Spurrier's Switcharoo???

**VolunteerHillbilly** · 12-01-2006, 01:33 PM

I read this article:

al.com: Everything Alabama

and it got me to thinking that people who are on boards of trustees, or at least people who hang out with trustees, are not the kind of folks who will say something unless they are pretty darn sure that they are correct. Those sort of people tend to take great pride in their insider knowledge and the ability to know what's happening before the rest of us. The fact that people at that level appear to have genuinely beleived that SOS was headed to Bama makes me believe that one of two forces was at work here.

EITHER, the Bama offer was something real close to the wish list we all read about in various Internet forums and the Bama big wigs assumed that they had loaded so much pork on the plate that no one could refuse it.

OR, Spurrier somehow led the Bama power structure to believe that he was their guy. I'm not even suggesting that SOS decieved Bama, just that the situation changed. Consider this scenario, Bama sent out it's feelers a couple of weeks ago. At that time the Gamecocks were finishing a three game in-conference losing streak and facing the possibility of groveling for a bowl invite at 6-6 if they couldn't beat Clemson. I'm sure that things had to look a little greener elsewhere and SOS may have said some things off the record about wanting to go somewhere where he might have a better shot at competing for the SEC. Fast forward to this week. Spurrier beats in-state rival Clemson assuring SC a respectable bowl appearance and then signs a couple of decent out of state recruits. All of the sudden things may not look so bleak to Spurrier but here's Bama standing there with their you-know-what in their hand thinking that they can still rely on stuff that was said a couple of weeks back when they make the decision to axe Shula.

Just a hypothesis.

jaybird_1981 · 12-01-2006, 01:38 PM

I think you are underestimating how delusional Bama fans and boosters are.

**GAVol** · 12-01-2006, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaybird_1981

I think you are underestimating how delusional Bama fans and boosters are.

'Boro-vol · 12-01-2006, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaybird_1981

I think you are underestimating how delusional Bama fans and boosters are.

Exactly. They cannot grasp the concept that for a successful, well-liked coach the 'Bama pressure cooker environment isn't terribly attractive at any price.

**VolunteerHillbilly** · 12-01-2006, 03:18 PM

Next hot theory is that they are waiting for the outcome of the Dolphins game this weekend because Saban might leave if the fish are eliminated from the playoffs.

**orange+white=heaven** · 12-01-2006, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VolunteerHillbilly

...it got me to thinking that people who are on boards of trustees, or at least people who hang out with trustees, are not the kind of folks who will say something unless they are pretty darn sure that they are correct.

Well said.
I think there was a time(brief) when it really looked as though something might work out.
These folks at the top of the Capstone are not trailer park trash. They know how to conduct business. I suppose we'll never know, but they were not whispering Spurrier amonst themselves for nothing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaybird_1981

I think you are underestimating how delusional Bama fans and boosters are.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Boro-vol

Exactly. They cannot grasp the concept that for a successful, well-liked coach the 'Bama pressure cooker environment isn't terribly attractive at any price.

I understand the 'Bammers don't have a clue' mentality. Hell, I hate 'em too. But it is probably smart to realize that that pressure cooker can produce greatness again. He who takes the job and manages to answer the call, can write his own ticket.
It's still a good job. For the right person.

'Boro-vol · 12-01-2006, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orange+white=heaven

I understand the 'Bammers don't have a clue' mentality. Hell, I hate 'em too. But it is probably smart to realize that that pressure cooker can produce greatness again. He who takes the job and manages to answer the call, can write his own ticket.
It's still a good job. For the right person.

It really has nothing to do with hating them. The fact is I don't. I respect them....and the SEC needs them. A weak 'Bama isn't good for anyone in the conference.

They have all the tangible things any coach could want....facilities, tradition, money, fan support....but they diminish all that with their inability to face reality. They are on a downward slide that simply relying on their tradition will not correct. It's going to take stepping back, admitting mistakes and wrongdoing, accepting the blame themselves, and then turning the program over to a capable and willing coach for the long term. And as of right now the prospect of an A-list coach taking on that task is pretty slim. They won't get a big name until they have managed to change the culture of 'Bama football itself.

And that won't happen overnight.

VOLracerx · 12-01-2006, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Boro-vol

It really has nothing to do with hating them. The fact is I don't. I respect them....and the SEC needs them. A weak 'Bama isn't good for anyone in the conference.

They have all the tangible things any coach could want....facilities, tradition, money, fan support....but they diminish all that with their inability to face reality. They are on a downward slide that simply relying on their tradition will not correct. It's going to take stepping back, admitting mistakes and wrongdoing, accepting the blame themselves, and then turning the program over to a capable and willing coach for the long term. And as of right now the prospect of an A-list coach taking on that task is pretty slim. They won't get a big name until they have managed to change the culture of 'Bama football itself.

And that won't happen overnight.

I was trying to think of a way to say the same thing.....agree 100%

**orange+white=heaven** · 12-01-2006, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Boro-vol

It really has nothing to do with hating them. The fact is I don't. I respect them....and the SEC needs them. A weak 'Bama isn't good for anyone in the conference.
.

The whole thing was a nice post, 'Boro...

But I'm gonna stick with Hating them...

Quote:

They won't get a big name until they have managed to change the culture of 'Bama football itself.

There's the catch22.
They won't change the culture, unless they get a strong enough coach to say..."this is what we're gonna do and this is how we're gonna do it, and the fans can just sit there and wait while I do what's got to be done."... The guy who can get away with that has got to be a pretty high caliber name. And this is the hire where they've got to go get him.

Again though, nice post....

cd12 · 12-01-2006, 04:02 PM

Truth is Bama hasn't been the same since scholarship limitations. The Bear was one of the best at giving them away just so nobody else could sign em!