Anyone have any real information?
My Opinion about the situation
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.
My Opinion about the situation
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| 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.
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