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More Appreciation for Shula

The Bopkin

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I am a long-time Shula fan and supporter, but during his last couple of years he really took a beating from fans and the media. During the Jimmy Johnson years he sort of became a forgotten man, and a renewed appreciation for him emerged during Wannstedt.

With much more hindsight, and the difficult times we have gone through lately (really since 2001, our last playoff appearance) does anybody look back at the Shula years, despite his being unable to get us back to the big game in the 90's, and really appreciate the consistency with which he was able to win? 2 losing seasons in Miami('76, '88) and 16 years in the playoffs out of 26, and many of those years we missed we were still in the hunt until the last week of the season. There never seemed to be a full-on rebuilding process where the team was torn apart and we never felt as though we couldn't complete. I know these themes have been discussed here before, but with the way this season has started out, and with the frustration that some are feeling, I just began thinking about the way it seemed that Shula was always able to field a competetive team for two and a half decades. Just imagine if he had drafted better from '86 to '95. What could have been.
 
yeah call him an offensive coach, because he could never get dan his D to have a chance to win it all
 
Bopkin02 said:
I am a long-time Shula fan and supporter, but during his last couple of years he really took a beating from fans and the media. During the Jimmy Johnson years he sort of became a forgotten man, and a renewed appreciation for him emerged during Wannstedt.

With much more hindsight, and the difficult times we have gone through lately (really since 2001, our last playoff appearance) does anybody look back at the Shula years, despite his being unable to get us back to the big game in the 90's, and really appreciate the consistency with which he was able to win? 2 losing seasons in Miami('76, '88) and 16 years in the playoffs out of 26, and many of those years we missed we were still in the hunt until the last week of the season. There never seemed to be a full-on rebuilding process where the team was torn apart and we never felt as though we couldn't complete. I know these themes have been discussed here before, but with the way this season has started out, and with the frustration that some are feeling, I just began thinking about the way it seemed that Shula was always able to field a competetive team for two and a half decades. Just imagine if he had drafted better from '86 to '95. What could have been.

When I was halfway through reading your post I thought to myself the lack of quality drafts Shula had. Then you also cover that in your last sentence.Great post.Shula was in a class by himself.
 
Greatest coach ever. Bar none. That includes the coach du jour Bill Bellicheck.
Let's how much consistency he has over the next 10 yrs. If he lasts that long.
Shula was successful from the outset. BB was a failure at Cleveland.
What has Parcells done over the last 5 yrs?
 
Bopkin02 said:
I am a long-time Shula fan and supporter, but during his last couple of years he really took a beating from fans and the media. During the Jimmy Johnson years he sort of became a forgotten man, and a renewed appreciation for him emerged during Wannstedt.

With much more hindsight, and the difficult times we have gone through lately (really since 2001, our last playoff appearance) does anybody look back at the Shula years, despite his being unable to get us back to the big game in the 90's, and really appreciate the consistency with which he was able to win? 2 losing seasons in Miami('76, '88) and 16 years in the playoffs out of 26, and many of those years we missed we were still in the hunt until the last week of the season. There never seemed to be a full-on rebuilding process where the team was torn apart and we never felt as though we couldn't complete. I know these themes have been discussed here before, but with the way this season has started out, and with the frustration that some are feeling, I just began thinking about the way it seemed that Shula was always able to field a competetive team for two and a half decades. Just imagine if he had drafted better from '86 to '95. What could have been.

Shula made the Dolphins a class organization. I was very PO'd when they canned him for JJ. This organization has never recovered. We have a chance with NS, but he made a really poor choice with Culpepper. Shula always managed to have good QB talent.

GO PHINS~!
 
:dolphins: yea shula was the best!!!!!:dolphins:
 
That is weird to think about the Dolphins having a streak of 20 years of 500 football. Only to be brought down by Wanny.

Winningest franchise since the merger. In great part due to Shula.
 
Shula was Class all the Way. I dont blame him for the poor DRAFTING, Shula believed in his coaches, scouts, etc. I am sure there is plenty of blame to go around for our lack of success in those bad draft years.
 
It wasn't as if he didn't try to get a good RB for Danny. Lorenzo Hampton and Sammie Smith were first round busts. Davenport, Franklin, Bratton, Stradford, just to name a few others
 
whatsburning said:
It wasn't as if he didn't try to get a good RB for Danny. Lorenzo Hampton and Sammie Smith were first round busts. Davenport, Franklin, Bratton, Stradford, just to name a few others

I really liked Franklin. What a shame
 
I didn't really get into Dolphins football until near the end of Shula's tenure (1990-1995), but I often think back to those as the "good old days." The Dolphins won three play-off games during that stretch, and they have won a grand total of three since. I felt he deserved a much better exit than he got. I'll never forget how Jimmy arrogantly pushed Shula away from the franchise, and did little to back up his talk (not even ONE division title in four years). Wanny did a lot of things wrong but at least he honored the Dolphins history by re-connecting with Shula.
 
Have you seen his new team? :D

Click on link......http://www.nike.com/nikegridiron/#briscoe

25382a-1.jpg
 
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