Cut had a 10-3 season at the Oxpatch graveyard and had winning seasons in all, but one of his years. I'm not saying UK with Cutcliffe will win the East, but would difenitely change the landscape. Tennessee lost just about every recruiting battle with Ole Miss when Cutcliffe was there, and I would expect the same results. I just wonder if UT wiould jetison Phat Phil a la Johnny Majors if they went 8-4 this year and napped Cutcliffe in a preemtive move. Cutcliffe is worshiped in eastern Tennessee.
Lotta "if's" on UK becoming the next big thing. DC has to get hired first, then recruit and build, sustain injuries with somewhat limited talent to begin with and play the big boys in the division. Lotta IF's. As for Shula, I actually think Bama fans would be satisfied, not necessarily happy, with 7 wins if there are injuries. He has two years to get it done or he's gone, imho.
I've gotta believe there's at least a little grumbling at Tennessee about Phil Fulmer. And if not, it oughta be ready to start up soon. The off-field disciplinary and academic problems are now reaching absurd levels, and the Vols haven't been a factor in the national title race since 2001. If he slips up just a bit this year or the next and goes 6-5 or worse, he might finally start to feel some pressure. A losing record in the near future would finally confirm for UT fans what many others suspect; a program out of control. I doubt Vandy clips Johnson anytime soon, but I've heard the last two years that Vandy had "their best team in years" and was finally gonna compete. Well, 2003 and 2004 came and went, and the same ol' Vandy that struggles to win two SEC games a year was on the field again. Johnson had better keep a lid on the hype, or he will become a victim of it.
I actually think that Shula will be judged starting with this season. The Price, Francione and NCAA crap made it necessary to bring in someone who could just provide a settling effect. Getting to the Music City Bowl gave the locals a sense of hope. Now it is time for Shula to start producing. I am betting that Bama will beat Tennessee and Auburn this year. And they play Florida in Tuscaloosa which should be about an even match. The Bama defense is better than many people realize. http://www.inside99.net/2005/unit_rankings/DB.htm
Bama just doesn't have the depth yet. I would be stunned beyond words if they walked into Herr Jordan and beat the War Turkeys. I think they will pick up loses at South Carolina, Ole Miss, and Awbarn, plus home loses to against UT and LSU. Shula had a great recruiting class, but its going take more than two classes to bring Alabama back to a challengers role. Oh, and if they boot Shula based on a 6-5 record, the ugliness over Croom is going to return five-fold. The PC pressures will be outrageous, even to Bama hater like me. Alabama is going to have deal with the long-term effects of probation and thank their stars the NCAA didn't shut them down (like they should have).
I’ll chime in on this one. You are correct in saying this is the year Rich Brooks better prove something out on the field. I just do not see it happening…season ticket renewals have been down and the buzz for football is at an all-time low. Trust me when I say, I had a hard time forcing myself to renew my tickets…the only reason why I did it was for the home schedule (likes of UF, UGA, Louisville, and Auburn). Guys, UK has a brutal schedule, I realistically seeing us winning 2 maybe 3 games this up-coming year, and that’s being kind. I like your theory about Cut, he was the choice after the Bill Parcels wish hire…word is that Cut turned it down, feeling he had a guarantee from Ole Miss he was safe…this was before Eli’s senior year. Mitch Barnhart (AD) panicked due to recruiting season was in high gear and went to someone who he knew would take the job…Rich Brooks. This is after Parcells got gobbled up by Jerry Jones, Norm Chow verbally accepted the job, but the wife nixed the idea, and Cut was coming but Ole Miss upped the ante on his contract. Would Cut come to UK? Keep in mind; he was basically pushed over for the hiring of Mumme. All I know is in Lexington we need new blood…Hell, we are already counting down to Midnight Madness in October and thinking about Final 4 dreams (indications is that Morris is pulling out of the draft and heading back to wear UK Blue). I can see where Cut can make a major impact in recruiting, esp. in Ohio. Guys, trust me, Ohio is a fertile area for football recruits (like Louisiana, Texas, and Florida). Keep in mind; it was Cut who got the players to UT. It was Cut who won at Ole Miss (biggest mistake by that administration to let him go)…but like someone said, would UK want another aging coach with health issues. My choice for UK’s coach would be Muschamp (played at UGA, Assist. Coach at Eastern Kentucky). He would be a nice fit…but is he seasoned enough to coach in the SEC?
WildCat did you see thge UK - Bama game last year I think UK had the upset working. UK went down the field easily on Bama and scored. They were down by 3 or 4. Forced Bama to punt. UK returner fair catches the ball on Bama's 40 because the Bama kicker shanked the punt. A procedure call on Bama. UK takes the penalty to make the Bama punter re-kick. The UK returner was averaging 15 to 20 yards a return. What happens? UK breaks thru the line. Instead of tackeling the punter (would have been easy), they try to block the kick. The kicker sidesteps and runs about 20 yards. 1st and 10 Bama. The wheels fell off for the Cats. If UK had beaten Bama, would Brooks have another year? And where would Shula be with teh necks?
I think the only coaches not on a hot seat in the SEC right now are Spurrier and Crooms. Every other coach is on the hot seat even though they might now actually be fired this season if they have a bad year.
Alabama fans can whatever they want (Shula can win 6-7 games) but the fact is that when Alabama actually does lose 3-4-5 games....the pressure will rise to the point that 2006 could be his LAST year.
