Mako
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I was just doing a little websurfing (actually was looking up information on David Woodley) when I stumbled across this old article about Don Shula from when he "Retired" as coach of the Dolphins.
October 6, 1995
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The end of an era, the end of a dream
By Kris Shields
It wasn't supposed to be like this.
He was supposed to be carried off the field by his players. He was supposed to have a smile on his face the size of Florida. He was supposed to be drenched with champagne.
But Don Shula wasn't supposed to be at a press conference in early January, coming off of an embarrassing loss, announcing to the world that he would not be returning to coach the Miami Dolphins. Somebody else would be pacing the sideline next year. Somebody else would be drawing up the plays and picking the starting lineups. Someone else would be giving the postgame press conferences.
As a lifelong Dolphins fan, I am excited that Jimmy Johnson will be taking over the team. He is a winner and will bring that attitude to the Dolphins. It is likely that the change, simply because it is a shakeup, will help the team.
But that really isn't the issue.
Don Shula has been head coach of the Dolphins since before I was born. In fact, he's been coach since 1970. He took them to an undefeated season, five Super Bowls, and two championships. He averaged over 10 wins per season.
Even over the past five years, the time period when many have said Shula had failed, the Dolphins have been in the hunt virtually every year, and have had four playoff appearances including two division championships. Dolphins fans have been spoiled: we expect success from the Dolphins because they have been so successful for so long.
Why have they been so successful? Don Shula has had a lot to do with it. He won with the pounding running backs Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick, and Mercury Morris. He took a team without an identity, led by the tandem of David Woodley and Don Strock, to the Super Bowl. And found another AFC Championship behind the arm of Dan Marino.
Was it time for Shula to retire? Probably. It was probably time a couple years ago. But that is no excuse for the abuse he withstood this season. The Dolphins had high expectations which they fell far short of meeting. It's no surprise their coach was criticized. But what happened to Shula was far beyond criticism. He deserved to be questioned for his handling of the 1995 Dolphins. But, in the process, his past achievements were belittled and forgotten. That is not right.
The Miami Dolphins simply would not be the Miami Dolphins if Don Shula had never been their coach. In fact, they will never be the same now that he is gone. He brought class and prestige to the organization that no franchise can match. He was always professional in his demeanor and his comments.
Shula didn't guarantee victories and didn't find scapegoats for his losses. He was always willing to take the blame and the first to point to the players for successes. He had fire and competitiveness that were hard to match, but more importantly, a class that was impossible to equal.
Hopefully, Jimmy Johnson will help Marino get a Super Bowl ring. Hopefully, he will help the future Hall-of-Famer keep from ending his career on a sour note, as well. Because he deserves more than a bittersweet ending, too.
In my dream world, though, Shula is still coach of the Dolphins. It is still his jaw jutting out and his arms crossed across his chest. And, the next time the Dolphins win the Super Bowl, he will be the one whom they carry off the field. Because that is how it was supposed to end for the winningest coach of all time. In a locker room, next to Paul Tagliabue, holding the Vince Lombardi trophy.
That's how it was supposed to be. But sometimes, life just isn't perfect.
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Maybe the Dolphins are cursed.. I am almost certain Shula didn't retire on his own accordances, he was forced out so Wayne could bring in Jimmy Johnson. Doesn't it seem funny that since he was forced out, the fortunes of the Dolphins have seemingly gone right down the crapper? What has been the best memory the Dolphins have to hang on to since Shula Retired? 62-7? Cecil Collins? Demetrieus Underwood? Being unable to advance past the second round of the playoffs, and having the playoff performances in the losses look worse and worse each year? Anyhow sorry to go off on a tangent, just reflecting on the old days and what once was. I know for a fact the Dolphins one day will be the preminent team to beat in the NFL, but I still like to reflect on the past.
October 6, 1995
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The end of an era, the end of a dream
By Kris Shields
It wasn't supposed to be like this.
He was supposed to be carried off the field by his players. He was supposed to have a smile on his face the size of Florida. He was supposed to be drenched with champagne.
But Don Shula wasn't supposed to be at a press conference in early January, coming off of an embarrassing loss, announcing to the world that he would not be returning to coach the Miami Dolphins. Somebody else would be pacing the sideline next year. Somebody else would be drawing up the plays and picking the starting lineups. Someone else would be giving the postgame press conferences.
As a lifelong Dolphins fan, I am excited that Jimmy Johnson will be taking over the team. He is a winner and will bring that attitude to the Dolphins. It is likely that the change, simply because it is a shakeup, will help the team.
But that really isn't the issue.
Don Shula has been head coach of the Dolphins since before I was born. In fact, he's been coach since 1970. He took them to an undefeated season, five Super Bowls, and two championships. He averaged over 10 wins per season.
Even over the past five years, the time period when many have said Shula had failed, the Dolphins have been in the hunt virtually every year, and have had four playoff appearances including two division championships. Dolphins fans have been spoiled: we expect success from the Dolphins because they have been so successful for so long.
Why have they been so successful? Don Shula has had a lot to do with it. He won with the pounding running backs Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick, and Mercury Morris. He took a team without an identity, led by the tandem of David Woodley and Don Strock, to the Super Bowl. And found another AFC Championship behind the arm of Dan Marino.
Was it time for Shula to retire? Probably. It was probably time a couple years ago. But that is no excuse for the abuse he withstood this season. The Dolphins had high expectations which they fell far short of meeting. It's no surprise their coach was criticized. But what happened to Shula was far beyond criticism. He deserved to be questioned for his handling of the 1995 Dolphins. But, in the process, his past achievements were belittled and forgotten. That is not right.
The Miami Dolphins simply would not be the Miami Dolphins if Don Shula had never been their coach. In fact, they will never be the same now that he is gone. He brought class and prestige to the organization that no franchise can match. He was always professional in his demeanor and his comments.
Shula didn't guarantee victories and didn't find scapegoats for his losses. He was always willing to take the blame and the first to point to the players for successes. He had fire and competitiveness that were hard to match, but more importantly, a class that was impossible to equal.
Hopefully, Jimmy Johnson will help Marino get a Super Bowl ring. Hopefully, he will help the future Hall-of-Famer keep from ending his career on a sour note, as well. Because he deserves more than a bittersweet ending, too.
In my dream world, though, Shula is still coach of the Dolphins. It is still his jaw jutting out and his arms crossed across his chest. And, the next time the Dolphins win the Super Bowl, he will be the one whom they carry off the field. Because that is how it was supposed to end for the winningest coach of all time. In a locker room, next to Paul Tagliabue, holding the Vince Lombardi trophy.
That's how it was supposed to be. But sometimes, life just isn't perfect.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maybe the Dolphins are cursed.. I am almost certain Shula didn't retire on his own accordances, he was forced out so Wayne could bring in Jimmy Johnson. Doesn't it seem funny that since he was forced out, the fortunes of the Dolphins have seemingly gone right down the crapper? What has been the best memory the Dolphins have to hang on to since Shula Retired? 62-7? Cecil Collins? Demetrieus Underwood? Being unable to advance past the second round of the playoffs, and having the playoff performances in the losses look worse and worse each year? Anyhow sorry to go off on a tangent, just reflecting on the old days and what once was. I know for a fact the Dolphins one day will be the preminent team to beat in the NFL, but I still like to reflect on the past.
