Ruck, I tend to agree on some points. I'm going to withhold my final judgment until I see what changes he makes on the coaching staff. I honestly believe that CMS has a brilliant football mind with the X's & O's, but does he have the people skills to motivate & the balls to make changes? I heard a rumor today from someone that doesn't normally spread rumors, but is usually correct that CMS is not only going to make coaching changes, but some of the players that have pissy attitudes will be leaving the team as well.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Rick McMahan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "RollTideFan-The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, December 01, 2003 6:00 PM Subject: Re: [RollTideFan] Croom becomes first black SEC coach > Well I've been thinking it all along and now it's time to confess. I > wish like hell we had gotten him first. MSU just made an extremely good > choice in my opinion. Before anyone jumps on my ass, just let me say, I > have no problems with Coach Mike Shula, but he better turn things around > and Bama must show signs of improving next season. I saw NO SIGNS of > improvement this year. I obviously know all the built in excuses so I > don't want to hear them anymore either. Just calling'em the way I see'em. > > Rick > > Jeff Todd wrote: > > ESPN.com: College Football > > > > Monday, December 1, 2003 > > Croom becomes first black SEC coach > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > -------- > > ESPN.com news services > > > > STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Sylvester Croom became the first black head > > football coach in the Southeastern Conference, accepting an offer Monday > > to take over Mississippi State. > > > > > > The school announced Croom's decision in a release posted on its Web > > site. A news conference will be held Tuesday to introduce him. > > > > > > Croom informed Mississippi State athletic director Larry Templeton that > > he would take the job less than 24 hours after Templeton said he had > > offered it. > > > > > > Croom, 49, has never been a head coach, but has been an NFL assistant > > with five teams since 1987 and worked for Bear Bryant and Ray Perkins at > > Alabama from 1977-86. > > > > "I'm happy to see Mississippi State step up," John Mitchell, a > > Pittsburgh Steelers assistant coach and former teammate of Crooms' at > > Alabama, told ESPN.com. "I've had some bad views of the state of > > Mississippi for a long time, since I was growing up. For them to beat > > Alabama and the rest of the states not only to hire an African-American > > coach, but someone as qualified as Sylvester Croom, it says a lot for > > them." > > > > > > The Bulldogs completed a 2-10 season, their third straight last-place > > finish in the SEC West, by losing to Mississippi 31-0 Thursday. They > > went 8-27 in Jackie Sherrill's final three seasons with just three SEC > > victories. > > > > > > Croom came close to landing the Alabama job earlier this year after Mike > > Price was abruptly dismissed in May. > > > > > > The Crimson Tide were criticized by some, including civil rights > > activist Jesse Jackson, for hiring Mike Shula, who is white, over Croom, > > who has more experience. > > > > > > Every other BCS conference has had at least one black head coach, but > > the shortcoming is not exclusive to the SEC. There were only four black > > head football coaches among 117 Division I-A football schools this > > season. > > > > > > The SEC has been trying to help its members be more inclusive in the > > hiring process by providing lists of potential minority candidates to > > its athletic directors. > > > > > > Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. > > > > > > > > ______________________________________________________ > RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List > > "Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup!" > > To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net > ______________________________________________________ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List "Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup!" To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net
