Shula vows a better Tide in second year

By Staff
Charles Prince, Hartselle Enquirer
HOOVER – Alabama head football coach Mike Shula doesn't want to talk about the Crimson Tide possibly going to a post season game in spite of the Tide's being bowl eligible again, but senior Wesley Britt does.
Shula told the media Thursday at SEC Media Days that he and his staff are not talking to the players about the possibility of going to a bowl game.
"We don't want the players to worry about December," Shula said. "We want them to concentrate on August and fall practice. Our staff has not talked about bowls with them. That will take care of itself, if we just take care of business each week."
Britt, a preseason All-SEC selection at offensive tackle, despite suffering a broken leg last season, didn't seem to talk about much else when it was his turn to meet the media.
"I think about our goals every day," Britt said. "One of those goals is a bowl game. I would love to play in the Sugar Bowl this season."
Coming off a 4-9 season, Shula decided to hold spring practice earlier than he had originally planned to erase any thoughts of last year's struggles.
"We decided to move up spring practice this year," Shula said. "We wanted the players to get back to focusing on football and get last season out of their minds completely."
Shula said he feels completely different attending this year's media gathering than he did 12 months ago.
"I remember standing up here last year," Shula said. "I was trying to remember everyone's name and that was just the coaches. This season is totally different. We tried to lengthen each day, and now we can't wait to get going with fall practice."
Improving the team's outlook for this season is the condition of many players who contended with injuries last season.
"Brodie Croyle is our quarterback and this is very important-he' s 100 percent healthy, Shula said. "The anchor of our line, Wesley Britt, is 100 percent healthy, and we expect big things from him this year. He's at left tackle and you know that's important for a team with a right-handed quarterback."
Shula commended Britt for his work with the other linemen this spring and summer, including leading film study sessions.
"Wesley's been one of our leaders since I got here," Shula said. "Leadership isn't always what you say, it's what you do and Wesley leads by example."
Shula says his team may feature double-digit numbers of freshman players on the field this season. He said it's possible a couple may earn starting positions.
Shula predicted a better year, but didn't mention a bowl game.
"Our players are better football players than at this time last year," Shula said. "I think our team will be a much better team this fall."
Britt didn't hold back in predicting whether Alabama fans will see the Crimson Tide go bowling this season.
" We're going to be the group that brought Alabama football back to where it should be," Britt said. "And going to a big bowl game is just part of that. I know this team is going to get Bama back to the bowls."