The Real World Interrupts
Demands of the real world have kept me from updating as much as I would like. Yes, I have a real job, I’m not sitting at my computer searching the net in my Auburn footie PJs. Well okay, I’m surfing the net most of the time at work, just not in the PJs. Although, if I could figure out a way to do that…..
A few updates for the last couple days:
Shula’s New Contract
Congrats to Mike Shula on the new contract. This might sound shocking, but I think he deserves it. He hasn’t embarrassed the school, he has recruited well and has stabilized the program. Frankly, it is an embarrassment that the head coach of uat was making around the same money as the head coach at Mississippi State. Clearly, Shula’s job is much more involved than Croom’s.
It is hard to judge Shula’s performance. His first year has to be tossed out. The Bear would have lost 6 games that season given the lack of time, etc. His second year was decent and obviously last year uat probably achieved about what could be expected with the talent they had on defense and a senior quarterback. “What,” say all the guys with the crimson bike shorts on, “son, I believe they overachieved last year.” I say no. The talent was there due to the free-spending ways of the Dubose era (yes, Albert Means wasn’t the only guy they paid) and the schedule was soft. Take those four things (talent, senior quarterback, talent, and soft schedule) and you get 10-2.
But now, Shula’s problem is that uat fans are going to expect a lot more for that $2 mil. He is going to have to start beating Auburn, LSU, and Tennessee on a regular basis. He is 1-8 against them (I might be off by one win, no time to check the records….you know work and all) and that will not suffice. I think it is pretty safe to say that if Shula goes 16-8 over the next two years, losing all the games against Auburn, LSU, and Tennessee, he will not be the head coach any longer. And actually, that was probably the plan all along. He reminds me of Terry Bowden (except he recruits better), a caretaker coach who is only in the job for six years maximum.
My personal opinion is that the defense will win 7 or 8 games a year, but they will continue to lose to teams that are evenly matched talent-wise because the offense is absolutely horrid.
Redbirds Salary Spending
Bernie Miklasz makes an excellent point in his column last Thursday. The owners of the Redbirds have to realize that they have some of the greatest fans in the game. People who have supported the team through thick and thin. Hence, they must do whatever it takes to win the World Series. Personally, I think the Redbirds have been close that last two years, but a combination of better teams (mostly better pitching) and untimely injuries (Scott Rolen, Chris Carpenter, Reggie Sanders and Larry Walker) have cut short great runs. I disagree with Bernie because I think that ownership will give Walt Jocketty the tools needed to win. Maybe not in a Steinbrenner-esque orgy way, but certainly in a way that will allow the team to succeed.
Now whether this means getting rid of Tony LaRussa, well, we shall see.
A few updates for the last couple days:
Shula’s New Contract
Congrats to Mike Shula on the new contract. This might sound shocking, but I think he deserves it. He hasn’t embarrassed the school, he has recruited well and has stabilized the program. Frankly, it is an embarrassment that the head coach of uat was making around the same money as the head coach at Mississippi State. Clearly, Shula’s job is much more involved than Croom’s.
It is hard to judge Shula’s performance. His first year has to be tossed out. The Bear would have lost 6 games that season given the lack of time, etc. His second year was decent and obviously last year uat probably achieved about what could be expected with the talent they had on defense and a senior quarterback. “What,” say all the guys with the crimson bike shorts on, “son, I believe they overachieved last year.” I say no. The talent was there due to the free-spending ways of the Dubose era (yes, Albert Means wasn’t the only guy they paid) and the schedule was soft. Take those four things (talent, senior quarterback, talent, and soft schedule) and you get 10-2.
But now, Shula’s problem is that uat fans are going to expect a lot more for that $2 mil. He is going to have to start beating Auburn, LSU, and Tennessee on a regular basis. He is 1-8 against them (I might be off by one win, no time to check the records….you know work and all) and that will not suffice. I think it is pretty safe to say that if Shula goes 16-8 over the next two years, losing all the games against Auburn, LSU, and Tennessee, he will not be the head coach any longer. And actually, that was probably the plan all along. He reminds me of Terry Bowden (except he recruits better), a caretaker coach who is only in the job for six years maximum.
My personal opinion is that the defense will win 7 or 8 games a year, but they will continue to lose to teams that are evenly matched talent-wise because the offense is absolutely horrid.
Redbirds Salary Spending
Bernie Miklasz makes an excellent point in his column last Thursday. The owners of the Redbirds have to realize that they have some of the greatest fans in the game. People who have supported the team through thick and thin. Hence, they must do whatever it takes to win the World Series. Personally, I think the Redbirds have been close that last two years, but a combination of better teams (mostly better pitching) and untimely injuries (Scott Rolen, Chris Carpenter, Reggie Sanders and Larry Walker) have cut short great runs. I disagree with Bernie because I think that ownership will give Walt Jocketty the tools needed to win. Maybe not in a Steinbrenner-esque orgy way, but certainly in a way that will allow the team to succeed.
Now whether this means getting rid of Tony LaRussa, well, we shall see.
posted by Buford T. Justice at 3:32 PM
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