Drawing the Common Parallel!

I’m feeling  very uneasy and perplexed right now. I have a strange sense of worry and confusion. And I very much don’t like it.

I feel this way, because I think that I know what the future holds, as I have seen it before in the past.

How so? Well, let take a trip down memory lane to the year 1989.

The Oakland Raiders end the season of 1988 with a losing record, and tension between first year head coach Mike Shanahan and owner Al Davis starts to boil over. Early into the 89 season the Raiders sat at 1-3 going into the bye week, when Davis decides to make a coaching change. Mike Shanahan is fired, and Art Shell takes over. The Raiders finish the season at 8-8, and newly appointed head coach Art Shell lasts 6 years as top dog, before getting replaced by Mike White.

Since that time, and including Mike White, the Oakland Raiders have had 7 head coaches in 14 years. No Superbowls, only 87 wins in 208 games played, and only one head coach with a winning record. (Jon Gruden, 1998-2001, record of 38-26)

Mike Shanahan went to Denver where he lasted only a few seasons as an offensive assistant, before getting fired due to a dispute he found himself in, between John Elway and head coach Dan Reeves.

In 1992 Shanahan became the offensive coordinator of the San Fransisco 49ers where he won his first superbowl in 1994.

After the 94 season Shanahan was given the chance to be a head coach once again. He started his second stint in Denver with the Broncos, where he has been ever since. He currently boasts a record of 133 wins to only 78 loses. He has won two Superbowls and has beaten the Raiders 21 of the 27 times that he has played them. He is also a record holder for many coaching records, and is a lock for the hall of fame.

Fast forward to the year 2008. After a losing season with the Oakland Raiders in 2007, now second year head coach, Lane Kiffin find his team sitting at 1-2 going into a tough game against division rival San Diego. Much talk is being had about the future of Kiffin, and his job security.

If the Raiders sit at 1-3 after week 4, going into their bye week, what happens to Kiffin????

Did anyone else draw the parallel yet?

Mike Shanahan started his career with Oakland at the young age of 36, where he began his shift into greatness. His record in Oakland was only 8-12, and there were some bumps in his road of development, but he learned, and grew better from them.

Lane Kiffin is only 33 years of age, but he has one year under his belt as head coach, and has shown great improvement thus far. He may not turn out to be as great a coach as Shanahan, but what if he does? Even worse yet, what if he does it with the San Diego Chargers or Kansas City Chiefs?

I fear that it is beyond repair for Kiffin to stay on as head coach, but worse yet, I fear Deja Vu all over again.

With that said, I am hoping for one thing, and for now, one thing only……..

A RAIDERS WIN IN WEEK 4!!!!!! It may not save his job, but it sure as hell can’t hurt!

I am calling out for everyone to join me in the “Save Kiffin” campain, as we hope not to repeat our mistakes from the past.

DAVIS, are you listening?

 

Tremblay

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