Mike Shula

Mike Shula was the only member of his famous family who seemed happy about the 1982 pro football strike. It was the one time he was able to spend some extra time with father, Don, the legendary coach of the Miami Dolphins. "It was the best football season of my life," Mike said. "My father was at home, and we'd study game films together and discuss the sport. " Some of dad's wisdom must have rubbed off. Mike Shula is the starting quarterback for fifth-ranked Alabama, which will open the season at Giants Stadium tonight (Channel Channel 29, 8 p.m.)

Mike Shula became the latest Alabama football coach yesterday, agreeing to terms on a 6-year contract worth $900,000 per year, athletic director Mal Moore announced. The former Crimson Tide quarterback replaces Mike Price, who was fired Saturday for off-the-field behavior before coaching his first game. Shula has spent 15 years as an NFL assistant, including the past three as the Miami Dolphins' quarterbacks coach. "I am obviously excited about this job," he said. "There is a bright future ahead for Alabama . . . I am thrilled to once again be a part of Alabama football.

The three-point line in men's college basketball would be moved back 9 inches to 20 feet, 6 inches under a recommendation from an NCAA rules committee yesterday. The current distance of 19-9 has been in place since 1986. The panel also suggested expanding the 12-foot-wide college lane by adopting the trapezoid used in international play. The changes could take effect as early as next season, if approved by the NCAA championship committee next month. Auto Racing Winston Cup driver Jerry Nadeau was improving, 3 days after he was badly hurt in a crash at Richmond (Va.)

Kentucky deserves a coach who understands "this is not just another coaching job," and so Billy Gillispie was fired after only 2 years on the job. University of Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart said during a news conference yesterday that there were times when there was not the right chemistry or with Gillispie at the helm. Gillispie went 40-27 in two seasons with the Wildcats. Kentucky was 22-14 this season, tied for the second-most losses in the program's 106-year history, and missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1991.

Miami Dolphins coach Nick Saban needed another day to consider a job offer from the University of Alabama. Saban met with Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga at the team complex for 10 minutes yesterday and asked for more time to decide. "The meeting went good," Huizenga said. "We had a quick meeting. We had a nice conversation. Coach asked if we could defer the decision until 10 o'clock [this morning]. And then he went into several reasons as to why he wanted to do that. I agree 100 percent with his reasons.

Alabama renewed its courtship of Miami Dolphins coach Nick Saban yesterday, and he declined at his season-ending news conference to say whether he would stay with the franchise. "I've got a rule that I'm not talking about any of that stuff," said Saban, 55. He has denied interest in the job since late November when Alabama fired Mike Shula. The Birmingham News reported that Alabama was prepared to offer Saban a seven-year deal that would make him college football's highest-paid coach.

The latest candidate to emerge for the Miami Dolphins' coaching job has a big edge in name recognition: He's a Shula. Mike Shula interviewed for the job Saturday and is one of at least five candidates still under consideration, the Dolphins said yesterday. Shula's dad, Don, coached the Dolphins for 26 years, holds the NFL record with 347 wins and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. "Mike is a very, very highly qualified person," Dolphins chief executive officer Joe Bailey said on his weekly radio show.

Spurned again, Alabama is resuming its latest search for a football coach. This time it was West Virginia's Rich Rodriguez saying no thanks yesterday to the program still yearning for a leader to steer it back to the powerhouse days of Bear Bryant. Rodriguez opted to remain at his alma mater instead of taking the reported 6-year, $12 million offer from Alabama that would have nearly doubled his previous deal. Crimson Tide athletic director Mal Moore tried to reassure the 'Bama faithful.

Alabama football coach Mike Shula was fired yesterday after a 6-6 season that ended with three straight losses, including a defeat by state rival Auburn. Athletic director Mal Moore said defensive coordinator Joe Kines would serve as interim head coach. Shula, a former Alabama quarterback, led the Crimson Tide to a 10-2 season last year and a Cotton Bowl victory. But his teams were winless in four tries against Auburn. The Tigers beat the Crimson Tide, 22-15, on Nov. 18. Shula said he was "deeply disappointed" by Moore's decision.

Former Alabama football coach Mike Price yesterday filed a $20 million lawsuit against the university, claiming he was wrongfully fired after allegations arose about his conduct at a golf outing in Florida. The lawsuit alleges Price was denied due process, his civil rights were violated, breach of contract, wrongful termination and fraud. Price is seeking $10 million in punitive damages and $10 million in compensatory damages. He is seeking the same amounts in a lawsuit against Sports Illustrated, which published an article detailing Price's alleged actions at a topless bar and hotel in Pensacola, Fla., that led to his dismissal.

A hypothetical question for Nittany Nation: Is it better to beat up on an Alabama team that's down, or to risk getting hammered on the road by a Crimson Tide outfit that might be the strongest in the country? If the No. 18 Nittany Lions (1-0) leave Tuscaloosa tomorrow night after upsetting defending national champion and top-ranked Alabama (1-0), the answer will be obvious. But if coach Nick Saban's Tide swamps the youngest group of Lions that Joe Paterno has helmed in recent memory, is the "learning experience" worth the bruises and bitter dose of reality those kids will take back with them to Happy Valley?

Kentucky deserves a coach who understands "this is not just another coaching job," and so Billy Gillispie was fired after only 2 years on the job. University of Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart said during a news conference yesterday that there were times when there was not the right chemistry or with Gillispie at the helm. Gillispie went 40-27 in two seasons with the Wildcats. Kentucky was 22-14 this season, tied for the second-most losses in the program's 106-year history, and missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1991.

Nick Saban needed three games to get Alabama back in the Top 25. The Crimson Tide jumped into the Associated Press poll yesterday at No. 16, its first time in the rankings since the final poll of the 2005 season. Saban, lured from the Miami Dolphins with a $4 million per year contract, earned his first important win with the Tide on Saturday night. Alabama blew a big lead to Arkansas then responded with a late rally of its own to beat the Razorbacks, 41-38, in front of a swooning Bryant-Denny Stadium crowd.

The latest candidate to emerge for the Miami Dolphins' coaching job has a big edge in name recognition: He's a Shula. Mike Shula interviewed for the job Saturday and is one of at least five candidates still under consideration, the Dolphins said yesterday. Shula's dad, Don, coached the Dolphins for 26 years, holds the NFL record with 347 wins and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. "Mike is a very, very highly qualified person," Dolphins chief executive officer Joe Bailey said on his weekly radio show.

Miami Dolphins coach Nick Saban needed another day to consider a job offer from the University of Alabama. Saban met with Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga at the team complex for 10 minutes yesterday and asked for more time to decide. "The meeting went good," Huizenga said. "We had a quick meeting. We had a nice conversation. Coach asked if we could defer the decision until 10 o'clock [this morning]. And then he went into several reasons as to why he wanted to do that. I agree 100 percent with his reasons.

Alabama renewed its courtship of Miami Dolphins coach Nick Saban yesterday, and he declined at his season-ending news conference to say whether he would stay with the franchise. "I've got a rule that I'm not talking about any of that stuff," said Saban, 55. He has denied interest in the job since late November when Alabama fired Mike Shula. The Birmingham News reported that Alabama was prepared to offer Saban a seven-year deal that would make him college football's highest-paid coach.

Spurned again, Alabama is resuming its latest search for a football coach. This time it was West Virginia's Rich Rodriguez saying no thanks yesterday to the program still yearning for a leader to steer it back to the powerhouse days of Bear Bryant. Rodriguez opted to remain at his alma mater instead of taking the reported 6-year, $12 million offer from Alabama that would have nearly doubled his previous deal. Crimson Tide athletic director Mal Moore tried to reassure the 'Bama faithful.

North Carolina State's search for a new football coach has focused on Navy's Paul Johnson, ESPN.com reported last night. Johnson, who has guided the Midshipmen to an unprecedented four consecutive bowl games, has spoken with Wolfpack athletics director Lee Fowler, the Web site reported. Johnson has not been offered the N.C. State job, which opened up when coach Chuck Amato was fired. Johnson was hired at Navy in December 2001 after leading Georgia Southern to a 62-10 record in five seasons and winning NCAA Division I-AA national championships in 1999 and 2000.

Long famed for titles, bowls and Bear Bryant, Alabama is gaining a reputation for something far less complimentary: coaching turnover and turmoil. "It's what Alabama is known for right now," defensive end Wallace Gilberry said. The Crimson Tide is again in the market for a head coach, its fourth in 6 years, after athletic director Mal Moore announced Mike Shula's firing yesterday. Moore said that he would look for a "proven winner" and that defensive coordinator Joe Kines would serve as interim coach for the bowl-eligible Tide.