 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
|
Home
Sports columnists Hubert Mizell Gary Shelton Darrell Fry Buccaneers College Football Devil Rays Lightning Outdoors News Sections Action Arts & Entertainment Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Obituaries Opinion Pasco County State Tampa Bay World & Nation Featured areas AP The Wire Alive! Area Guide Auto A-Z Index Classifieds Comics & Games Employment Health Forums Lottery Movies Police Report Real Estate Sports Stocks Weather What's New Wheelfinder Weekly Sections Home & Garden Perspective Taste Tech Times Travel Weekend Other Sections Ongoing Stories Photo Reprints Photo Review Seniority Web Specials Ybor City
Market Info Advertise with the Times Contact Us All Departments
|
 |
Shula on Shula: Given situation, my son did well
© St. Petersburg Times, published February 4, 2000 Don Shula was in St. Louis last month, cheering as Mike Shula's offense labored in its quest for a fourth-quarter touchdown that could have launched the Bucs into Super Bowl XXXIV. Thursday, disappointment was in Don Shula's voice. He had talked with Mike, his 34-year-old son, after learning of his firing as Tampa Bay offensive coordinator.
It's an emotion the NFL coach with the most wins also felt when son David was fired as coach of the Cincinnati Bengals. David Shula now is president of Don Shula Steakhouses. "It doesn't do any good to try to understand it," Don Shula said of Mike's dismissal. "Before moving on to a new challenge, I think he'll take some time, consider his options. I think he wants to continue in coaching. "It's a tough business. We all know that. Mike being judged by the past couple of years is tough. You need a few more established players. "Tampa Bay had a great preseason, followed by a disaster in the opener against the Giants. From there on, they went conservative. After the injury to (quarterback Trent) Dilfer, there was a question of how much they could do with a rookie. "Obviously, you try to get (Mike) Alstott and (Warrick) Dunn as involved as possible. Tampa Bay was missing (offensive tackle Paul) Gruber in the playoffs, which had to hurt. I thought Mike did a good job with all the factors involved." Don Shula said he pulled hard for St. Louis against Tennessee in the Super Bowl. "There were a couple of reasons," he said. "London Fletcher is a great story for the Rams, coming out of my alma mater (John Carroll University). Also, I was rooting for the team that had eliminated the Bucs." What does he feel now about the Bucs? "I'm just disappointed," he said.
 © St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved. 
|
|
Headlines
|
