabama coaching search than their own bowl game.

Fans at these other schools want to point fingers and say the days of Bryant will never come again.

That prophecy is most likely true.

However, when Bryant arrived the same thing was said about how this school would never recapture the days of Wallace Wade and Frank Thomas. In fact, Bryant eclipsed the past.

Great football programs like Notre Dame, Alabama, USC, Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Nebraska, Michigan and Ohio State find ways to resurface. Each of these schools have lived through periods of misfortune, discontent and frustration, but each of these schools have rebounded.

Alabama rebounded before and it will rebound again. That is why small-minded fans from other institutions come here mocking our present decade of misfortune. They know it won't last. They know the recipe for a return to glory is at hand. It worries them.

And what about Auburn and UAB? Nobody anywhere really cares about them.

Miami Dolphins up for sale?

Talk is the Papa John's founder may buy stake in the pro football team.

Could this be involved in Nick Saban's decision making for next season?

What Alabama Needs

Patience
The recruiting dead period is about to begin, and there really is no way to get a coach in place and recruiting before the bowl season starts. The wisest course of action is to hire a great coach sometime in early January. A great coach would stabilize recruiting and excite the fan base not only this year, but for years to come.

Characteristics of a great coach
A great coach could be someone like a Nick Saban (and we know Saban is still a major target.) A big name coach would generate confidence and encourage recruits who want to play for a proven winner.

But a great coach does not necessarily have to be the biggest name on the coaching leaderboard. A great coaching hire could be someone with a good record who possesses something just as important: The IT factor.

A good coaching hire would be someone who could come into the press conference and wow the audience. It would be the polar opposite of Mike Shula's walking-dead press conference. After Shula was named at the press conference, not one person I spoke with was confident; in fact people were worried--Shula's performance was that abysmal.

But a coach with a winning personality and who understands how to utilize the media would be a big step in the right direction. Recruiting today is about winning and it is about image. Our image would take a nice big boost with a media-savvy coach.

A big name?
"Even Bryant wasn't a rock-star name when he was hired," one person wrote me. I hate to correct that misconception, but when Bryant was hired he was one of the hotter names in coaching. It was Bryant who had won an SEC championship at Kentucky and then moved on to win an SWC crown at Texas A&M. Even then those were considered impressive feats by football experts.

Hiring a big name is a short-cut to credibility and success. A coach like a Saban could come into the program, raise expectations and immediately gain success. An unknown coach could come into the program and have success, but would it have an immediate impact? It depends on the hire. That is why patience is so important. Anyone can coach Alabama, but we want the right coach.

Whatever Alabama hires, big name, small name or unknown, one thing to keep in mind is every single Alabama coach over the last 45+years has won 10-games or more at least once during their tenure. So whoever comes to Alabama, at least once during their tenure, they will likely compete for the SEC and perhaps even the national title. As long as the coach is competent (unlike Bill Curry, Mike Dubose or Mike Shula) then Alabama's future is bright.
Take a deep breath and enjoy the holiday season.

And in the holiday spirit, I'm going to post a few great Alabama gift ideas:

The Missing Ring:How Bear Bryant and the 1966 Alabama Crimson Tide were Denied College Football's Most Elusive Prize

Tales from Alabama Prep Football by Ron Ingram and Rubin E. Grant


Game of My Life: Memorable Stories of Crmimson Tide Football


Crimson Classics: The 25 Greatest Plays In Alabama Football History

Coaching search has broad NFL focus

Chuck Neinas and Alabama are calling a wide-number of NFL coaches from the marquee names to the lesser-knowns. One coach contacted by Alabama was Jim Haslett, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Haslett now a defensive coordinator with the Rams was formally a head coach with the New Orleans Saints. The Post-Dispatch said Haslett was not interested in the job. And it is hard to think Alabama was seriously interested in him; however, it is a serious indicator about the broad NFL focus of the present search.

With rumors persisting about college coaches, it is possible Alabama would settle for a coach from the college ranks. But most of the focus post-Rodriguez has centered on the NFL.

Coaching search: Another disaster looming?

A report in the Birmingham News said: "Alabama does not want to change the economics of college football." It goes on to say Saban would be an exception.

ANALYSIS: If the Birmingham News report is accurate (and that is a big IF with that newspaper) then the statement about Alabama's payment options are a real concern. If the administration has given in to bureaucrats and plans to offer a below market salary then expect this coaching search to be a disaster. Rodriguez expressed to the media his dismay over Alabama's offer--an offer that did not meet the pay for Auburn's Tommy Tuberville. Unless the next coach is offered a wow-inducing salary, then this coaching search will quickly enter the realm of chaos.

This morning's Tuscaloosa News verified aspects of our report yesterday. Here are some highlights of the reports and a brief analysis.
"Sources said Mal Moore and Dr. Robert Witt have evaluated the hiring process and proceeded to determine their next move..."

"Alabama could wait on a collegiate or NFL coaching candidates to conclude their final games before offering the Alabama job.""Numerous potential candidates have been contacted by UA’s consulting firm, the Neinas Group, to gather background information."

"No timetable."

The Mobile Press-Register reports what other media outlets reported, the search could last until the end of the month or even into early January.

Analysis: There is broad consensus now the search will last a few weeks. As always this could change if some forces push Moore toward another college coach; however, the bowl season and with just a few weeks remaining in the NFL season, it would seem illogical to rush a hire out. The Christmas holiday also would seem to prevent much action. It has been said numerous times, the longer the search goes the more likely Saban could bolt from the NFL. We believe the search is focused on the NFL with no college coach presently high on the Alabama list. If this changes, then it could be the administration has wilted from internal pressures.

NFL focus of Alabama search; Saban, Gruden, Neuheisel hot topics

The University of Alabama's list of coaching candidates was expanded over the weekend with a broader focus on NFL head coaches.

The feeling was that Nick Saban remained a very strong possibility for the University. Saban's interest was seemingly confirmed by at least two NFL reporters (including Peter King). Saban's Monday press conference included a non-denial denial.

Jon Gruden's name became scorching hot over the weekend and on Monday. Gruden is considered a top-notch coach and also, according to insiders, a growing possibility. Gruden said in his Monday press conference he was not worried about his future in Tampa Bay. "I don't worry about those things, I really don't," Gruden said.

The most interesting name to emerge as a serious contender over the weekend was that of Rick Neuheisel. Currently an NFL assistant, Neuheisel posted a career Division 1A collegiate record of 66-30 with a Pac-10 title and a Rose Bowl appearance. There was some indication that Neuheisel has shown some interest in the job via back channels.

Other information from the weekend indicates Moore and Dr. Witt have not abandoned the desire to hire a head coach. People close to the University continue to insist the search can be salvaged and would not end in the unmitigated disaster that hiring an assistant coach would bring.

Likewise, despite the lingering name of Houston Nutt, the University is not interested in him.

Alabama reflects on coaching search, sets new outline to salvage the situation

Dr. Robert Witt was provided a detailed status report on the coaching search by Athletic Director Mal Moore following the Rodriguez debacle. The report was the first opportunity to examine the reasons for the Rodriguez failure and to determine whether the Alabama coaching search could be salvaged.

Recommendations from the discussion are believed to have included further compartmentalization of the coaching search. This tightening of the information could prevent regular staff members of the athletic department from being given information customary for their positions (ie: information used in crafting deals, event planning, etc.) The leaks are considered a serious problem for this coaching search and are believed to have come from many athletic department employees. It has damaged contact with at least four coaches being courted by the University. In the Rodriguez case, the leaks created a strategic disadvantage for the University by allowing WVU boosters to create a counter-offer incentive package to keep the coach in Morgantown.

Other recommendations were to modify the University's financial packages and to start a new list of candidates.

On at least two occasions during the coaching search, it is believed Alabama presented an outline of compensation plans unsatisfactory for the prospective candidates. The first such time was early in the process with an unidentified agent and most recently with Rich Rodriguez. The Rodriguez deal was so unspectacular his dissatisfaction leaked to the media, something unprecedented. The next Alabama offer is expected to be sufficiently large enough to "get any coaches attention." There was some concern mentioned that while this is the intention of the administration, it was the intention last time, but somehow was subverted during the Rodriguez negotiations.

Auburn's academic scandal deepens

An internal audit revealed grade changes for an athlete without instructor knowledge. The story in today's NY Times explains how the grade change helped the unidentified athlete graduate. The story contains some interesting information about the scandal at Auburn.

Of particular note is this paragraph:

The athletic department has maintained that it does not do scheduling for athletes, but the audit showed that someone with knowledge of the system had helped the athlete who received the four A’s and graduated with a 2.01 grade point average.

Cheerleaders!

Vote for Alabama's cheerleaders at sportsline.com.

ALSO: I believe some information will be available later (nothing officials, but I expect to hear something) today regarding Alabama's internal evaluation of the coaching search and in what direction it will move. As soon as I get anything, I'll post it.