timNem
10-05-2006, 12:38 PM
Browns exec hopes Tide fans will be patient
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Huntsville Times
A former Alabama assistant coach who's now an NFL executive believes the current Alabama head coach will succeed long-term in one of college football's most demanding jobs - provided administrators and fans will remain patient.
"I'm hoping they'll stick with Mike Shula,'' Phil Savage, the youthful vice president and general manager of the Cleveland Browns, told the Huntsville Quarterback Club Tuesday night.
"I have a lot of empathy for Mike because he inherited a mess - a team devoid of talent and under NCAA probation,'' said Savage, a graduate assistant under Bill Curry at Alabama from 1987-89.
The fans don't want to hear it. The media is bloodthirsty. But this is a real test for Alabama. Can they be patient?''
Savage recalled a visit to Tuscaloosa in 2005. "Mike told me, 'We're having a good season this year, but I'm really worried about next year because our lack of depth is going to show up,' " said Savage. "I think that's what we're seeing right now.''
Shula was 10-2 last season after going 4-9 and 6-6 his first two years. Alabama is currently 3-2 after back-to-back losses at Arkansas and Florida.
"What Alabama needs is the sort of stability that Tommy Tuberville has brought to Auburn,'' Savage said. "Tommy has been able to hire excellent coordinators, and they've found a real niche in their recruiting base.''
Savage has found his own niche at football's highest level, following an unusual and circuitous route. A 41-year-old native of Mobile, he played football and baseball at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn., and later earned a masters degree in physical education at the University of Alabama, where he worked on Curry's staff.
After later coaching with Homer Smith at UCLA and briefly with the San Antonio Riders of the World Football League, Savage began his NFL career with the original Cleveland Browns in 1991 as a coach for Bill Belichick on a staff that included future major-college coaches Nick Saban, Kirk Ferentz and Pat Hill.
Savage later moved into scouting and personnel and eventually followed owner Art Modell into the front office with the Baltimore Ravens, where he played a major role in drafting such future stars as Ray Lewis, Peter Boulware, Jamal Lewis and Terrell Suggs.
After serving as the Ravens' director of player personnel under GM Ozzie Newsome, the Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Alabama star, Savage was named the reborn Browns' senior VP and GM on Jan. 6, 2005.
Like Shula, Savage encountered a major rebuilding challenge.
"We're looking for a breakthrough,'' he said. The Browns, their roster dotted with fresh young faces like Charlie Frye and Braylon Edwards, are 1-3 so far this season after beating the Raiders 24-21 on Sunday.
Savage saw a number of friendly familiar faces at the Quarterback Club. The guest list included seven former Sewanee teammates - Reggie Benson, Kevin Jones, Mark Kent, Steve Sullins, Robert Walters, Alan Hardee and Steve Blackstock - and former Sewanee assistant coach Yogi Anderson.
Contact John Pruett at johnp@htimes.com
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Huntsville Times
A former Alabama assistant coach who's now an NFL executive believes the current Alabama head coach will succeed long-term in one of college football's most demanding jobs - provided administrators and fans will remain patient.
"I'm hoping they'll stick with Mike Shula,'' Phil Savage, the youthful vice president and general manager of the Cleveland Browns, told the Huntsville Quarterback Club Tuesday night.
"I have a lot of empathy for Mike because he inherited a mess - a team devoid of talent and under NCAA probation,'' said Savage, a graduate assistant under Bill Curry at Alabama from 1987-89.
The fans don't want to hear it. The media is bloodthirsty. But this is a real test for Alabama. Can they be patient?''
Savage recalled a visit to Tuscaloosa in 2005. "Mike told me, 'We're having a good season this year, but I'm really worried about next year because our lack of depth is going to show up,' " said Savage. "I think that's what we're seeing right now.''
Shula was 10-2 last season after going 4-9 and 6-6 his first two years. Alabama is currently 3-2 after back-to-back losses at Arkansas and Florida.
"What Alabama needs is the sort of stability that Tommy Tuberville has brought to Auburn,'' Savage said. "Tommy has been able to hire excellent coordinators, and they've found a real niche in their recruiting base.''
Savage has found his own niche at football's highest level, following an unusual and circuitous route. A 41-year-old native of Mobile, he played football and baseball at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn., and later earned a masters degree in physical education at the University of Alabama, where he worked on Curry's staff.
After later coaching with Homer Smith at UCLA and briefly with the San Antonio Riders of the World Football League, Savage began his NFL career with the original Cleveland Browns in 1991 as a coach for Bill Belichick on a staff that included future major-college coaches Nick Saban, Kirk Ferentz and Pat Hill.
Savage later moved into scouting and personnel and eventually followed owner Art Modell into the front office with the Baltimore Ravens, where he played a major role in drafting such future stars as Ray Lewis, Peter Boulware, Jamal Lewis and Terrell Suggs.
After serving as the Ravens' director of player personnel under GM Ozzie Newsome, the Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Alabama star, Savage was named the reborn Browns' senior VP and GM on Jan. 6, 2005.
Like Shula, Savage encountered a major rebuilding challenge.
"We're looking for a breakthrough,'' he said. The Browns, their roster dotted with fresh young faces like Charlie Frye and Braylon Edwards, are 1-3 so far this season after beating the Raiders 24-21 on Sunday.
Savage saw a number of friendly familiar faces at the Quarterback Club. The guest list included seven former Sewanee teammates - Reggie Benson, Kevin Jones, Mark Kent, Steve Sullins, Robert Walters, Alan Hardee and Steve Blackstock - and former Sewanee assistant coach Yogi Anderson.
Contact John Pruett at johnp@htimes.com