I think Riley is ok. The Bama turn down thing was a little more complicated than just saying no. In early 2000 when the probation rumors started flying and DuBose was running the team into the ground a change was made. In 2001 we brought in Fran. When the penalties were handed down in early 02 (24 schollies I think and a year of no bowl) Fran decided to bolt after the season. The loss of schollies absolutely cripples you. Now, recruiting suffers two fold, the THREAT scares of potential recruits befoer the sanctions are announced(classes of 2000 and 2001 we signed nobody) and then the penalties themselves which affected recruiting classes of 2002, 03 and 04. Those guys would be the teams of 04,05,06 and 07. When Fran bolted Butch Davis was pretty much lined up. He had one question. How bad will the sanctions be. This was not the NCAA we see today, this was the NCAA of David Swank who would throw you down for just a thought you cheated. Now they want proof. Had Cam happened in 2001 he would have never played another down with Swank as Chair. Anyway, We waited and Butch did too. When Butch heard how bad they were in early 02 he said no thanks. I would have to, to be honest. We asked everyone and NOBODY wanted the job. Nobody would sign either. We lost a couple guys to Jax State if you can believe that. Riley knew it was a no-win due to the schollie reductions and rest assured, he was not candidate number one but we had no choices. We finally had to take somebody like Shula, honestly, knowing he would only last until probation was over and our full allotment was back. We had many more to choose from in 2007 because in 2008 we would be back to 85 players with no threat or sanctions and we could once again compete in the SEC. Shula wasn't as bad as he looked. Nobody, not Saban, Bryant or Rockne could have coached that team much past .500 from 2000 to 2007. Hell, SC hasn't recovered from the sanctions they received in 2010 yet... but they will.

Fast forward to today and if the Alabama job came open, Mike Riley wouldn't get a passing thought because we"re not in a no-win anymore but I don't blame him, Butch Davis or anybody else that turned us down during that time.

He can get more done at NU but it is interesting to say the least.