Stanny
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BY ROBERT SPRUCK
Staff Writer
Former Alabama quarterback and current Alabama color commentator Ken Stabler knows that his alma mater will have a difficult decision this offseason.
The Crimson Tide will have to decide whether to keep or let go coach Mike Shula, who led Alabama to a 10-2 season last season. Alabama hasn't been as good in 2006 going 6-4, including a 24-16 loss to Mississippi State last week.
Stabler, who played for 10 years with the Oakland Raiders, was the guest speaker at the Columbus Quarterback Club on Monday evening and answered five questions before the meeting started.
Following the loss to Mississippi State, there are a lot of questions about the future of Shula. Do you feel that he will return as the Alabama coach?
"The only thing that for sure is that he will coach two more games. That's all anyone can think about right now. Nothing is going to happen until the season is over. When it is over, some people are going to have some tough decisions to make. They are going to have to be decisive about their decision. But there are two games left against LSU and Auburn, and that's all anyone can focus on."
What was it like to play for John Madden?
"It was so much fun to play for coach Madden. I was lucky to play for great coaches for my entire career whether it was high school, college or the pros. I was with good teams for a long time and it made me a more productive player."
Who was the best coach you ever played for? Why?
"I don't have just one. I had great coaches at every level. The best high school coach was Ivan Jones. The best college coach was Paul "Bear" Bryant. The pro coaches were John Madden and Bum Phillips.
How do you feel that Oakland coach Art Shell has done with the Raiders this season?
"I think he has his work cut out for him. He doesn't have the best personnel or the best locker room. He has some unique players with big egos. Sometimes that doesn't work. It works when they are picking up first downs and scoring touchdowns... . I think he is still trying to get his type of player in there."
Will Alabama ever dominate like it did under coach Bryant or has the parity of college football made that impossible?
"No they won't. In this day in college football, it's impossible to do what coach Bryant did -- win six national championships and dominate the SEC the way he did... . With limited scholarships and parity, anyone can win on any given day."
Staff Writer
Former Alabama quarterback and current Alabama color commentator Ken Stabler knows that his alma mater will have a difficult decision this offseason.
The Crimson Tide will have to decide whether to keep or let go coach Mike Shula, who led Alabama to a 10-2 season last season. Alabama hasn't been as good in 2006 going 6-4, including a 24-16 loss to Mississippi State last week.
Stabler, who played for 10 years with the Oakland Raiders, was the guest speaker at the Columbus Quarterback Club on Monday evening and answered five questions before the meeting started.
Following the loss to Mississippi State, there are a lot of questions about the future of Shula. Do you feel that he will return as the Alabama coach?
"The only thing that for sure is that he will coach two more games. That's all anyone can think about right now. Nothing is going to happen until the season is over. When it is over, some people are going to have some tough decisions to make. They are going to have to be decisive about their decision. But there are two games left against LSU and Auburn, and that's all anyone can focus on."
What was it like to play for John Madden?
"It was so much fun to play for coach Madden. I was lucky to play for great coaches for my entire career whether it was high school, college or the pros. I was with good teams for a long time and it made me a more productive player."
Who was the best coach you ever played for? Why?
"I don't have just one. I had great coaches at every level. The best high school coach was Ivan Jones. The best college coach was Paul "Bear" Bryant. The pro coaches were John Madden and Bum Phillips.
How do you feel that Oakland coach Art Shell has done with the Raiders this season?
"I think he has his work cut out for him. He doesn't have the best personnel or the best locker room. He has some unique players with big egos. Sometimes that doesn't work. It works when they are picking up first downs and scoring touchdowns... . I think he is still trying to get his type of player in there."
Will Alabama ever dominate like it did under coach Bryant or has the parity of college football made that impossible?
"No they won't. In this day in college football, it's impossible to do what coach Bryant did -- win six national championships and dominate the SEC the way he did... . With limited scholarships and parity, anyone can win on any given day."