Druid City Online's coverage of Alabama football brings you up close and personal with players and coaches. Read these comments that followed the announcement of new head coach Mike Shula as he held his first official press conference ...

Mike Shula (head coach Alabama Crimson Tide - former asst. coach with Miami Dolphins)

The University of Alabama was forced to hire its third head football coach in four months after the unexpected departures of Dennis Franchione and Mike Price. This time University officials turned their sights back within the Crimson Tide family, giving serous consideration to three candidates ... Sylvester Croom, Richard Williamson and Mike Shula. These comments came during a press conference announcing Alabama's new head coach ...

Comments from Athletic Director Mal Moore ...

Moore - I would like to thank everyone for being here today on this very special occasion. And i would like to personally like to thank members of the Board of Trustees, chancellor Mac Portera and University president Dr. Robert Witt for their help during this search. It is with a great deal of pleasure that I present Mike Shula and Alabama's 26th head football coach. Mike brings a mixture of youth and experience to our program, while at the same time a 15 year career in the NFL that has well-prepared him for the step he takes today. It was that mix of enthusiasm, experience and ties to the University of Alabama that made Mike a perfect fit for this job. We began talks with Mike on Wednesday night, and he was able to quickly reach a decision. We have moved rapidly but thoroughly through this process. We were honored to have such and outstanding list of candidates and these decisions are never easy. Mike is a fine coach with impeccable credentials and we certainly expect great things from him. Ladies and gentlemen Alabama head football coach Mike Shula ...

Mike Shula - The Board of Trustees, Dr. Portera, Dr. Witt, Mal Moore, I would just like to say thank you for the opportunity of a lifetime. It's been unbelievable what has happened to me today. A lot of these guys in the back of the room ... I'm seeing a lot of old friends, good friends that I haven't seen in a while. It brings back great memories. I'm here and I look forward to a lot more great memories.

My wife Sherri is here today also. Um .... um ... I'm excited to have her here with me for this opportunity. I plan to give this thing the best shot I've ever given anything in my life. I've been fortunate to have a lot of neat people to be around ... some great coaches. I plan to use those resources and the knowledge and experience I've gained from those coaches and a lot of the people I've been around in every aspect of life ... in every aspect of life. In coaching and communications, in friendships ... hopefully I can use those resources and look forward to doing that and building a great program here . continuing a great program here, continuing in the tradition of Alabama across the country. I just can't say enough about how I feel and how excited I am and can't to get started. I know that this time of year is obviously unusual circumstances. We're going to be on a short schedule and because of that we know as a staff we have some tough things ahead, some tough work ahead. I believe we're going to surround ourselves with the best people possible and umm ... get this going as quickly as we can.

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Head Coach Mike Shula

Brodie Croyle

Shaun Alexander