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| Saturday, November 18 DuBose leaves Alabama on losing note Associated Press | |||
| TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Mike DuBose's four stormy years as
Alabama's head coach came to a painful end Saturday in a cold,
rainy stadium that was as miserable as his final season.
Trying to stay warm on the sideline in a soggy red jacket,
DuBose stood with his hands in his pockets as the seconds ticked
away on both a losing season and his self-proclaimed "dream job."
The finish was nightmarish: a 9-0 loss in Auburn's (No. 19 ESPN/USA Today, No. 18 AP) first
visit to Tuscaloosa in 99 years. Ranked No. 3 in the preseason, the
Crimson Tide finished 3-8 overall and 3-5 in the Southeastern
Conference.
"I love this university and I love these young men," DuBose
said, bowing his head briefly and pausing to keep his emotions in
check.
"I don't think the program is that far away from being one of
the top seven or eight programs in the country. There's talent
here. We just didn't do as good a job as needed to be done
coaching, and that starts with me."
DuBose, selected Southeastern Conference coach of the year after
leading the Crimson Tide to the league crown last season, resigned
under pressure Nov. 1 after a galling homecoming loss to Central
Florida.
He nearly lost the job last year. DuBose was reprimanded and had
his pay docked after being caught lying in a sexual harassment
scandal involving a female employee.
DuBose, a 1974 Alabama graduate who played under Bear Bryant,
finished with a 24-23 record.
Senior Tony Dixon said the locker room was tearful as DuBose
said goodbye to the team. "We hurt for him," he said.
Sophomore Antonio Carter had only good things to say about
DuBose. "I love him," he said.
Athletic director Mal Moore is a one-person search committee
hunting for a replacement. Possible candidates include Miami's
Butch Davis, Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer, and former Dallas
Cowboys coach Chan Gailey.
Others could be in the mix. Early in the game, an airplane
appeared over Bryant-Denny Stadium towing a sign that read "Dear
Mal Moore - Hire Jackie Sherrill Please." The request may have
been too late: Sherrill has said he has no plans to leave
Mississippi State.
Despite all the uncertainty and losses, fans cheered DuBose and
slapped him on the back as he entered the stadium before kickoff.
"I don't wish him any ill will, but I'm ready for him to be
gone," said J.R. Howard of Birmingham. "I think he's a good
assistant, but he's just not a head coach."
Fans speculated about what DuBose would do come Monday: start
looking for another coaching job or pursue the ministry, as some
have suggested given his frequent references to his faith in God.
"I'm more worried about who they're going to get in here next
than what he's going to do," said Crimson Tide fan Andy Holland,
himself a junior high football coach.
DuBose said he isn't sure what to do except pray and wait with
his wife Polly on directions from God. "We need to be patient,"
said DuBose.
Fiercely proud of their football tradition to the end, 'Bama
fans cheered as video highlights of winning seasons past played on
the stadium scoreboard in a wintry rain.
Moore's job is to find a coach who can produce something new to
cheer about.
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