Alabama Coach Mike Shula Gets His First Career Win druidcityonline.com your guide to Tuscaloosa, Alabama and the Deep South
	News&Events Eat&Drink People&Places

Tide Storms Back for a 40-17 Win Over the Bulls

Coach Shula wins his first game as Alabama coach and gets national exposure on ESPN

Mike Shula (Alabama Head Coach '03)

These comments came during Coach Shula's post game comments to the press pool ...

Mike Shula - Well, it’s good to get that first one. This feeling right here is something we’ve all been looking forward to. We just wanted for the players … for all the hard work we’ve put them through… we wanted it to pay off. I felt like if we could win that first game and we could get a little confidence. We made some mistakes. We made some mistakes early, which we can’t afford to do each week as we all know. But we kept our poise and got it to 17-all right at the half. Got a nice two minute drive, and then got the turnover on the kickoff coverage team. We had some momentum and took advantage of it. Got 10 quick points in the third quarter, and from that point on we just kind of got on a little bit of a roll. It feels good, it feels really good.

Press Pool - You got behind 17-7, and hadn’t really been around these players. Did you look to see what kind of reaction you were getting on the sideline?

Shula – Yeah, you do because you don’t really know these guys. We talked about that, about just not knowing, and hoping they would react in a way is positive, even if things don’t go well. I think maybe at one point, but not for very long, I think guys were down … a little frustrated I should say. But we were real close on a couple of things. We just couldn’t get into a rhythm where we could get some first downs. We were close. That’s what football is about … you have those games. It’s a game of momentum and you have to stick with it when things don’t go well and just keep believing that if you do your job they are going to go well.

Pool- What adjustments did you make as the game went on and at the half?

I think the key was the two minute drive. Well, first of all, to get the touchdown defensively really helped us. Then we thought we were getting into a little rhythm and we fumble the football. The two minute drive going into the half really helped us and gave us some confidence. The long pass to Zach (Fletcher) that Brodie hit was a real nice throw and a great catch. And we all felt like even though it was tied at halftime, that we had the momentum. We were going to get the ball (after the half). Let’s go do something with it. We moved the ball; we just couldn’t get it in the end zone. We didn’t finish a drive, which was unfortunate. But then we got the punt return (for a TD) right after that. We got into a little bit of a rhythm and were throwing on first down. We tried to do that earlier in the game, but just starting completing the passes later on.

How much to you attribute the slow start to having 25 days of intense practice?

I don’t know. I’m not sure it was that. South Florida did a nice job. They came out and did some nice things. I think it was us getting used to their quickness a little bit. I think we struggled with their quickness early and were just a little bit off. I’m saying that to give credit to them (USF) because they’ve got some quickness. But we were able to adjust fortunately and make some plays and stick with it.

Talk about your emotions going into this game … your first game as coach and with your dad here.

Well, I’ve been excited about a lot of things. It’s like when you play, especially here. It felt like just coming out of the tunnel on the west end, just seeing all those fans reminded me of when I was a player and when I got under the tunnel here, I was kidding Coach Radar that was where I used to warm up with him. Having my dad and my whole family here … I know that’s the first time they’ve been here for a game. My dad’s never been to a game at Legion Field or Bryant Denny until this year. So that’s special. Plus, every time they come, they usually bring pretty good luck.

That deep ball to Zach … was that an isolation play?

Yeah, it was kind of … finally, finally we made a play! They (USF) were the ones making plays early. Making the throws, making some great catches, making some plays defensively. We weren’t making any plays. But finally we got into a rhythm and that really started us. We made a big play and got some confidence. Brodie did a real nice job in the two minute drill … being a field general and finding the open guys and not forcing things. I thought we’d have a chance right there at the end of the half to squeak another one in there. It was kind of tight with just 8 seconds. But he did a nice job there. He knew we were going to throw it into the end zone and not to wait too long because we still wanted the field goal. And that’s what he did.

Talk about the play of the defense.

They did a nice job sticking with it. We tried to show them no huddle and get them used to the speed of this offense and the way they call plays and the way they spread the ball around. We weren’t even close as far as giving (our defense) a look because South Florida did such a nice job. They had us on our heels a little bit. But we talked all week long … I know Coach Kines talked all week long about the fact that they will make some plays, but we have to just stick with it. I think one of the keys defensively is we started to get some pressure on the passer. We didn’t get that pressure early. We got them into some second and long, and third and long plays. Then we got the interception returned for the touchdown. When you throw the ball a lot those things happen. You’re going to make some plays, but the defense is going to make some plays too.

Can you talk about the job some of the first time guys did today … like Tim Castille, Ramzee Robinson, Kenneth Darby.

I think Tim did a nice job. He’s so poised, and we wouldn’t put him in there if we didn’t think he could do it. We asked him to do a lot and moved that position around a little bit. Castille and Darby too. He was running it … they’ve done that in practice and they broke a lot of tackles. I think that was big for us too.

How long do you enjoy this one?

About ten hours (laughs). We’ll enjoy it tonight, and then get up tomorrow and watch a tape. The players will come in and we’ll watch a tape with them. And as soon as we get done with the tape, we’re on to Oklahoma. And we all know what that means. They’re the number 1 ranked team in the country. Coming into Bryant-Denny, our first game there. It will be a great challenge for us. I know these guys are looking forward to it ... read the rest at the Home Games 2003.

This is just a taste of what we'll do every Alabama Home Game in 2003. Be a part of it !
Join and read interviews with Coach Joe Kines, Shaud Williams, Ramzee Robinson, Charlie Peprah and more ...

News Archives Sports Archives Music Archives