Let's rewind back about 14 years>>>I became a Dolphin fan in 1996, shortly after I realized that cheering for the Cowboys just made me a front runner, and just before cleveland moved its sorry franchise to baltimore..in which case I would have been a raven fan being that i'm from baltimore and all. In 1996 Dan Marino was nearing the end of his extremely prolific career, he was a statue in the pocket. The Phins went 8-8 that year, the epitimy of mediocrity. Legendary coach Don Shula retired and in came my boy from the team I formely cheered for..Jimmie Johnson. Fast forward 14 years>>>
"Fire Tony Sparano!" Am I hearing this correctly? I can't speak for the population of Dol-fans that watched the '72 team boast a perfect record in route to winning the franchises 1st of 2 Super Bowl Championships. Who I can speak for is every body else, everybody my age, who hasn't seen much more than 'middle of the road' for the last decade and a half. Let's face it guys, were not elite, we haven't been in a looong time. Definitely not in my lifetime. So where is this sudden lack of perspective coming from?
It wasn't but three years ago (2007) that the dolphins tied the record for most losses in an NFL season with 15 (a record broken by the lions a year later). Tony Sparano took over in 2008 and turned the team around completely. We went on to win our division for the first time since 2000! One of the greatest turn arounds in league history: That was 2 years ago...Flash back to the present where the dolphins are sitting at they're usual 7-6 record. While were 6-1 on the road..were 1-5 at home. Not great by any means, but a far cry from 1-15. Did we over achieve in 2008? Absolutely. Let's not forget that had Tom Brady a.k.a Mr. Perfect not gotten hurt in the first game that year, putting him out for the season, the patriots would have most likely topped our 11-5 record. The following year we came back down to earth with a 7-9 record but keep in mind we lost our offense in the middle of the year when Ronnie Brown went down with a foot injury. In theory and relative to what he was working with...Sparano's coaching tenure has been a wild success. If you don't agree with me, why don't we take a trip down memory lane and look at some of the goolish ghosts of Dolphin past...
Dave Wannstedt has had the most success of them all during my time as a fan and he just got run out the door at the University of Pittsburgh, a school whose biggest competition is UConn...plus, Wannstedt was basically doing his best Barry Switzer impression in Miami, making a name for himself due to the drafting wizardry of one Jimmie Johnson. The Dolphins defense was dominant under Wannstedt. A defense led by Sam Madison, Patrick Surtain, Zach Thomas, and Jason Taylor. All of whom were drafted by Johnson.
After a brief stint with Jim Bates we went on to hire the NCAA's hottest coach. Nick Saban. A guy who I'm convinced watched college football all day on thurdays and saturdays rather then breaking down game film. Before we even had time to thank him for acquiring Dante Culpepper rather than Drew Brees or applaud him for turning the Dolphins 2006 & 2007 drafts into a 'who's who?' of SEC football..he was on a bus towards Alabama to coach the Tide.
"Fire Tony Sparano!" 'Cause the grass is always greener on the other side..well, is it? To know where you're headed, you've got to know where you've been...and we've been mediocre at best. So let's all take a deep breath and appreciate a job well done from a guy who will likely bring us success here in the near future.
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