There are two sides to the UM vs LSU coaching saga. You have people up in the North that are talking about Martin not returning Miles' agents phone calls the Friday before the SECCG. This is all "defined" as neither Miles or Martin had contact with each other. To that, I've fully agreed. Martin doesn't, and hasn't, pursued coaches in that manner. He's had a track record (look at their basketball hire) as getting the figures worked out before the initial interview. Based on his history and what a few friends have said in that area there were discussions, albeit, behind the scenes. I believe that. I haven't called Miles a liar in this situation. I do dispute the points there weren't discussions already happening. That is based on what I've previously stated here in this post.
There is no doubt that saban did a poor job coaching the Bama team this year. Early he had them performing pretty well, and then they lost it the last half of the season. A better motivator, with better interpersonal skills and true leadership would have done a better job. saban is not that skilled. he will have his style and you must relate to him in his style. he will not change his style for you, even if it is not working and even if it means losing games. his solution, replace the team. Contrast that with Mack Brown, who changed his approach with VY, lightened up after a meeting with Vince. Vince told him the pressure Mack was putting on him and the yelling and petty punishments were not helping him, they were hurting by de-motivating him. He basically said, cut me some slack and I'll win you some games. Let's focus on what's important and let the little stuff go. Mack changed, and the Longhorns broke through and started winning the big games, all the way to a national championship. Mack took a practical and flexible approach. Bottom line, you can't motivate everybody the same way. saban showed no skill in terms of flexibility and it appears he lost the team. That's just a poor job this year. I rate his performance as the Bama coach this year as a D.
Not many people here disputed there were "discussions" behind the scenes up there. What we did dispute was Miles ACCEPTING the job. The FACT that he signed this extension (which isn't for any more than his original contract called for) proves that he didn't use the UM job for leverage, to me proves that he never ACCEPTED anything from UM, and tells me he plans on remaining at LSU for a long time. I kow it pains you to see us and Auburn remainat relatively high levels while Bama remains mediocre, but that's the way it is. No amount of "I know someone on the inside" is going to change that. Sorry, deal with it.
TerryP wrote: "Since you addressed it, here goes. Within the last month you said the last few years Alabama has had a higher ranking than Auburn with their recruiting classes. I brought up the Rivals rankings, posted them, (here's the skirt) and you said "I only follow Scout." So, in response, I brought the Scout ranking to the forum and once again it showed what you had opined wasn't the case. (Skirt number two). You dropped your argument and jumped to another subject." Spin it, Terry ... spin it .... The area of discussion we were having was again involving Shula. Comments were made in that thread regarding Saban not having any "quality" to work with, implying that Shula had left the cupboard bare. My opinion was that it was "Alabama spin" was based on the recollection that Auburn and Alabama had similarly ranked recruiting classes over the past 4-5 years, and AU talent level seemed to be competitive ..... so IMO the argument about Shula's recruiting classes didn't hold weight, IMO. I believe it may have been Proud Tiger that posted scout recruiting classes for both and they averaged close to the same ranking. In other words, they were both averaging "top 15" recruiting classes, which isn't bad. Who cares whether one was slightly higher than the other? The discussion was about the quality level of players that Saban had to work with, not about the recruiting rankings between two rival programs. I don't call that "dropping the argument" or "skirting the issue," I call that sticking to the subject at hand. The point remained the same, or didn't you comprehend that? You're entitled to your opinion that Shula was the Big Bad Wolf. Likewise, I'm entitled to believe that Alabama is attempting revisionist history by making Shula the scapegoat for problems created by others. Yes, Shula was accountable for the football team, but that doesn't mean he was responsible for some of the problems that Bama fans would have you believe. We can simply agree to disagree, but that doesn't require that you attempt to label my posts as throwing crap against the wall to see what sticks. That is not accurate .....
Saban is so overated its ridiculous, He lost to Retardo with "his" players (MS), backed into the title with (thanks for the title) "retardo's" players, and lost 5 games his last season with "his" players, Miles has done far more with his players and won the games he's suppose to win. Saban is good at striking when the iron is hot, and had a horseshoe in his butt when he was here and apparently left it for Miles.
I'm sorry, when was the contract agreed upon? Wasn't it Friday night? Isn't that what Herbie and your "sources" inside ESPN have confirmed for you? Ahh, yes behind the scenes. Of course, none of these people will go on the record, unlike everyone else involved in this saga. There is nothing wrong with you having "beliefs" that differ from people on this board, but you do not present them in this manner. You present your "beliefs" as fact and do so in a very condescending manner. No, you have not used those words. You are far too clever for that. Instead you continued to beat the conspiracy horse, with no proof. The implication is quite clear. Miles must be lying about not having a contract in place and having not spoken to Michigan. Most of us are not going to take kindly to this assertion when multiple sources refute it, and more especially when it comes from a rival fan serving his own agenda. Considering that your own team is saddled with a coach that the press has established as less than truthful, it becomes quite obvious what your own motivations are. Each time you trumpet crap like that and present it as fact, I will not hesitate to ask you for evidence, or call BS on it. You may feel your word carries the weight of marble, but I assure you, it doesn't.
I think Disney should buy the University of Alabama because it is right up Disneys alley. They could call it by its true name. " Fantasyland " They could put a ride Nick Saban to 6-6 Ride And A Throw Cowpies at Mike Price's face Booth. And Toss a ring around Mike Shula's neck toss game. and a auction house where the football players can sell a few extra books to Boosters for 10,000 a book. It would be a fabulous place for all those Bama fans to spend time. And they could have a cathouse where they have a imitation Bear Bryant and you could make love too it while Franchione sold you a newsletter about inside bama info. Oh but that job is taken already by Terry P.
