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Auburn Breaks The Tide 28-23

Shaud Williams (#21 Sr. TB, 5-8 191 lbs. Andrews, TX - Texas Tech transfer)

Shaud Williams is one of the best running backs in Crimson Tide football history

These comments came following the 2003 Auburn game as Shaud Williams answered questions from the press pool ...

Press Pool …How much did those two big plays that Auburn hit on offense change the tone of the game?

Shaud Williams … It changed the tone of the game a great deal. From scrimmage, Carnell goes 80 yards. Then we had them third-and-long, and they get the long touchdown pass. Those two plays right there set the mood for the game and kind of broke our spirits for a little bit. But then we came back out in the second half, made some plays and got a drive going there toward the end. But I think the bottom just kind of fell out and we weren’t able to execute at the end enough to win.

When you had that touchdown drive, did you feel like you were back in it, that the momentum had changed?

(laughs) I mean, yeah. We come out in the second half and go down and score. I think any team would feel like the momentum is back on their side. We felt like we had a chance to get back in the game after that drive.

Talk about your career at Alabama. Can you put it into words for us?

I can’t. I don’t know if I can. It’s been a career of ups and downs. I’ve met a lot of great people here at the University. I’ve met a lot of great people outside this football team. I just can’t say enough about Alabama fans and the people of Alabama. They made my three years here the best. I’ll remember every moment that I’ve had here. Like I said, I’ve met a lot of great people that will always hold a special place in my heart. It’s just one of things where you can’t say enough the people I’ve come in contact with here. I just can’t put it into words.

Can you talk about this coaching staff? Is this the right one to be in place to get this thing turned around?

Without a doubt. I said this from day one, Coach Shula is the right man for the job. He’s got his heart and soul into putting this football program back on top. I just really hate it for him. He’s just as much of a competitor as we are and he doesn’t like to lose. It tears me up to look at him and see how frustrating it is. I really wish we could be more successful. When he took the job, all those people said he was crazy and didn’t know what he was getting into and things like that. I wanted to win more games for Coach Shula so he could quiet those critics and show that he made the right decision and he’s definitely the man who’s going to put this program back on top.

You guys haven’t used it as an excuse, but can you talk about how handicapped you really were with the staff coming in late and not being able to audible much because the offense was so new?

Of course we were at a disadvantage not having Spring Ball with this coaching staff. But we weren’t going to use that as an excuse. We’ve got guys on this team with too much heart and too much character to use something like that as an excuse. We knew it was going to be that way. We knew it was going to be tough and we stepped up and accepted the challenge. But I still think without a doubt we were at a disadvantage not having Spring Ball with the coaching staff. But that’s all right. I have all the confidence in the world in the younger guys. They’re going to pull together and get this thing back on track.

You guys are going to Hawaii this week.

Yes, we are going to Hawaii.

Can you talk about that game?

It’s going to be fun, but we’re going out there to win the game. They’re a good football team and they played us tough last year. We’re going to have to go out there and be prepared and be ready for a good football game.

Click on the name for their post-game comments ...
Coach Mike Shula (Head Coach)

Coach Joe Kines (Defensive Coordinator)

Shaud Williams (#21 Sr. TB, 5-8 191 lbs. Andrews, TX - Texas Tech transfer)

Brodie Croyle (#12 So. QB, 6-3 200 lbs. Rainbow City, AL - Westbrook Christian High)

Brandon Brooks (#5 So. SE, 5-4 163 lbs. Birmingham, AL - Shades Valley High School)

Postgame Analysis from ...

Tommy Deas (The Tuscaloosa News)

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