An Open Letter To Bill Battle...

Dear Coach Battle;

As a small-time booster and a big-time Bama fan, I'm writing you today because I need your help.  As a Bear Bryant disciple and highly successful business man, I truly believe you can fix this problem.  Various media members, both state & national, as well as opposing fanbases are accusing us of being fair-weather fans.  This is largely due to the lack of fan support around The University of Alabama Basketball Program this season.  

I'm sure you've noticed that Coleman Coliseum has become a bit of a ghost town this year.  Many fans don't even bother tuning in to watch the games that actually get aired anymore.   

And contrary to what some are saying, it isn't because we are spoiled by our football success.  It isn't because we only support winning programs either.  Bama Hoops fans have just given up hope.  With a losing record and ZERO road wins in Anthony Grant's 5th year as head coach, you would have to search far & wide to find someone who has any faith left in his ability to get this program back to the prominence it's capable of.

While I readily admit that next year's roster looks quite impressive on paper, why should we have any confidence that Grant can be trusted to a) retain this talent or b) coach them to be SEC caliber players?  Five years is more than ample time to show a trend.  And the player attrition coupled with lack of player development in the basketball program during his tenure is downright startling.  Do you realize that 9 players have transferred or just quit this program since Grant was hired?  A coach who allows Justin Knox, Demetrius Jemison, Kendall Durant, Jason Carter, Charles Hankerson Jr., Devonta Pollard, Moussa Gueye, Trevor Lacey, & Nick Jacobs to walk away quite frankly doesn't deserve the benefit of the doubt anymore.

With a buyout totalling $5 million, you will soon be faced with your first major decision in your role as Athletic Director.  You can retain Grant & continue to pay him $1.9 million. However given Grant's body of work at The Capstone, this will tell both fans of Bama hoops & more importantly, potential coaching replacements that this university is NOT committed to basketball.  As a businessman, would it not be wiser to invest $83,333.33 a month to fire him & seize the opportunity to hire a proven coach who, unlike Grant, can get this team back to the NCAA Tournament.  Keep in mind that Grant had success at VCU & will undoubtedly be hired elsewhere, reducing your investment.  Consider the implications if you retain Grant for another year.  Allowing a coach who has taken a Bama squad to the NCAA tourney just once & will not even be invited to the NIT in year 5 will haunt you when you inevitably are forced to replace him.  What coach worthy of leading a program like ours would even consider coming when there's virtually no evidence they'd receive any support from the university?

On the other hand, there's a coach out there who's available and is currently being courted by several division 1 programs... Including our in-state rival.  Bruce Pearl becomes available in early August.  His resume' includes taking a program in a very similar situation to winning the SEC East & going to the NCAA Tournament as a no. 2 seed.  And he did that in year 1.  While Grant has been completely invisible outside of coaching games, Pearl's marketing abilities would bring notoriety & excitement back to this program.  Think of the benefits of a packed Coleman Coliseum, the revenue that winning will secure, our former players being welcomed back & used to advocate Alabama athletics, and an atmosphere that would make Coach Saban eager to show off to potential football recruits.

As with any important business decision, choosing to replace Grant with Bruce Pearl is not without risk.  A show cause has kept him out of coaching for 3 years.  However, many well respected people in the industry have been very vocal that he did not deserve such harsh sanctions and he's shown sincere regret.  Furthermore, it would be career suicide for Pearl to get into NCAA cross hairs again.  Couple this with the amount of people dedicated to compliance in our athletic department and the rewards far outweigh the risk.

Your predecessor had amazing vision.  Coach Mal Moore believed in this university enough to take great risks.  He expanded Bryant Denny Stadium when the football program wasn't providing a quality product.  He took a plane to Miami unsure Coach Saban would be flying back with him.  You will soon have the opportunity to leave your own legacy by giving this storied basketball program a chance to be successful again.  A wise man once said, "So I want everybody to think here for a second, how much does this game mean to you? 'Cause if it means something to you, you can't stand still. You understand? You play fast! You play strong! You go out there and dominate the man you're playing against, and you make his ass quit! That's our trademark! That's our M.O. as a team! That's what people know us as". 

Coach Battle, you have an important decision to make.  Our basketball program is in serious trouble.  The question is, does that mean something to you?  Guess we'll all find out soon.

Warm Regards,
Crimson Chaos

Bill Battle can be reached at bbattle@ia.ua.edu.  If you share my concern for the future of Alabama basketball, please take a moment & let him know.  One voice matters!!!

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Thanks for stopping by y'all!!!  Roll Tide!!! Roll Coach Battle!!! Roll Bama Hoops!!!