I know that football season is upon us, and I am as ready for it as anyone…but let’s talk hoops today, shall we?

I was just glancing over the up-coming schedules for UAB, South Alabama, Auburn and Alabama, and couldn’t help but think to myself – Coach Mark Gottfried should still be in Tuscaloosa.

I know what you die-hard Bama fans are likely to do with that statement, but really, the school, always noticed for their football program, truly had a gem in Gottfried and it is a shame that they felt the need to show him the door.

This is not to take anything away from new coach Anthony Grant who, no doubt, will do a fine job in Tuscaloosa, but when you look at the resume’, the record, and the over-all performance of Mark Gottfried,he truly did an outstanding job at Alabama.

Truth be told, I honestly don’t think that the problems Gottried experienced over the past two seasons were not a result of his coaching, as much as they were results of the players he recruited and signed. The former Bama player, who spent three seasons playing for the Crimson Tide (and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen each of those seasons) really was a fan favorite, up until a year or so ago.

He brought to Bama a freshness that had been missing on the hardwood floor in T-town, as well as a National Championship ring he earned in1995 as an assistant coach at UCLA.

Gottfried spent eight seasons with the Bruins, and three as head coach at Murray State where he took his Ohio Valley Conference team to two NCAA tournaments.

He only had two losing seasons while at Alabama, compiled a 210-132 record with the Tide, and went to the NCAA tournament five seasons in a row, making it to the Elite Eight during the 2003-2004 campaign.

The past two seasons, Gottfried’s team was plagued by injuries, and a few bad attitudes.

Even in the shadow of Wimp Sanderson, Gottfried was the only basketball coach at Alabama to ever have a team ranked preseason No 1.

Now the former UMS-Wright standout is back in South Alabama. His son is playing football at Gulf Shores High School, his dad is just across the bay finishing up his career as the Athletic Director at University of South Alabama, and no doubt Gottfried is catching a round of golf here and there.

But something will be missing when the Tide basketball team tips it off this fall. Gottfried did a good job, deserved better than what he got, and is probably the best coach not coaching this fall. No doubt he will wind up back in somebody’s gym quicker than a take out order for Rick Pitino at a Louisville restaurant.

Ah….Louisville maybe?

-Hit ‘em straight!

Dale Jones is a staff writer for The Islander.