Ughhhhhh, a very ugly day in Dolphin land to be sure. How appropriate that today's debacle occured on Wednesday, the middle of the week, often referred to as hump day. We got humped all right.
I never thought that things could get worse after that dreadful campaign in 2004. Our franchise player decided to bail on us, Wanny had well overstayed his welcome, the team had no young talent, our attitude reeked more than Limburgher in a South Floridian summer, we were in cap hell and our QB situation was a disaster.
Before Saban rode into town, I was apprehensive about our future. A college coach coming in to save the day? When was the last time a college coach had success? Didn't this end up horribly for the Redskins with Spurrier? All of these concerns, however, vanished quickly after listening to a few Saban press conferences.
There was something about Saban that was very convincing and appealing. He seemed like a no nonsense kind of person. He was driven. He was intense. He had fire in his belly. He seemed as if he wouldn't settle for anything less than perfection. If that perfection took some time, so be it, as long as by the end of his stay, the team reached the summit.
When he divulged bit by bit how the team would accomplish its goals, I found myself nodding in approval. Build through the draft, embrace intensity and competitiveness, constant learning and development...on and on, I bought every word: I drank the proverbial kool-aid.
After the first season, my feelings of trust in Saban only deepened. 9-7 after a dismal 4-12. Young players brought into the fold. Some great FA signings such as Carter, Traylor and Holliday. A new culture in the locker room that propelled a six game win streak at the end of the season. All around, a very good season.
Season two was a different story but my beliefs in Saban as the right man were never diminished. I felt that the injury(delayed rehab) to Cpep was a bit unlucky and that the confusion in the defense was due to a complicated scheme but I was prepared to take short term pain in the interest of long term gain. I admired how Saban handled things after the season was all but lost. We headed into the bye week at 1-6 with a mighty, and undefeated, Chicago team licking their chops at the sight of a wounded and fragile opponent. Saban marched the troops into the Windy city and blew out the Bears chances at a perfect season.
We made a run, however unlikely and limited it was, at the playoffs despite the horrid start. I thought that given the circumsatnces, it was a respectable 6-10. There were some definite low points but I was proud that the Dolphins continued to play hard.
After the first few whispers of Saban as a candidate for the Alabama position, I scoffed. Nick Saban leave after 2 years? Are you kidding me? Have you ever watched one of his press conferences? This guy has Churchillian like character. Quitting is anathema to Saban. It would go against everything the guy is about.
The stories continued to flow, however. I still wasn't too concerned- it was like a mild rash that wouldn't go away. Then, on the Friday before Christmas, I thought Saint Nick gave us all an early present. He said those famous eight words -nine if you don't count the contraction but since Saban obviously doesn't believe in qualifiers why should I? - I’m not going to be the Alabama coach .
And that brings us to Humpday. The mother of all jobs ever pulled against Miami Dolfans. Say it ain't so Saban? It's a nasty trick, right Nick? Stand up to the mike and tell Dolphins Nation that you have been troubled by all the false reports in the media, how it has been a huge distraction to the team, and that you didn't appreciate the media's rumour mongering and feel that this shoddy yellow journalism doesn't deserve to be commented on, which is why you have waited so long to respond. What did we get from Saban? Silence.
Oh the horror, the horror. Those missives of impending doom that were spewed across countless internet blogs, fantasy sports sites and rumour factory rags all came to light. On a related note, I thought, and continue to think, that the reporting on this story was pathetic. There was very little fact presented in the media pieces and plenty of conjecture/opinion/editorialising. I felt that the media was chasng a story in pack like fashion despite the fact that there was little to no evidence of Saban's departure. I guess the lesson learned here, however, is that where there is smoke, there is fire. That, and the fact that Saban is one helluva' a good liar- Tell us Nick, were you crossing your fingers when you uttered those famous eight (nine if you want to be grammatically correct) words?
This one will be hard to swallow. It's a bigger crap cake than when Ricky decided to pitch a tent near the Ganges. I don't begrudge Alabama for going after Saban. Heck, we did the same thing to LSU. He's a great coach, despite what many on this site have said about him and our average record the last two years. I thought he was a great evaluator of talent, instilled a fiercely competitive attitude in our team, was a talented teacher, and was even entertaining to boot- how many NFL coaches do you know have regailed a crowd of reporters on Gestalt theory? I also thought he was a man of strong character and integrity. Then he pulled out the whole Pinnochio act.
I would have been disapointed had Saban left under any circumsatnces, but at least I could have been understanding. Had he not said anything about the Alabama job, or even said it was unlikely, I wouldn't be in the state I am right now. Saban, however, took a different path, and much to my chagrin, I actually have to admit that Lebatard got it right when he called Saban a Weasel. It's no fun being fooled. It leaves a bad taste in your mouth. What started out as a promising tenure filled with hope and excitment has now suddenly gone south (technically North). Bad vibes all around. The team is left spoiled and rotten, indeed.
I never thought that things could get worse after that dreadful campaign in 2004. Our franchise player decided to bail on us, Wanny had well overstayed his welcome, the team had no young talent, our attitude reeked more than Limburgher in a South Floridian summer, we were in cap hell and our QB situation was a disaster.
Before Saban rode into town, I was apprehensive about our future. A college coach coming in to save the day? When was the last time a college coach had success? Didn't this end up horribly for the Redskins with Spurrier? All of these concerns, however, vanished quickly after listening to a few Saban press conferences.
There was something about Saban that was very convincing and appealing. He seemed like a no nonsense kind of person. He was driven. He was intense. He had fire in his belly. He seemed as if he wouldn't settle for anything less than perfection. If that perfection took some time, so be it, as long as by the end of his stay, the team reached the summit.
When he divulged bit by bit how the team would accomplish its goals, I found myself nodding in approval. Build through the draft, embrace intensity and competitiveness, constant learning and development...on and on, I bought every word: I drank the proverbial kool-aid.
After the first season, my feelings of trust in Saban only deepened. 9-7 after a dismal 4-12. Young players brought into the fold. Some great FA signings such as Carter, Traylor and Holliday. A new culture in the locker room that propelled a six game win streak at the end of the season. All around, a very good season.
Season two was a different story but my beliefs in Saban as the right man were never diminished. I felt that the injury(delayed rehab) to Cpep was a bit unlucky and that the confusion in the defense was due to a complicated scheme but I was prepared to take short term pain in the interest of long term gain. I admired how Saban handled things after the season was all but lost. We headed into the bye week at 1-6 with a mighty, and undefeated, Chicago team licking their chops at the sight of a wounded and fragile opponent. Saban marched the troops into the Windy city and blew out the Bears chances at a perfect season.
We made a run, however unlikely and limited it was, at the playoffs despite the horrid start. I thought that given the circumsatnces, it was a respectable 6-10. There were some definite low points but I was proud that the Dolphins continued to play hard.
After the first few whispers of Saban as a candidate for the Alabama position, I scoffed. Nick Saban leave after 2 years? Are you kidding me? Have you ever watched one of his press conferences? This guy has Churchillian like character. Quitting is anathema to Saban. It would go against everything the guy is about.
The stories continued to flow, however. I still wasn't too concerned- it was like a mild rash that wouldn't go away. Then, on the Friday before Christmas, I thought Saint Nick gave us all an early present. He said those famous eight words -nine if you don't count the contraction but since Saban obviously doesn't believe in qualifiers why should I? - I’m not going to be the Alabama coach .
And that brings us to Humpday. The mother of all jobs ever pulled against Miami Dolfans. Say it ain't so Saban? It's a nasty trick, right Nick? Stand up to the mike and tell Dolphins Nation that you have been troubled by all the false reports in the media, how it has been a huge distraction to the team, and that you didn't appreciate the media's rumour mongering and feel that this shoddy yellow journalism doesn't deserve to be commented on, which is why you have waited so long to respond. What did we get from Saban? Silence.
Oh the horror, the horror. Those missives of impending doom that were spewed across countless internet blogs, fantasy sports sites and rumour factory rags all came to light. On a related note, I thought, and continue to think, that the reporting on this story was pathetic. There was very little fact presented in the media pieces and plenty of conjecture/opinion/editorialising. I felt that the media was chasng a story in pack like fashion despite the fact that there was little to no evidence of Saban's departure. I guess the lesson learned here, however, is that where there is smoke, there is fire. That, and the fact that Saban is one helluva' a good liar- Tell us Nick, were you crossing your fingers when you uttered those famous eight (nine if you want to be grammatically correct) words?
This one will be hard to swallow. It's a bigger crap cake than when Ricky decided to pitch a tent near the Ganges. I don't begrudge Alabama for going after Saban. Heck, we did the same thing to LSU. He's a great coach, despite what many on this site have said about him and our average record the last two years. I thought he was a great evaluator of talent, instilled a fiercely competitive attitude in our team, was a talented teacher, and was even entertaining to boot- how many NFL coaches do you know have regailed a crowd of reporters on Gestalt theory? I also thought he was a man of strong character and integrity. Then he pulled out the whole Pinnochio act.
I would have been disapointed had Saban left under any circumsatnces, but at least I could have been understanding. Had he not said anything about the Alabama job, or even said it was unlikely, I wouldn't be in the state I am right now. Saban, however, took a different path, and much to my chagrin, I actually have to admit that Lebatard got it right when he called Saban a Weasel. It's no fun being fooled. It leaves a bad taste in your mouth. What started out as a promising tenure filled with hope and excitment has now suddenly gone south (technically North). Bad vibes all around. The team is left spoiled and rotten, indeed.
He's a good coach, but he's an excellent liar. We were all had by a professional liar of great skill. The man has mastered deceit into an art form and he wasn't afraid to use in order to take more money. He was actually smirking when he was hugging all of the Alabama fans, how repulsive. What has happened to our once proud franchise?:boohoo:
