WAITING ISN'T A LOT OF FUN

MARSHALL STILL MUM ON FUTURE...
The media is locked out in this one...

    I just read what Tim Brando said about Alabama fans discussing the merits of a basketball coach. You have to laugh. It was funny and basically true. Most Tide fans think they know everything about everything and that isn’t even close to accurate. Alabama fans want Gregg Marshall to be the next coach. I seriously wonder how many people even knew who Coach Marshall was a year ago. When you read posts about wanting to hire the Mountain Brook High School coach it makes me shake my head and wonder. That’s been done before. Notre Dame hired a living legend of a high school coach and it didn’t work out. That would be putting it kindly.

Who are these guys?

   I see names of posters on TI that I’ve never heard of before.  Many are people who drifted over from the football forum to give us their two cents worth of comments.  I’m sure it would be fair to say that everyone is entitled to their opinion stupid or not. I have a list of my top ten favorite posters. These are people who make sense, are realistic, and don’t like to speak in terms of a diatribe. That’s not to say that I always agree with them. Some posters are just mean. Some are thoughtless about saying things they haven’t really analyzed.  My bottom line is there are serious posters and then you have the yahoos. I grew up in Cleveland, Alabama that puts me clearly in yahoo category at times.

Supported Grant …

   Earlier last month I said that I supported Anthony Grant. One of the main reasons I thought Bama should at least consider keeping him was we really didn’t have a lock on a replacement. My thought was that it might be better to keep him, perhaps things get better, and we don’t have to go through all wringing of hands and the spreading of ashes. My point was that I didn’t think Battle had really intended in firing Grant and he hadn’t been sending out feelers. I know that when we hired Grant we had a basic understanding of which coach we wanted and felt he would come. I don’t think we did that with Gregg Marshall early on. It doesn’t mean that we can’t hire Gregg Marshall. But it means we might get caught holding the bag at the end of the day. I have a feeling that won’t happen, but we have to acknowledge the possibility. Right now we’re all in on Gregg Marshall. I haven’t heard an additional name connected with Alabama except last year’s assistant head coach. I’ve seen people speculate who others might be, but I haven’t read anything about anyone else. I’m sure there is someone out there who hopes that Marshall turns down the Tide, because he wants the job. I’d like to add that if we don’t get Marshall please don’t hire Richard Pitino. He may a decent coach but not the man who can get us moving on up.

Alabama is a tough job…

      A lot of us keep saying that the Alabama job isn’t the end all job that fans want to believe, Just because it is Alabama doesn’t mean anything. That remains the truth in basketball. My personal belief is that Marshall is trying to decide if Alabama is really sincere about wanting to elevate its basketball profile. If Bama is honest and wants to do make that happen, that might sway Marshall to come. If Bama really is not  serious, the man has given up a job he could keep for his coaching life and traded it in for a school that had 2900 people show up for its NIT game.  All that talk about not showing up because it might be interpreted as support to Grant just wasn’t true. Grant was gone and people still didn’t show support. I’ll never figure that one out. Frankly, that is embarrassing. What that tells Marshall is that Alabama has a lot of fair weather fans. That isn’t true in Wichita. With all the injuries suffered by the team this season I was proud the team made it to the NIT. I was really surprised at how well we played without Tarrant and Hale. By that time, people really didn’t matter. Maybe some fans used the record as an excuse not to attend. It just shows me that it isn’t the administration that needs to step, it up. We have 5000 thousand or so hard core supporters at best. I hope that all the noise makers on all the forums will actually show up next season. We’d need an arena with 30,000 seats if that happened.  I think that the measure of a fan is to support the team. You might not like the coach but the players are still playing. They need the support. It is also obvious that the forum has a lot of people who love Alabama basketball. I’m not referring to these fans.

It could be Friday before we know…

      My original thought was that we’d know something in 72 hours. My hope was 24 but I knew that really wasn’t going to happen. I’m not sure that Marshall would even respond publicly if he decides to stay in Kansas. The ‘Shockers made it to the Sweet Sixteen and beat Kansas this season. That was about what  Alabama did in football. We went to the playoff and beat Auburn. One difference is that Kansas will not schedule a game with State. So when will we know something? Some reports say that Coach asked until Friday to let ‘Bama know. Perhaps the Marshall family is really planning a trip to visit God’s own country later this week. If Mrs. Marshall says okay - he is coming. I’d hate to tell my wife that we are moving when she didn’t want to do so. Man, I’d be calling all my buddies to check out their guest room situation, and so would you. Mrs. Marshall is likely to do what her husband wants to do however.  Partnerships cut both ways.

Maybe Coach Saban’s lovely wife will make a call…

    We could know at any minute about the decision. He may come to Tuscaloosa after talking to his team. If he were my client I’d suggest a Friday afternoon press conference. Of course, he’s not client.  He isn’t going to change his plans just because Alabama fans are as nervous as a chain smoker in the nitroglycerin plant. I think for the most part fans on the forum have been very understanding about the time Marshall is taking. That’s the way it should. Is Marshall coming to ‘Bama? My best belief is yes. I just don’t know when we will know. Maybe Mrs. Saban will call Mrs. Marshall will have one of talks which escapes a male’s understanding. It wouldn’t hurt.  Here’s one thing you should know.  Coach Marshall and CM Newton are friends. I’d stop knocking CM it you can. Marshall has said in the past how much he respects Newton. Just because a lot of posters were not alive when Newton was here doesn’t diminish his clout. You’d have to understand exactly what CM did when hired.

Battle returns to Tuscaloosa


       

        He came, he saw, did he conquer? I hope so because there has been a complete alpha male meltdown on the forums throughout the State. The TiderInsider "backboard" forum who now comprises two types of posters. One type is holding the line on optimism. The type has thrown in the towel and has surrendered. Neither has any reason for optimism or pessimism.  Why do I say that? Because no one knows a thing. I will say that the optimist are not making up anything. Some of the pessimists seem to be salting the board with lies and some half-truths. I've talked with my friend who works at Wichita State about the day's events. He knows nothing. He wasn't even sure where the meeting took place. He said that he saw Battle around 9;00AM or so. He said he left "very late in the afternoon".  He said he really shouldn't have even said that but he knew I'd never tell the State of Kansas what man's name might be. He went on to say he really had no idea where the meeting took place. He said Battle probably came by his building to talk with their AD. He said he learned from another person he had gone. It's ashamed our CIA can't keep leaks secret; but Wichita State and Alabama apparently can. So there you have the sum of what I know. Using my lawyer brain, now retired, both the lawyer and his brain, I can put together some pretty good speculations about what happened. More importantly we can speculate about what will happen in the next two days.

     First, Battle got Marshall to agree to meet. That means he was willing to listen to what Alabama has to say. He is likely to hear several things he needed to hear. He certainly didn't hear anything that would discourage him from coming. Well, unless he doesn't want a six year contract at more than 3plus that would make him a multimillionaire. He probably heard that Alabama was going to flip the house and make the Tide a national power in basketball, and we want him to be our King. 

       He'll hear that a new building will be announced. He also will have a very detailed presentation about who is coming back to Alabama to play basketball, and who they recruited. He knows all of this, of course. He is thorough. He probably told our AD what it would take from being close to good to becoming a great program. I want to add that will be a series of steps and not just a singular event. If I were Marshall I'd tell Battle that it would take four recruiting years to get near the top of the SEC, unless he lands a monster recruiting class. Battle probably said words or words to the effect - you must beat Auburn as often as you can, and often is not a strong enough word. Within reason, Battle told him he wanted to wipe Bruce Pearl and Auburn off the face of the earth, pour lime on the ruins, and set the whole Auburn program on the deathbed. It will be scorch the earth pitch. Marshall will say that is not the most pressing problem but he understands. Then he will reassure Battle that will be done and then move on to more important things. Things like winning the SEC and get annual NCAA bids to go dancing. (I want to apologize to my old radio broadcasting partner Ben Cook for using the dance word. He hates the term.) He will not say a world that has sixteen, eight. or four in the sentence. Both parties know that getting an invitation makes those numbers possible. 
     
       Marshall will talk about what he needs to make his vision of Alabama, the powerhouse, a reality. It will take time, money, and hard work. It will take a whole new mindset around the AD's office about basketball. This may never be disclosed but you'll see clear examples of his intent as soon as he takes the job Marshall will tell him how much money he needs to have a great staff, and they'll be some talk about Pettway staying. Assume Marshall wants to come. That means that Battle will have to talk with the family. He will  have to invite them to Tuscaloosa. I still haven't been able to determine whether Mrs. Battle went on the trip. I'd really like to know that. Then, of course, there will be a team meeting where he addresses the team. That will be the hardest thing he'll have to do. It won't be any different that when the Bama team learned that Anthony is leaving. His vision, his family, and his old team will be front and center. Those are great kids who played their hearts out and became America's team in a lot of ways. The players know it means more than their coach leaving. Wichita State has a storied tradition but getting back to that level will be hard to do. It will even hard for Marshall to sustain having lost Early last season, Van Fleet, and maybe Baker might go this season. 

     Fans are already saying it is a done deal. It might be,  but I doubt it is at this point. I will say this - I think it is going to get done and soon. My two sources in Tuscaloosa say things went well, but that is all they had to stay. Or that is all they were allowed to stay. I suppose by now you understand that leaks are given to some people to float the idea of what might happen. That's not the case here. We know what the fans will say. Lets give this 24 hours. Lets keep Coach Marshall, his family, and his team in our thoughts. If Marshall turns us down we need to handle it with some class and understanding. Everyone did their homework. Everyone did a good job of letting the other side know what's on their own wishlist . Let me add that if Marshall comes to Alabama it will be a six year contract in excess of 3 million, or maybe 3 million with lots of incentives. There may or may not be talk in public about a new arena, but Marshall will take Battle on his word that will happen. Alabama may be on the cusp of paying a basketball coach a number that would likely make Marshall one of the top ten coaches in the NCAA. Be still my beating heart.

BAMA NATION WAITS ON WORD ABOUT MARSHALL

IS MARSHALL COMING TO BAMA?
My guess is yes, but I don't know
A day in the life of a longtime bama fan...

 

A selfie from earlier this morning

      I don’t know about you but I’m on pins and needles with my fingers crossed. It occurred to me to break out my lucky tee shirt and put it on. Got my shoes tied just right, knocked on the same wooden table my great grandfather knocked on a  hundred and thirty years ago. I straightened up all my Tide Pride plaques.  Got my sideline chair from the first year I had my floor seats and put it by the television.  Made sure I photos of Coach Dee, Coach Riley, Coach Newton,  the Wimp, David Hobbs, Coach MG, and Anthony completely straight on the wall. I have an app for that.  Took my Derrick McKey warm up out of the closest and hung it on the chair, and then got out my Alabama golf bag and golf shoes to go play some golf. You know the shoes that are red and white saddle oxfords with the big Alabama A on the side? In summary, I’ve done all I can do to help to Bama hire Gregg Marshall. I’ve turned this matter  over to Bill Battle. I do not get God involved in these things because I’m a Methodist.  I’m far to excited and anxious to just sit around and hit a refesh button all day. I’m about to play the worst round of golf in my life. There are many to choose from, but this one will be with no concentration at all. I am not taking my smart phone.  It has all the golf yardages on it, and I’m still not taking it. That’s how nervous I am. 68 years old and I’m as nervous as the day I got that letter from the draft board. I seriously need to get a life.

       I had this urge to light a candle and put it by my ’76 and ’87 team basketballs.  That seemed a little overboard, so I put the ’14-15 ball out because those guys have the most to lose.  I called a couple of current players, one assistant coach, and one sports writer.  I think the basketball coach was putting on his lucky tee shirt as well.  The players are very interested. And the sports writer didn’t give me anything.  All of my basketball buddies have been calling this morning. The emails are coming in like rain on an Alabama summer afternoon. All I could tell them was, “Sorry, I honestly don’t know anything concrete”.  I called my friend who works at WSU. He sounded like he had a bad case of the bubonic flu. After telling me a million reasons why Marshall won’t leave he finally said he had a bad feeling. At last, something solid to believe in. A man who works in the same building as the basketball administration told me he had a bad feeling about today.  I pressed him as hard as I can. He finally said “I just hope he doesn’t take the Texas job”.  He said that was what was making him sick. We told each other a couple of Texas jokes and then got into discussion about whether it was best to live in Kansas or Alabama. The consensus is they are so much alike it probably didn’t matter.  He did admit that their governor had bankrupt  Kansas with all the tax cuts. I told him if that happened in Alabama people would blame Obama. He allowed they had already done that but it didn’t work. 

     We both laughed about how grown men could be so uptight about all this Gregg Marshall stuff.  He then said something I won’t forget.  “We should worry; basketball is all we have in this State”.  There you go. Alabama fans are hoping that Marshall comes to Alabama. Kansas fans are scared to death he might leave.  I started to think about that. It is unlikely that Wichita State will ever get back to the level that Marshall took them. He was a kind of once in a lifetime deal for the ‘Shocker fans. If Marshall is coming to Alabama the WSU fans are going to be angry and feel betrayed. In our State we will be happy and jubilant for a few days, and then start talking about the A day game.  You have to feel a little sorry for those fans. Fans are just fans.  We just live in different locations.  But you know how people from the Midwest will handle the situation.  They will have tears in their eyes even as that pat their coach on the back and wish him well.  They will actually mean that. They will tell him they understand, and thank him for all he gave the ‘Shockers. In this State you leave for something you are a dead as far as people are concerned.  You are a traitor to the highest degree.  A knife in the back is more likely than a pat.

    As much as I’d feel sorry for the City of Wichita, I’d feel ten times happier for our program.  This man is a great coach, and we may negotiate some real changes in our approach to the game.  We might actually do something this time as opposed to giving the program more lip service. Like you guys, I’m excited and hopeful.  The second and third names on our list are not bad coaches at all. They just aren’t Gregg Marshall.  If Marshall can do for Bama what he did for WSU some really happy days are ahead. Roll Tide to all my Crimson brothers.  

  My bet is that Battle is ready to talk         

     

Let's give Bill Battle some credit. From all outward appearances the man is trying to refine Alabama basketball. It is important to remember that should 'Bama fail to get their first choice, Battle can still make sure that all the other things get done. I believe he is trying to do that. Until Gregg Marshall or any other coaching candidate publicly says no to Alabama, we can infer we are still in the horse race. When you get the two  principles in a room anything might happen. Mal Moore proved that. Bill Battle is a very impressive business man with the experience to explain to any candidate why they'd be a good fit. Gregg Marshall is already wealthy by most people's standards. Money will matter some but I suspect that is not what Bill Battle will be talking about. Battle has the authority to get a contract signed. I'm sure Battle will press Marshall on what it will not only take to get him in Tuscaloosa, but he'll also find out what Marshall really needs to move from Wichita State.

    

      Marshall seems to defy the idea of moving anywhere quickly. He appears to reach a decision by thinking about everything he'll gain by leaving. But he also will consider what it is he will be losing in doing so. Don't be under any illusion that isn't important to Marshall. He and his family are firmly involved in the community of Wichita. He's been there for a lot of years. Relationships and friendships have been formed. Tears will be shed if his family moves. I don't think enough time is ever devoted to what a man' wife and family want. To make the family comfortable is a lot more than a quick jaunt around the campus and over to the mall. Dinner by the river will be nice. That's hospitality Southern style. It's a  skill all of us learn growing up in Dixie. Fine people live in the Midwest. They are families with their values firmly loved and expected. The Midwest represents a lot about America represents. Decency is not only admired but inspected. Marshall is by birth a Southerner. That will help the coach with some of his questions. It isn't like he is uprooting and moving them to LA.

     Looking at the coaching history of Marshall you'll find a man who loves his community and feels a lot of loyalty to him. He's not unlike Grant in that his value system is well established. Will be get him and his family to Alabama? I don't know. I'm impressed enough with Coach Battle to know he'll give it his best effort. Money will be discussed and then the two men will move on to the important stuff. If Battle can't convince him to come it won't be because of lack of caring or preparation. He will eventually hire a coach and cross that part off his things to do list. Getting a great coach is important. Alabama has lot more things to address that will be just as important a redefinition of where 'Bama is currently, and what the Tide needs to be go where they desire in the future. I thought that Grant re-established a model for conduct and gave the program some ethical direction. That is an important step. It's one we shouldn't overlook or forget. Now we can move on to other things.

The Mess in Texas...
Reports are that Marshall has said no to Bama...

                I was wondering about the Texas job now vacate due to the firing of Rick Barnes.  He has been at Texas, a football factory, for 17 years.  He took 16 of those teams to the NCAA.  Exactly what does Texas expect? It seems to me that Texas fans are so upset at the state of their football program, Rick Barnes got fired instead. That’s Texas logic in my experience.  You can’t call that moderate success. So what does the AD tell a prospective coaching candidate when he visits? Our last coach was in 94% of the last 17 NCAA Tournaments, and we had to let him go. He wasn’t a winner. You’ll love it in Austin. We’ve got great bands, a wonderful culture, and more pretty women than you could imagine. What’s not to like? If you thought that Alabama had or has a good old boy network, then Texas is the Marshall Space Center of Stupidity.

`  

   If I were Bill Battle I’d interview Barnes just of find out the precise meaning of dysfunctional. What I’d ask Rick is it true that Alfred E. Neumann is AD. Now, Texas is rewarding Barnes for his service by waiting until after April 1 to fire him officially. They can save $250,000 dollar in his buy out that way. I’m sure a new coaching candidate will love that. The one thing that Texas has is oil money. I don’t know a lot about the oil business, but it strikes me that digging and hole in ground doesn’t take a lot of intelligence. Don’t mess with Texas? No way. Once I got stopped by their highway patrol. It is the only time I been stopped by the highway patrol there who  told I was driving to slow. No joke. I was doing almost ninety and was told to move to the outer lane so I wouldn’t tie up traffic. Texas isn’t a State. It’s a bad idea that got out of hand. Anyone who decides to coach at Texas needs an exit strategy tattooed on his arm just in case he forgets what it was. When I now travel through Texas, I drive 100 miles an hour just to get the hell of that godforsaken place.

     It may very well be that Greg Marshall takes the job at Texas. It seems like an odd fit to me. Marshall can speak in complete sentences and doesn’t wear boots. I’m sure that Texans can say equally upsetting things about Alabama. Texas started out as a Republic and that didn’t work. They then became a part of the Confederate States of America and we know how that worked out, and now they have Rick Perry as Governor. Some places just can’t learn from past mistakes. At least Governor Bentley doesn’t look like he has been marinated in pickle juice, and wears a cheap hair piece.

     I don’t know if Alabama is even close to finding a new head coach. Marshall may indeed turn us down. I’ve said before it wasn’t a done deal by any means. Shaka Smart is too intelligent to follow Grant at Alabama. Other coaches who we had chosen as fall back positions are going away one by one. Now the name of Richard Pitino is being floated for reaction. Here’s mine. Never select a coach based on the gene pool application of hope. Take White before little Rick. Here’s another idea, and I’m just saying, “what if”. What if we offered Tom Izzo 5 million dollars a year, and give him 10 million dollar signing bonus?  Saban can live with that. Alabama can likely afford that. What Alabama can’t afford is some guy who is up and coming and we hope will work out. We tried that. 

If Battle is serious about Basketball he better have something up his sleeve to keep from embarrassing the University of Alabama. Or here’s a less expensive idea – Tide fans need to understand that we just can’t find a top coach for basketball. Tuscaloosa is not a moving up job it seems. The word Alabama might not carry enough juice to get a big named coach anymore. I hope I’m wrong about that. I don’t put much value into that Yahoo Pat Forde. I think he makes some wild guesses and hopes he is correct on occasion. Let’s hope Forde is out on a limb again. 

10 reasons why Gregg Marshall should coach at Alabama...

Coach Marshall has some incentives to come to Bama

1.   Reason number one is that the University of Alabama could make Gregg Marshall a rich man, and they can also provide virtually unlimited financial support to help him succeed.

2.   Reason number two is that Coach Marshall has taken the ‘Shockers about has far as he can. The only thing left for him would be to win a national championship. He’s also done it on the cheap. Remarkable.

3.   Reason number three is that Marshall could put himself in some rarified air with the most prominent coaches in America. It might be even more shocking taking Alabama to the upper echelons in college basketball than WSU.

4.   Reason number four that Coach Marshall needs to take the step to a power five conference. He can prove to himself and the world that he can build a program in a great conference, as opposed to be the premiere program in a lesser league. I’m not suggesting the program at WSU is worse than our situation. It is not the same as a big money program

5.   Reason number five is exposure. He will be given opportunities to appear on the big stage weekly. His greatest opportunity at Alabama will be to be Kentucky and Florida. Beating those two teams is priceless for your coaching resume

6.   Reason number six is that the SEC is getting better but still is weaker than some other big conferences. It’s perfect time to come into the league and have an excellent chance to win against teams who are also down.

7.   Reason number seven is that Marshall is smart enough to use the Alabama brand to his benefit. Just by coming to Alabama his stature as a coach is elevated to be an equal to Nick Saban.

8.   Reason number eight will be ability to get some kids he could never recruit despite what a great coach he had become. Having a jet to pick up a kid in Los Angeles is a lot different from having mom and dad driving to campus from Fort Hayes, Kansas.

9.   Reason number nine is that the State is finally on the verge of producing some great players. He would have all the advantages that Pearl initially had in regards to playing time, need, and personality.  He would be the best coach in a three team state.  

10. Reason number ten is that great coaches thrive on great challenges. Great coaches believe that can do almost anything. Marshall is a proven winner and can set himself apart from Nick Saban by having the authority to run his program the way he needs. He’s the type guy that would say if Florida can win national championships in football and basketball so can Alabama. Fans are primed and loaded for a new coach and success. He'll have more support than he needs, and he'll be his own man

The most important part of the season is being played right now...



     

From all  accounts Battle is fighting hard for UA

There are two things I'm not clear on regarding Gregg Marshall and Alabama. The "report" is the 'Bama will pay Marshall 3.0 million dollars to come and be the new head coach. I'm not sure that's enough money to get Marshall to leave his current job. If you look at Marshall's career he has been very loyal to his current employer. In fact, he actually took a job once, and then the next day said he wanted to stay where was coaching. Loyalty is one of intangibles that are difficult to factor in a decision. It really makes it difficult to speculate. I'd bet Marshall's incentives  and sure to come new raise, will not be all that far from 3.0 million dollars. I'm not also sure that 'Bama would actually pay that amount or more. For the sake of discussion, let's say that they will?  The difference might end up being far less than people think it would be. And then that pesky loyalty factor raises its highly virtuous presence.
   
    Bill Battle has made a big deal  in saying he wants Alabama basketball to return to former greatness. This hire is a big deal. This is as important to basketball as Nick Saban was to football. I'm not sure that some people understand that coming to Alabama isn't something you'd leave your dog and pick-up truck to do. The truth is that Alabama is a better than average job, but not a great  job. We were lucky that Bryant made a commitment. Coach Newton got things going. Wimp elevated it. Both coaches were a part of what Bryant started. Mark Gottfried was part of that lineage. The two times that Alabama stepped outside the family progression it ended in failure.

 Neither of those two coaches were failures. Each had winning records. Neither live up to Wimp or C.M. The success that Sanderson and Newton had were proof that making the commitment works. Hootie Ingram made a bad decision and the Tide has not be the same since that decision.  Bama has had some success here and there. An Elite Eight and a one week number one  ranking were highlights.     There were some NCAA games, and more NIT games. You can't call those failures.  I think they were accomplishments that just did not live up to expectations.

   I hope in few days Alabama will be lucky enough to hire Gregg Marshall. We need a great coach, but don't misunderstand that Bama needs Marshall more than Marshall needs Alabama. All if these statements about how lucky Marshall would be get a job at Alabama just aren't true. Bama doesn't hold the whip hand in this one. When your ace in the hole is money it means you're falling short in other areas. This situation didn't start quickly and it will not end quickly either. I think that for us fans a good place to start is to understand exactly what the problems are and work hard to eliminate them. Can we get back to where we once were? Sure, we can. We have the history and money which means a lot. Do we have the inclination to sustain an effort? That's the real question that is going to answered.  If we get into a bidding war with another school for Marshall we better man up and win. Otherwise, it could be interpreted as another hollow effort. We gave Saban what he needed and he is now underpaid. His success gives the Capstone the chance to pay for a similar hire. Let's not squander the change out of vanity or pride. 

   Whatever Marshall wants he should know we'll give it to him. He won't ask for some pie in the sky number unless he just wants Alabama to go away. If he thinks we need a better facility we should promise him one. If he wants to pay top money to top assistants we should do it. If he needs additional funds for recruiting we have to do it.  We aren't doing Gregg Marshall a favor by asking him to come to Alabama. He would be coming to a place that thinks football is more  important than life. It's a place where basketball hasn't really been given enough support. Alabama is not a dream job for Marshall. We are offering him a potential nightmare. He's not going to a better program. He'd be leaving one that is at the top of its game. I've got my fingers crossed that he will take the challenge and accept the risk to come to Alabama. If not Marshall, then we need someone who is as close to Marshall as we can get. I hope that Battle has the same persuasiveness that Mal Moore had with Saban. Remember that Coach Saban wanted out of the NFL, and Moore signed a check to make that happen. Battle needs to  be flexible enough to understand the exact state of our program, and offer accordingly. This is bigger than C.M. Newton in many ways. Battle can't afford to lose this recruiting battle. That assumes that Marshall wants to get an offer. I'm not sure he does. It will be tough decision.

The problem with not getting Marshall is the perception that anyone else is a second fiddle. That may not be true, but if Battle allows something to happen to keep Marshall from coming it will be bad. I hope so. If not, the sun will come up and things might be be just fine. I don't think that's what our fans believe now.

Source tells me that Bama is close

UPDATE: Just spoke to one of closest friends who works at WSU in Wichita. He says that WSU is very fearful of losing Marshall. He said that WSU is ready to match Alabama's offer from a money standpoint. 

He thinks Marshall is ready to pull the trigger, IF, and this is a big if. Can Alabama convince him that they will put the same effort in basketball as they do football. Seriously. I know it is easy to say we will. He wants a private jet for recruit transportation (I don't know if that means a new Jet, or just access to school jet or booster jets). He wants a new facility to be announced and built within five seasons. He wants reconfigured seating to get students involved and closer to the floor (this is going to be a tough thing for Battle to do because you have lifelong fans who have worked hard to support program and get moved closer to the floor) This will not be a problem when a new buildding is constructed however. Apparently, Marshall wants an announced time frame for construction. This is going to come down to one thing. Can Alabama convince Marshall they will really treat the program like football. That  will never happen from a fan perspective, but he wants promises  from the AD about the things above. He has talked with past coaches about the lack of involvment of  support staff and AD office to building  basketball into a first class sport. He also wants his staff (at all levels) to come with him. I say do it. It has long been my belief that some of the support staff needs replacing to bring in a new view. I'll update all day long as I learn more. One last thing. He said that boosters want to have a meeting with Coach Marshall. He is very loyal. All he is asking from Alabama is that the school shows the same loyalty to him as he would to the University.I do know one thing and the SEC will know this as well. If Alabama hires Marshall and makes him those promises, Tide basketball is ready to make a momumental jump forward.

INTERVIEW MARSHALL AND START THROWING MONEY AT HIM...

Another year another net

Today, let’s talk about Gregg Marshall. He seems to be fan darling of the moment.  There is absolutely no doubt he is a great coach.  Here are a few things I have learned about Coach Marshall:

·         He is a son of the South. He was born in Greenwood, South Carolina. He was a point guard in high school, and that’s always a plus for a coach in my mind.

·         He graduated from Randolph-Macon, an upper tier private college. He then got a Master’s Degree from the University of Richmond. For those who care he was a Sigma Alpha Epsilon. 

·         He served as an assistant coach at Randolph-Macon for two seasons.

·         His next stop was Belmont-Abbey where he stayed for two seasons.

·         He then took a job with the highly regarded Jim Kresse at the College of Charleston. He stayed with Kresse for 8 seasons. I suspect this is where the wheels started turning to make him a great coach.

·         After the CofC he was an assistant as Marshall. Marshall would have been the biggest program in his career up to that date. Two years later …

·         He became the a head coach at Winthrop. This is where he first started to get attention. I think it would safe to say he took that program from the outhouse to the penthouse, and made it a mid-major  power. He took that program to its first conference championship in first season.

·         Then came championships in 1999,2000,2002,2003,2005,2007 along with six 20 win seasons.  Throw in seven conference tournament champions in 1999,2000,2001,2004,2005, and 2006. That is beyond impressive. That is domination.

·         Marshall then went to Wichita State. In his fourth season the Shockers won the NIT by beating Alabama in the finals.

·         His career at Wichita State has been outstanding. He’s had three NCAA field trips, but in the 2013 season his team went 34-0. In the first game of the NCAA Tournament the ‘Shockers beat Cal-Poly for win #35. Move over Jerry Tarkanian.  That is the record for most wins in a single season with no losses.

151 wins in five seasons

     
   In the movie Casablanca, Humphrey Bogart said,  “of all the gin joints in all the world you walked into mine.” Loyalty has been a strong suit of Coach Marshall. He is going to get more offers to coach at other schools than he has fingers, at the end of this Tournament. The most serious courtier is Alabama. Of all the schools that the Tide has played in recent years it has been the Shockers who impressed me the most.  Don’t think for a moment that Marshall wasn’t impressed with the play of the Crimson Tide. That’s something he’ll keep in mind.  I know that Kentucky is being hailed as the greatest team in NCAA history right now. They’ve done that with a roster full of five-star one and done type players.  In looking back at the recruits for the ‘Shockers during the Marshall era I found one four star recruit. He was a three-star  on most lists. Many of his players couldn’t be located in any publication. State is the most fundamentally sound team in the NCAA. What they lack in talent they make up with old school precision. 

It is going to take ridiculous sum of money to get him
Alabama has a ridiculous sum of money

          They shoot the ball exceptionally well. Their backcourt is always the best on the floor. They play defense. They hustle. They win the fifty/fifty balls. They play like a team that expects to win every game. In the last two seasons they have won 66 games and lost 4. In the last five seasons Marshall’s teams have won 151 games and lost only 38 games. That’s over 30 wins per year and only 7 losses per season. Are you kidding me? That isn’t just great, it’s other worldly. That is Coach K, Tom Izzo, Larry Brown,  Calipari great.  If I was the AD at Alabama I’d give him 5 million per year. I’d promise him a new arena. I’d give everything that Alabama gives Coach Saban and hope we get lucky enough he’d take it. I just hope we're that gin joint...
     
       We hire Marshall and do a few other things and we'll be NCAA stuff for years to come. It might not be the first year, but it won't be long.

 Time to think big or admit we don't care...

   

We've all heard the names of potential coaches for Bill Battle and his selection committee to choose from. I have no idea who might be the last man standing. Tider Insider recently  gave us there list of names that had been heard. Except for Richard Pitino, who doens't have the experience, are all good candidates. I think there is a possibility that the person we choose might not even be listed at this point. I'd even take young Pitino if he could convince his father to be his assistant coach.

     This is a chance for Alabama to get it right, and make a commitment to get it let the nation know that we're serious. Or not. Now is the time for the University of Alabama to be something more than just a football factory. That is not a dig at the football team. We can have something similar in basketball if the administration let's it happen. It' going to take a coach, commitment, and courage to move Alabama into the national circles. We need to go big time or just admit we just don't care. We can hire a great coach, and that will repair part of the problem. It wouldn't be a real fix because that is just shot time fix to placate the fanbase. The commitment part involves a complete revolution of the program from a place to play and getting some seriously dedicated employees to sell Tide basketball. The courage you ask? That takes having to guts to spend the money to make it happen. It's all in sight. The Tide doesn't have to bankrupt the athletic department to do it.

     The facilities needed to pass everyone in the SEC won't take that much. The main reason for that observation is that most arenas in the SEC are pretty bad overall. Most knowledgeable basketball fans understand that true superstars notice such things. We have lost some recruits because playing in the world's largest Quonset huts just won't get the job done. A lot of our fans just don't believe that to be true. The first step to fixing a problem is admitting we have one. We don't have to build it today. We have to confirm to the public we are going to do so in the near future.

    We could have a facility that has a hotel, great locker rooms, multiple practice areas, and the best seating in college basketball. What I'm thinking about is the modern version of the Roman Coliseum. I'm serious in saying it needs to be the JerryWorld of basketball. Go big or go home.  Yes, it will take some money. We need to expand our recruiting base from the Deep South to the rest of the United States. We need to have access to Europe, Asia, and Aussieland. Those are the areas where basketball is exploding. The times have changed.

     Auburn hired Pearl and it is reported that Mississippi State has hired Howland. Is it just me or has the temperature gotten a lot warmer regarding hoops? I'm not even the least bit convinced that Gregg Marshall would leave Wichita State. He's about to get a big raise and he just knocked Kansas to number 2 in his State. Why would the man leave to come to a place where basketball is almost an afterthought?  Money might buy him, but I'm not sure. One of the candidates has strong ties to Alabama. He has had a good run at Murray State. He's not big time, and he's a risk, but he's one of our own. One of the reasons that some coaches might not want to coach at Bama is because of the football focus and Nick Saban. Coach, commitment, and courage to think big can change Alabama. If we aren't willing to do those things it won't matter in the long run. Larry Brown was hired by SMU and changed the Mustang program. We need to the same. If we choose to bury our head in the sand we'll just fall further behind in the end game.

Randolph led Tide murders Big 10 Illinois

Big night for a team that needed one



          It sure was fun making up a story about Alabama going out and just having fun. Sure, the post was just an old fan's imagination, but darn, it almost came true. The Crimson Tide rocketed to a 20-4 lead in the first 10 minutes of game and never looked back. It was a solid team effort. If you wore Crimson you played well. If the word Alabama was on the front of your jersey you shot the daylights. If you were from Illinois and the mighty Big 10, you got some explaining to do when you get home. It sure looked like the Tide was lose and having fun. I think that attitude let their athletic ability run wild. 

        The television announcers said that Illinois seemed a step slow and out of sorts. What they were was just overwhelmed by an Alabama team which wanted to give Anthony Grant a going away gift. When the Tide lead hit 30 points it was the highwater mark of the best game the Tide has played this season. It was the same offense they've used all season on steroids. When Jimmy Taylor made a spinning move and threw down a monster you knew it was going to be a great night. Old school style player Levi Randolph was unstoppable. He also threw down a running dunk that ESPN highlights written all over it. Those dreadlocks were flying behind him like superman's cape would do. He did it all. He hit three points, he dunked, and shot reverse layups, he made his free throws, and directed traffic. If you ever wanted to know Levi was named team Captain go back tomorrow and watch the re-run. Beside his brilliant offensive game, his lock down defense was just as good. Remember that line from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid looked at the opposition and ask "who are those guys". I bet that is exactly what the Illini thought when the first ten minutes were over. The crowd love the offense. The defense killed their Big 10 draw.

         Rodney Cooper played yet another dead solid perfect game. His three point shooting and strong drives down the baseline were impressive. His rebounding is always impressive. He's the perfect sidekick for Levi. And then there was Retin Obasahan. Not bad for kid who was laughed at when he first came to Tuscaloosa. Three second half of this season has seen him become a great player. He is the best defensive guard I've ever seen. I'm sorry to say that Amp, but he sure is. He is also a great shot blocker. Every once in rare while you see someone who understands the bigger scheme of team defense. Simply amazing. He blocked shot, grabbing the lose ball, and driving the length of the floor was stunning. It wouldn't surprise me if he told the Illini, "I'll be back", for the second half. All in all, Tide fans should feel pretty good about the back court for next season. Obasahan, Tarrant, and Coleman will be back. How about the little man dropping in bombs from Northport? That is a glimpse of what is to come. 

        I hope all our potential recruits, including Dazon Ingram, tuned in and watched the game. Ingram would play the same position as Levi in all likelihood. The Tide returns some experience in the front court. Riley Norris made great jumps in his playing time. His shooting is excellent, and I'm telling you are looking at 40&% plus outside shooter. We know that Norris can shoot. But honestly, it was his rebounding and passing that impressed me. Twice last night he tipped lose balls to an open shooters who scored. 
I have to admit that I've had my doubts about Jimmie Taylor. Last night he had a couple of dazzling moves to score, and he is a natural shot blocker. One very under valued part of his game is his ability to find the outside shooter. Same for Norris. Both is rugged inside, and won't shy away from anything.

        In the post game interviews, Levi Randolph made it clear who they were playing the game for last night. That name is Anthony Grant. Regardless of how anyone feels about Grant you can't tell me that Grant didn't recruit some great players, and helped them develop. Maybe Grant didn't win as many games as the fans wanted. No doubt in my mind he has left an indelible mark regarding the intangibles we all like to talk about when your team wins.    

         Dazon Ingram has de-committed. If the new staff keeps Pettway he has left the door open to return. He has to like the new staff to seal the deal. At least one of the other recruits has made it known he has contacted the school wanting to know if he still has to come to Bama since he signed his letter of intent. 

     All in all it was a great night. Alabama fans sure needed something to lift the spirits. We saw a great performance from Randolph and Cooper. We saw the real potential of Obasaha, Norris, and Jimmie Taylor.

TIDE IS 3.5 POINT FAVORITE

NIT OPENS TONIGHT - BAMA HOSTS ILLINOIS -kinda

       The home team tonight in Coleman Coliseum is Illinois. The Illini had booked their on arena for another event. I'd bet it was a tractor pull. Seriously, that gives Alabama the home court advantage tonight. The line reflects that making Bama a 3.5 point favorite.

       What a bizarre game situation. No head coach. An assistant coach will be taking the helm. We have trial run on a .30 second clock, and the charge/block area  has been increased from 3 to 4 feet. Other than that, it's jt a normal game. I can't believe that Bama is going to be doing anything different than  before. Maybe with 2 less passes or something. I'd bet both teams are going to emphasis the press to take even more time away from the offense. But what if...

Levi Randolph huddles the team together at midcourt. He looks up at his teammates and says, "you know what? Let's just run and gun and have some fun."

Everyone laughs and nods in agreement. Coop says "yeah, man and I'm trying one from halfcourt tonight." Taylor says he wants to shoot a three. The little man says he'll do some Harlem Globetrotter type dribbling. Riley Norris says maybe he might try a two hand set shot. 

Retin says he is going to finally uses his Belgium Waffle move down the lane. As Levi sums it up, "the key word here is to have some fun. We will shock 'em to death. Dakota gets to start and when he gets within 5 feet of the arc he'll let one fly." 

Michael Kessens looks a little concerned. "what about coach?" Randolph replies, "Coach? We don't need no stinking coach. But if they say we will have to show a coach that will Tarrant and Hale." 

Cooper says that "this is going to make ESPN. This is big time, this is our chance to have our own sit-com. Kessens still looks at little unsure, and says" and you are sure this is allowed?" Justin looks at the big man and says "allowed? Heck, it's mandated. Now who gets the first technical foul for swinging  on the rim?"

The media will rave about Alabama's new wave offense. Writers will write about hook shots from half court. Or maybe someone will write that never in the collective history of college basketball has any player stood on the shoulders of a teammate to  dunk a ball, and what? Didn't they have a dozen blocked shots doing the same thing? I haven't seen a player eat hot dog or two on the bench since the Babe played in New York. Another says, he thought the lazy boys for the injured players was sweet, and they were crimson and white. 

Right before the tip-off Levi does his best Ernie Banks impression and says "Let' play two." What a goofy night. Final score was unknown because Mitchell crawled over to the scorer's table and pulled the plug with a minute left. 

Thanks for letting me have little fun.

Good Memories from of Bama's first NIT...

I remember Alabama's first NIT. The excitement of NYC, the Garden, and all those masses of people on the sidewalk. It was a real honor to be selected and C.M. Newton got 'em there. We drove all the way from Tuscaloosa in the new Subaru I had just bought. Sticker price was $1743.00. Four of us piled up in the blue bomber and headed north. We had about $300.00 hundred dollars between us. That was for gas, food, and lodging. We had no idea where we were going to stay. Going through New Jersey we lost the clutch. A mechanic was a basketball fan. He also liked to gamble. We told him that it was a lock that Alabama would we would beat Manhattan. He gave us the keys to his primo '57 chevy, and told us be careful and bring it back in one piece. We were, in the terminology of the day, now officially cool cats. 

We soaked in NYC. Went to team practices, ate corned beef and rye sandwiches, and stayed at the YMCA. The second night we went to an alumni party and met a famous writer from Alabama. He invited us to stay in his Upper East Side apartment.  We had hit the jackpot. Free room, and some food to boot. We went to the hotel where the team was staying, and begged an extra ticket for our new friend. In fact, we got five tickets. We gave the four tickets we had in  a grateful exchange. Four rows behind our bench would be our place in the palace. Life just didn't get any better than those days. Our friend took the ticket, said he'd never seen Alabama play basketball, and thought it might be fun. We told him that Bear Bryant was going to be there. "Paul is going to be watching the game", he asked. I remember him saying Paul. I'd never heard him referred to by his given name. We obviously ran in different circles. 

Our seats were so great an usher actually took us down the seats and gave us one of those "how the hell did you get these seats" looks. I'll be honest I really don't remember a lot of the game. I was young and just giddy to be a part of it all. I was not a cool cat. I was a awestruck kid from the sticks. I do remember Glen Garrett knocking down that jump shot to win the game. If heaven existed and you got a sneak preview that night was for us. 

The years have rolled by. Recently, I attended the funeral of my writer friend. He was greatly admired, and had a bunch of big time friends who came to pay their respects. This time I flew on a jet to LaGuardia, took a taxi into town, and stayed at a decent hotel. I couldn't help but think back to that grand adventure four young students had taken decades before. I knew I'd taken step backwards from one of the greatest times in my life.

 I took a rental down to Jersey to see if the mechanic who fixed our car was around. His son said he had died, but we laughed at our great bet we'd made with his father.  The bet was if he won some money on the game he'd fix our car free. If we lost we'd pay him double. The son asked to come in the office, he had something to show me. There was an old poloroid picture stuck on the wall. There were hundreds of them. They were all photos of his clients. He pointed to the one of four young men, leaning against a Subaru, arms folded, with a look that reminded me that at least for a real short time in life we were cool cats. I wanted to take the photo and show it to my buddies. I didn't. For all I know, the photo is still up on the wall with a rusty thumb tack holding our place in eternity. I miss you three guys.

Grant's firing was a monumental publicity error..,
Battle checked off every box of how not to handle a delicate situation

I'm not here to argue whether or not Anthony Grant should have been fired. That decision was made and is over. I think that choice is better for Alabama all the way around. I said I'd even support Battle's decision in the spirit of unity and a fresh start. That's not what this short post is about. Do we have a big crimson stupid machine tucked in the corner of the AD's office to churn out poor choices?:

If there is the machine worked overtime on Sunday. Alabama or Battle makes a decision to fire Grant. He knows that Alabama is going to get an invitation to play in the NIT, and then he fires him leaving us with no coach for the NIT. This isn't ISIS type publicity but when several sportscasters and coached chided Alabama for the manner in which it occurred, it is newsworthy. It was an idiotic decision that is almost frightful in its callousness. You have to seriously fail to think about what the national perception might be over such a thoughtless act. Battle could have fired Grant and then said he would coach the NIT. I don't think anyone would have objected. Most fans on Tider Insider had already proclaimed the NIT as worthless. 

Battle made a huge mistake which has embarrassed the University of Alabama. "Way to go Alabama, classless." according to one ESPN sportscaster. I have to agree. I wish I didn't have to admit to feeling that way but it is obvious the lack of a coherent thought process which is truly embarrassing. The players love Grant. It would have a class act to let him coach the way they asked. That wasn't much for the players who have had to endure so much. It would have been a token gesture. Perhaps Anthony refused. I understand that after he was fired he called all the recruits and tried his best to shore  up the class. Perhaps the bell cow of the group was right in not signing his letter of intent. He stock has soared this season. He de-committed today. If Pettway stays the Tide could get lucky and get him back.  He's going to get offers from every SEC school, including Auburn to join them. The ACC is going to give him some offers. The upside of this kid is unlimited. He might well be a program changers. He wouldn't sign his letter of intent until he was sure that Grant would be his coach. Smart kid. I know at least one other recruit is asking whether he still has to go to Alabama if  his coach is fired. The answer to that is yes. I am afraid the kid will just sit out the year, or go to JUCO one season and become the hottest JUCO commodity around. I don't think people realized just how good this class was going to be. But because Grant signed them they were downgraded. When Billy Donovan would take all three that's all I need to know. 

What difference does it make to allow Grant to coach his team until the NIT was over? Was Battle afraid the Tide might go on a Bruce Pearl run, or horrors of horrors what if the Tide won the NIT. I hope the new coach can soothe the anxiety of these 17 year kids whose world was just upset. Kudos to Grant for telling them to honor their commitment. Bruce Pearl would sign any of them just to embarrass Alabama. Seriously, do we not have some type of PR department to talk these things over. I'm not going to argue that Grant should not have fired any longer. But what Alabama did to the brand was about as stupid is as stupid does. I thought Battle had more sense than that. You have seen me defend him before. I have asked our fans to stop with the old age jokes. I have friends call me from all over that nation to talk about the mythical Alabama class. I can offer no defense. Regardless of how you feel about Grant it would be nice if people told him thank you for his efforts. It probably won't happen. Yesterday, Bill Battle embarrassed the University. He has no defense. I wonder, just in passing, what potential coaches might think about this.

GRANT FIRED  !!!!


     So much for impeccable sources. Bill Battle has fired Anthony Grant. As all of you know I had hoped that he got another season. But let me say this - I understand the rationale and the reasons. I feel very sorry for the Grant family, but I'm sure Grant would want all the Tide fans to reunite, and all move forward. If my AD says he's gone I will fully support him in that decision. I'm sure Anthony will express his regrets. He is one of the best men I've ever known. He'll take that with him where ever he goes. I appreciate the manner in which he ran his program. 

      I'm going to very interested in how this all came about. Today at 10:00 AM someone who works for the Athletic Department called and told me that Grant was told he was coming back. Whatever happened after that will be the center of much speculation in the coming weeks. I can't wait to find out. When I got my call  this morning I asked if the source was he sure? That person told me it was a done deal. I have no doubt whatever occurred must have happened after that. I told my source that one thing troubled me. I have been unable to get in touch with Alabama Men's basketball for a couple of days. That should have told  me all I needed to know. 

Now is the time for all of us to stand together as a fan base, wish Coach Grant the best, and let our new head coach know we are behind him. I've already sent Bill Battle an email saying the same thing and a told him that it must have been a tough decision. I have fired people before. It isn't an easy thing to do. 

Now I can stand united with all my basketball brothers and look forward to the next era in Tide basketball. I once sent a letter to Gottfried explaining why I was doing what was necessary in my opinion. I told him that loved him in a lot of ways but I love Alabama even more. I'll let you guys know something else - the experience with Gottfried's departure still makes me sick to my stomach. It is something that bothers me even today. I don't know who was more joyous when he got the NCState job. It relieved a lot of anxiety. The reason I want to tell all of you this is to let you know that my first loyalty will always be Mother Alabama. That comes first. Any role I play regarding the Tide always follows that recognition. I know most of you are happy, and I'm happy for you. It has been a tough time. Earlier this year I said I'd had enough of Coach Grant. Anyone can justify the reason why he needed to go. I suspect that Grant offered his resignation and Battle knew he should fire him so his severance remained intact. That's the kind of guy Anthony Grant has been, and the same for Coach Battle. Roll Tide and let's roll up our sleeves and start again.

Anyone have any real information?
My Opinion about the situation 

We are all Tide Fans
are we not?

Let me ask each of you a question. You may have information most of don't have. Has anyone heard the name of any head coach who might take the Alabama job? A single name. I haven't. I've made calls to lots of people who might know. All of them say have heard nothing. Not a whisper. I understand what Cecil Hurt means when he said something about considerable pressure at the 11th hour. If Cecil Hurt says something along those lines my interest is peeked.  Who is putting this pressure on Battle? I'd think that would be important to know. It seems to me that Battle is in a tough spot, but maybe he doesn't think that way.

No doubt the majority of fans seem to hate Grant. I think we've moved past the 'he's a great guy, but"...phase of this story. A mob mentality has taken hold of certain groups of the Bama Nation. When you read posts they get more and more angry, some even sound like they come from the truly demented. It seems like every time I try to ask a question it just bypassed by most on the board. 

We didn't use a mob mentality and act like fools. It was an issue we deeply cared about, and wanted to cause the facts to change the minds of the fans. We didn't bad mouth the coach, we didn't write nasty things about him or the AD. In fact, we all made ourselves one promise - we would never say one thing personally about the coach himself. We would stick with the facts, and the facts alone. Most people on this board remind me of the scene in Frankenstein where all the villagers have pitchforks and torches chasing the monster. A lot of you haven't had this much fun in years. It seems like a contest is in progress to see who can be the biggest jerk in the world. It's a close race. It's a contest that none of you will ever win. You all lose, and this dash to see who can be the most outrageous and most offended is a joke. It doesn't even come across as serious.

     So why haven't radio talk show hosts been all over this? The last time we had a similar situation Paul Finebaum and every other radio guy was talking about it daily. Some sports writer's heads were about to explode in glee. Why not this time? For those who have written logical arguments to present to Mr. Battle you'll find they were probably read and given due consideration. We can all yell and carry on even more. But in the end, if Grant stays, here's what you'll do. You'll all sit down and write checks to buy your tickets. You'll fuss and fume for a week and then fall in line like good and loyal fans. You won't vote with your pocketbook or lack of attendance. You love Alabama, and that will be your only deciding factor. A few might not buy tickets or attend. They may continue to have a hyper-pout forever. You know what? Do it and quit talking about it. Quit hiding behind your screen names like punks and tell the world you you feel by identifying yourself. We all know that won't happen. 

       Let me say this, if you are not a graduate of the University of Alabama you don't get to have an opinion. I know many of you love Alabama. But this a problem for people who attended the University to decide. I'm not calling you second class or saying you don't love Alabama. I'm sure that almost of you do. This is like a family squabble. The family has to do the right thing. All ideas are welcome. Stupid statements have no effect in this. I'm not sure exactly what Cecil Hurt meant by 11th hour pressure. It's almost unfair to make such a statement without more information. Whether or not it was intended as a media gimmick remains to be seen. I doubt Hurt would do that, but he needs to expand a little bit to put the statement in context. Unless this late hour pressure is from enough people who have influence it really doesn't matter. I do know that there was absolutely no indication that Grant was going to be fired. It would be terribly unfair to name a new coach if you are stepping down as AD. Can any of you tell me why you think that is true? Freedom of Speech is our constitutional right. It's also a gift that shouldn't be abused. 

The last time this happened a lot people put their money where their mouth was. My part was doing the media stuff. You think that was easy to do? It was a lot harder than making bully boy remarks on-line. You are driving people to support Grant, a lot of important people, so you are defeating your own purpose. One thing I'll never forget in that Gottfried mess - not one person every called in supporting him. I didn't get one letter say we were wrong. We got calls and letters thanking us. As of yesterday the only decision made regarding Anthony Grant was the same one the day he signed his extension. If Hurt was to tell us that Paul Bryant, Jr. was upset then I'd really take notice. If Grant is fired then it is a decision I can accept and then support the new coach. That's what we all should do in my opinion.