I realize that hate is a strong word. As The Professor – Rush Limbaugh says; Words mean things. But I choose to use the word anyway, because it really defines and spells out how I feel that particular type of individual.

Now anyone that knows me, knows very well how much of a voracious University of Alabama football fan I am. Those that read my words will soon know. Now unlike most Alabama fans, I do not hate or even dislike Auburn University. I simply always have and will love my Crimson Tide. Do I poke fun at, and make fun of Auburn fans… Well of course I do. And I am quite good at it. It is expected after all. But I root for Auburn as long as they are not playing either Alabama, or the Miami Hurricanes, my 1st and 2nd favorite teams. Followed by any other state team, then any southeastern conference team, because that is where we play.

Now with all that, having been said. On to the subject of bandwagon jumpers, or fair-weather fans. We lost a tight game last Saturday to the University of Arkansas. Bad special teams play, specifically the kicking game, cost us a win. A lot of fans will point out correctly, that we beat Arkansas in every stat except the score. Which while true, is still like putting diamond chips on a cow patty, you still have a pile of… well you know. As I expected there were the instantaneous calls for coach Mike Shula’s head, he should be fired, he can’t coach, and all that drivel. Not to mention all the armchair quarterbacks second guessing his decisions.

Chick-chock (that is the sound of a pump shotgun being cycled for those of you that aren’t sure) Now to unload…

Mike Shula was hired by the University of Alabama to be the head coach for the football team. This was not done arbitrarily, or without reason. He has obviously proven that he can coach a football team successfully. You do not end up at a blue-chip division 1A school by mistake. There is too much money involved for that happen. Secondly for all the morons that point out that the regular starting kicker could have been sent in. You people do not have enough information to make that statement. The starter has a groin injury that has been determined to be bad enough that he could not do any extra point or field goal kicking. Yes, he could kick-off, but just for the benefit of those who do not know, and therefore should not be running their pie holes in the first place, there is a major difference in place kicking and kicking off. The difference being, that you have to plant your weak leg on a place kick, while on a kick-off you run through the kick. Hello? Is this information getting through those thick skulls out there? If Coach Shula had put the starter in, and he had worsened his injury, all you backseat bozo’s would have been all over him for that.

Now, as far as the play calling goes, I also think I might have done it differently. BUT!!! As I have previously stated, Mike Shula is the head coach at Alabama. Not me, not you, not anyone else. No one else has access to all the information, just him. I for one have trust in the University that I claim to have an allegiance to. As a true fan should, they in turn put their trust in Coach Shula, and I have no problems letting him do as he sees fit.

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