Mike Shula should be welcomed back to Alabama with open arms

Former Alabama head coach and quarterback Mike Shula makes his return to Tuscaloosa this weekend for the first time since he was let go as the school's head coach following the 2006 Iron Bowl.

Shula returns as part of the South Carolina coaching staff. He spent the last 17 years in various assistant coaching positions in the NFL, most notably as the Carolina Panthers' offensive coordinator from 2013-2017, helping them to a berth in Super Bowl 50.

This is Shula's first collegiate job since he was the head coach of the Crimson Tide, and the first school he has worked for outside of Alabama.

Shula returns to Tuscaloosa as a senior offensive analyst for the Gamecocks, and when he steps on to Saban Field at Bryant-Denny for the first time in 18 years, he should be welcomed back with open arms. If the time comes where his face is on the jumbotrons, I hope it is met with a standing ovation.

Shula's tenure as the Alabama coach was unceremonious. In four seasons, Shula was 26-23, including four consecutive Iron Bowl losses.

But Shula stepped in at an incredibly difficult time for the program. Momma called, and Shula answered. He took the job when no one else wanted it.

The Crimson Tide was on probation stemming from the DuBose era, and was on its fourth coach in just three years. Dennis Franchione jumped ship to take the Texas A&M job following the 2002 season, and then Mike Price was terminated for liberal use of a university credit card at a gentlemen's club.

That left Alabama reeling, and coach-less after 2003 spring practice. Shula walked in to a no-win situation, taking the job in May. It was no surprise that the Tide struggled to a 4-9 season in year one.

He got Alabama to a bowl game in year two, and broke through in his third season. The 2005 Alabama team was one of the most fun Crimson Tide teams in the previous two decades. Led by a dominating defense, and the big play ability of Tyrone Prothro, Alabama had a hot start to the season and thoroughly dominated Florida 31-3 in Bryant-Denny in October, prompting the "Bama is Back" Sports Illustrated cover.

A devastating injury to Prothro caused the offense to struggle from there, but the Tide still started the season 9-0, including a memorable 6-3 win over Tennessee, which was just Alabama's second win in The Third Saturday in October rivalry since 1994.

Alabama was No. 4 in the country when it lost in overtime to LSU to end the perfect season. A week later, a disappointing loss to Auburn in the Iron Bowl took the shine off of what had been a spectacular season to that point. Alabama bounced back with a 13-10 win over Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl to clinch the Crimson Tide's best season since 1999.

The 2006 season was a disappointment, seeing the Tide regress to 6-6 and lose the Iron Bowl for the fifth straight season, the fourth under Shula.

The rest is history. Mal Moore made the hail mary hire of Nick Saban, and the Crimson Tide proceeded to go on the greatest run in the history of the sport. Shula gets very little credit for his part in the dynasty that was built. But it was Shula who picked up the pieces of a broken program and nursed it back to health, making it a desirable place for Saban to come to.

None of that is to mention that Shula was the team's quarterback for three seasons, choosing to play for the Crimson Tide in the first of the post Bear Bryant days. Shula's most memorable moment as a player was engineering the drive that led to a game winning 55-yard field goal by Van Tiffin in the Iron Bowl to beat Auburn.

Shula chose Alabama twice, when a lot of people wouldn't have. He loved his alma mater enough to fight for it when many others chose to turn their back.

Shula is an Alabama legend, and he should be remembered as such. His tenure as the team's head coach should be looked back upon fondly - not negatively. He laid the groundwork for what became of this program. Without Shula holding things together, who knows where Alabama would be?

When he makes his return to Tuscaloosa on Saturday, it should be to raucous cheers. He should be welcomed back with open arms as the Alabama legend he is.