Pride and Punishment: Alabama Basketball

Ryan Fowler, the pioneer of sports talk radio in Tuscaloosa, just dropped a major piece of information regarding Anthony Grant’s job and, in my opinion, how little the administration cares about what the fans want.

Tonight on The Game (which can be heard on Tide991.com), Ryan told his listening audience that there are at least two people that are the driving voice, possibly more, who are indirectly associated with the administration, that are keeping Coach Grant in the driver’s seat of the Alabama basketball program. Ryan, ever courteous, has chosen not to release the names of these two individuals at this time. Instead, he is urging the fans to apply pressure, like we have been relentlessly doing since January, and ask these two prominent individuals to change their minds. According to Ryan, these two individuals are allowing their ego to get in the way of what should be an easy decision. So earlier tonight on The Game, Ryan said “I encourage fans to voice their opinion pro or anti-Grant. Don’t sit on your hands and not say anything. It’s time to speak your opinion.”

Now that The Game has revealed this information, I’m going to give my opinion on the situation.

As most people who follow my Twitter already know, I am not a fan of Anthony Grant. This does not have anything to do with him as an individual and it does not translate into me not being a fan of the basketball team. In fact, I am a huge fan of basketball and I am pushing for Grant’s departure because the players, program, and most of all the fans deserve a better coach. Did Coach Grant pull a win out at Missouri and when Auburn came to Tuscaloosa? No. The players’ raw talent brought in those wins. Could you imagine what this team could have accomplished this year under the correct leadership? I don’t have an answer to that, but after watching what unfolded in Missouri and the other night in Coleman Coliseum, I can guarantee it would have accomplished more than what the fans have been forced to endure this season.

Let’s go back to these two individuals for a quick minute. If they chose to reveal themselves, which I doubt that will be the case, they would more than likely argue that this is a monetary issue, not related to ego. I am going to get ahead of this argument and tell you that money is not an issue here. Yes, due to a poorly constructed contract, Alabama would owe Grant about $1.8 million until 2019. But if the right coach, an exciting coach, was brought in to coach Alabama basketball then the amount of money raised through boosters would sky rocket. This increase in donations could easily offset the monetary mistake that is Anthony Grant.

So what should we, the fans, be doing right now? First, we must continue to support the players and the staff of Alabama basketball. They are doing everything possible to keep their heads above water. Like we saw in Missouri and against Auburn, there is some serious talent on this team that Alabama fans will be able to follow at the next level once these players are under coached by someone who knows how to develop talent. Second, the fans need to take to social media, call the athletic department, send emails, or even send snail mail to the university expressing how much you want a coaching change. Tell them how much you want to cheer on a successful basketball program. Tell them that the players and the fans deserve better. These two individuals should not silence the voice of the fans. Their decision to support Grant is ego-driven, but it is the fans that will have to pay the price for the inability to swallow their pride.

Author details:

Name: Clay

Twitter: @SabanSays

Email: SabanSays@TheHoundzooth.com