Shula encouraged by Miami's new leader
Tania Ganguli | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted May 25, 2007
The coaching great, touting blood-pressure awareness, sounds off about the Dolphins.
Tania Ganguli | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted May 25, 2007
Robert Rumery stood in front of Don Shula on Thursday morning during a blood-pressure awareness event in Florida Hospital's lobby.
"I used to be a Dolphins fan," Rumery said, "until that moron took over."
He didn't specify to which moron he referred. But the white-haired hospital volunteer was one of several Miami Dolphins fans, mostly hospital employees, patients and friends or family of patients, who gathered at Florida Hospital to meet with the legendary former Dolphins coach. Shula is a spokesman for the national BP COACH Approach, a national campaign to raise awareness about managing high blood pressure.
Between signing autographs for some giddy and some grumpy fans and stopping for photo opportunities, Shula sounded off about the state of the Dolphins, the coaches who succeeded him, the NFL's code of conduct and the way Alabama treated his son.
Shula coached the Dolphins from 1970 to 1995, winning two Super Bowls and coaching his team to the NFL's only undefeated season in 1972.
Glenn Oliver, a 46-year-old engineer from Melbourne, thanked Shula for meeting him and his brothers in a restaurant when he was in fifth grade.
The Dolphins have not been to the Super Bowl since the 1984 season and have not reached the AFC title game since 1992.
Since Shula's tenure, they've had four coaches -- Jimmy Johnson (1996-1999), Dave Wannstedt (2000-04), Jim Bates (2004), and Nick Saban (2005-06). Miami hired Cam Cameron this season.
"Jimmy Johnson was a disappointment," Shula said. "Saban was a disappointment, Wannstedt. They've hired a coach now that's what they need, I think. He's offensive-minded."
Alabama fired Shula's son, Mike, as head football coach, then hired Saban, who had repeatedly stated he wasn't going to Alabama.
"Nick Saban said a lot of things that weren't true; when you do that you lose all credibility," Shula said. "I like the change that's taking place. Fans are going to be able to believe what they hear."
Don Shula also said his son wasn't given a fair chance at Alabama.
"I was disappointed with the way it was handled," Shula said. "This would have been the first year he was on a level playing field. He inherited a lot of restrictions [because of NCAA sanctions]."
Shula also spoke about the NFL's increasing enforcement of its code of conduct, something Shula said is a good way for Commissioner Roger Goodell to make his mark. He said Dolphins running back Ricky Williams, who reportedly failed a drug test last month, needed to figure out what he wanted to do with his life.
"When the guy plays he's a great player," Shula said. "When he's away from football, his mind wanders. He's in India with an elephant looking for who knows what. He's into yoga. All those things are a distraction."
At the hospital, Carol Holcomb, a football fan who moved to Florida in 1966 when she was in her 20s, began to smile and shake when Shula returned from a break to the table where he signed autographs.
"Coach, you were the only coach in the history of the NFL to have an undefeated season," Holcomb said proudly.
She repeated that a few times throughout the conversation.
"Here's the ring," Shula said, pointing to the 1972 Super Bowl ring on his hand.
He doesn't wear the 1973 ring because it has two diamonds on it that look like eyes looking up at him.
"The Dolphins' fans are a proud group of fans," Shula said. "They enjoyed having something to cheer about."
Tania Ganguli can be reached at tganguli@orlandosentinel.com.
"I used to be a Dolphins fan," Rumery said, "until that moron took over."
Between signing autographs for some giddy and some grumpy fans and stopping for photo opportunities, Shula sounded off about the state of the Dolphins, the coaches who succeeded him, the NFL's code of conduct and the way Alabama treated his son.
Shula coached the Dolphins from 1970 to 1995, winning two Super Bowls and coaching his team to the NFL's only undefeated season in 1972.
Glenn Oliver, a 46-year-old engineer from Melbourne, thanked Shula for meeting him and his brothers in a restaurant when he was in fifth grade.
The Dolphins have not been to the Super Bowl since the 1984 season and have not reached the AFC title game since 1992.
Since Shula's tenure, they've had four coaches -- Jimmy Johnson (1996-1999), Dave Wannstedt (2000-04), Jim Bates (2004), and Nick Saban (2005-06). Miami hired Cam Cameron this season.
"Jimmy Johnson was a disappointment," Shula said. "Saban was a disappointment, Wannstedt. They've hired a coach now that's what they need, I think. He's offensive-minded."
Alabama fired Shula's son, Mike, as head football coach, then hired Saban, who had repeatedly stated he wasn't going to Alabama.
"Nick Saban said a lot of things that weren't true; when you do that you lose all credibility," Shula said. "I like the change that's taking place. Fans are going to be able to believe what they hear."
Don Shula also said his son wasn't given a fair chance at Alabama.
"I was disappointed with the way it was handled," Shula said. "This would have been the first year he was on a level playing field. He inherited a lot of restrictions [because of NCAA sanctions]."
Shula also spoke about the NFL's increasing enforcement of its code of conduct, something Shula said is a good way for Commissioner Roger Goodell to make his mark. He said Dolphins running back Ricky Williams, who reportedly failed a drug test last month, needed to figure out what he wanted to do with his life.
"When the guy plays he's a great player," Shula said. "When he's away from football, his mind wanders. He's in India with an elephant looking for who knows what. He's into yoga. All those things are a distraction."
At the hospital, Carol Holcomb, a football fan who moved to Florida in 1966 when she was in her 20s, began to smile and shake when Shula returned from a break to the table where he signed autographs.
"Coach, you were the only coach in the history of the NFL to have an undefeated season," Holcomb said proudly.
She repeated that a few times throughout the conversation.
"Here's the ring," Shula said, pointing to the 1972 Super Bowl ring on his hand.
He doesn't wear the 1973 ring because it has two diamonds on it that look like eyes looking up at him.
"The Dolphins' fans are a proud group of fans," Shula said. "They enjoyed having something to cheer about."
Tania Ganguli can be reached at tganguli@orlandosentinel.com.
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