Al Davis Introduces Tom Cable As New Head Coach of the Oakland Raiders

The Raiders' search for a head coach officially ended yesterday when Al Davis and Tom Cable agreed to a contract that would remove his interim tag, and make him head coach of the Oakland Raiders. A press conference was held today at the Raiders' facility in Alameda, where Al Davis announced the appointing of Tom Cable as his head coach. Cable is now the 17th head coach in Raiders' history and the 5th since Jon Gruden left for the Buccaneers in 2002.

Cable was one of three people that Davis interviewed for the head coaching position. Davis claimed to have had considered someone else for the job, but Cable's heart and desire to bring the Raiders back to prominence finally won him over.

Here is some of what Cable had to say at today's press conference:

"As I said when this became an interim job in October, this is my dream, this was my team growing up. There's not anything in the world I'd rather be doing. I'm honored to have the opportunity. I'm very honored by what this football team did in the last six weeks of the regular season and where we have grown as a football team, and I know right now where we need to go to get to the playoffs."

In an endearing speech, Cable addressed the Raider Nation and said it was time to bring the glory back to Oakland.

"To the fans of Raider Nation, listen to me. It is time we came back to you with a team that you can be proud of every Sunday, so that everyone walks into that stadium with an energy and excitement like no other. You have been great fans in the past, and it is time for us to give you something back - a great football team."

Under Cable, the Raiders finished the 2008 season on a high note. They beat a team on the rise in the Houston Texans, and upset the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a surprising road win in the final game of the season.

Let's hope Cable can build upon that momentum and bring the Pride & Glory back to Oakland.

Tagged as: al davis, head coach, raiders, tom cable