Shula, Strock reunite under tough circumstances

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Mike Shula has never coached against Don Strock, but he has washed his socks.<br> <br> After Saturday, he&#39;ll have done both.<br> <br> Shula and Alabama will face Strock&#39;s Florida International, a reunion between the kid who used to work odd jobs for his dad&#39;s Miami Dolphins teams and the journeyman quarterback who helped mentor him.<br> <br> ``I&#39;d have to do his laundry every day, as well a bunch of other players&#39;,&#39;&#39; Shula said. ``As I got a little older and as I got into playing the quarterback position, he was very helpful, like a big brother to me.<br> <br> ``He was a backup, and I was on the sidelines charting plays.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Strock played for Don Shula at Miami from 1973-87, crossing paths frequently with the coach&#39;s kid. Shula worked as a ball boy/assistant equipment manager making ``peanuts.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Their paths haven&#39;t crossed since Shula got the Alabama job four years ago, but Strock runs into Don Shula at functions in Miami and occasional Dolphins games.<br> <br> ``We talk about the great job he&#39;s doing there,&#39;&#39; Strock said of Mike Shula. ``His family&#39;s very proud of him, and they should be.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> This, however, is not altogether a happy reunion.<br> <br> The Crimson Tide (5-3) is having a disappointing season and coming off a 16-13 loss at Tennessee. But that&#39;s nothing compared to what Strock is going through this season.<br> <br> The Golden Panthers (0-7) are not only winless but tangled with Miami in a bench-clearing brawl two weeks ago, leading to mass suspensions and the dismissal of two players.<br> <br> ``Anytime you know somebody and you have a friendship with them and see them not have success, it&#39;s tough,&#39;&#39; Shula said. ``You feel for guys like that. He&#39;s got a lot to him. I think he&#39;s extremely bright, I think he&#39;s got a great way about himself. I think that shows up to his players, I would imagine.<br> <br> ``As a backup quarterback of the Dolphins he was always very well liked and respected.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Shula, meanwhile, went on to play quarterback for Alabama before following his father into coaching, first as an NFL assistant and then leading his alma mater.<br> <br> ``I know a lot of times he actually did the charts and could hear the quarterbacks talking strategy with the head coach, who I think you could say was a pretty good coach in his own right,&#39;&#39; Strock said.<br> <br> Shula has plenty of fond memories of those days. His biggest memory of Strock&#39;s playing career was a 1982 playoff game. Strock relieved David Woodley with the Dolphins trailing Dan Fouts and San Diego 24-0 and led the team back. They wound up losing 41-38 in overtime in what was the league&#39;s highest-scoring playoff game and the only game in NFL history where two quarterbacks both passed for 400-plus yards.<br> <br> ``I just watched how he came in and uplifted the team,&#39;&#39; Shula said.<br> <br> Despite the outcome, Shula said, ``Those were some great memories.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> He has said many pre-game chats with opposing coaches start with the same question: How is your father doing? Don Shula&#39;s name might come up this time, too.<br> <br> ``It&#39;d be nice to see him and say hello,&#39;&#39; Strock said. ``I&#39;m sure his dad will be there, and I&#39;m also sure who he will be rooting for.&#39;&#39;