No time for Shula
08/29/03
STEVE IRVINE
News staff writer
Mike Shula should savor the moment.
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His first game as a college coach. His first game as a head coach at any level.
Returning to a stadium which was the site of some his greatest thrills as a player.
The presence of his family and a large group of friends in the Legion Field stands.
Too bad Alabama's first-year head football coach will have, in his words, "maybe about
two seconds" to take in all the sights, sounds and feelings when the Crimson Tide
kicks off the season on Saturday at 2 p.m. against South Florida at Legion Field.
"You know, we've got to be so focused as it is, especially the first game," said the
38-year-old former UA quarterback, who became the 26th head coach in school history in
May. "You got to make sure everyone is in the right place, organized, and those types
of things."
Four months ago, it was hard to imagine that Alabama would be entering this opener
organized. Dennis Franchione was long gone, Mike Price was on his way out of the door,
Shula was coming in and the players were reeling from an offseason that was far more
stressful than anything that happens on a fall Saturday. Thankfully, on Saturday,
following the frantic learning in fall camp, the Alabama players and coaches can start
thinking once again about winning football games.
"Yes, we are excited that it's here," Shula said of the game which will be televised
on ESPN and broadcast on AM-690, AM-1450 and FM-99.5. "We've been through a summer and
fall practice that none of us will forget."
USF head coach Jim Leavitt, who was a serious candidate to be Franchione's replacement
in December, fields a team capable of making it a forgettable opener for Shula. The
Bulls, who are in just their seventh season of playing football, finished 9-2 last
season with the losses coming at Oklahoma and Arkansas.
Quarterback Ronnie Banks, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound junior taking over for four-year
starter Marquel Blackwell, directs a high-tempo, wide-open, no-huddle offensive attack
similar to what Price installed in Tuscaloosa in the spring. UA defensive coordinator
Kines said stopping Banks in the first priority.
"He's got a bazooka," Kines said. "He throws the quick out and the slants about as
strong and powerful as any quarterback. He has a chance to probably be a premier
quarterback."
Kines said the Tide will mix up the defensive attack in an attempt to slow down the
Bulls offense. A pass rush key will be the ability of defensive ends Antwan Odom and
Nautyn McKay-Loescher to get pressure on the corner, although it will be difficult
against an offensive line that returns five starters.
The Alabama secondary will receive a stern test, even though USF will be playing
without senior receiver Chris Iskra.
"South Florida has some receivers," Shula said. "They do a lot of different things
pattern-wise that make you think. The no-huddle makes you think fast and make some
quick adjustments. If they make a play, we can't get rattled. We've just got to go
line up and play the next play."
Shula said making plays against the quick USF defense will be difficult. Senior
linebacker Maurice Jones, a Butkus Award candidate, and safeties Kevin Verpaele and
J.R. Reed are the leaders of a defense built on speed.
"Extremely fast," said Alabama quarterback Brodie Croyle when asked about the USF
defense. "They are not that big, but what they lack in size they make up for with
speed. Their safeties are extremely good players. We are just going to have to be on
time and be in rhythm."
Alabama's offensive line - which features All-American candidates Wesley Britt and
Justin Smiley - has a size and experience advantage on the USF defensive front.
Defensive tackle Lee Roy Selmon, who is 5-foot-11, 280 pounds, is the heaviest starter
on the defensive line for the Bulls. (snip)
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