Originally stated by Dennis Franchione, on learning of Alabama's NCAA sanctions, commenting on his commitment to the Crimson Tide program:
"I have known that pushing through the NCAA situation would not be for the faint of heart. But I have a favorite reading that goes, 'Tough times don't last, but tough people do.'"
Well, he decided that the NCAA sanctions were too tough for him, as he stated in a press conference on Friday that our NCAA situation played a major role in his decision to abandon a roster of players who chose to STICK WITH HIM during 2 years of post-season bowl ban and 3 years of scholarship limitations. He is a fraud. And Texas A&M's recruitment of him was very shady; there were hints of it as far back as the Tennessee game LAST year, October, 2001. And he was playing the Alabama Nation for fools all along, saying that his new, 10 year, $1.5MM contract with us WOULD be finalized.
He refused to come back to Tuscaloosa and address his players; and explain to them why he lapsed in his mottos of loyalty, trust, accountablity, and hold onto the rope. As quarterback Brodie Croyle's dad, former Bama star John Croyle, stated, "He asked them to hold on to the rope, but then he let go of it."
I don't care if we hire Steve Freakin' Spurrier, this creates a huge jolt of instability in our program when stability is the biggest thing we need. And to make it worse, he has handled it poorly.
Some Texas Longhorn fans have already had some fun with
PhotoShop Fran, and the Oklahoma fans have a similar project but I couldn't locate it as their boards are all concerned with WWLS radio station today.
As for the negative press he is getting, I think it is hilarious. ESPN, CBS.Sportsline, CNN/SI, and even fans of our rivals have been tearing him apart. Oklahoma and Texas fans have suddenly become our best friends.
Check out this NEUTRAL college football database website, they have christened Franchione with a new
nickname.
As for my Coach Fran Bobblehead doll: It is hanging by a noose from my front door. We took an extra one to a Christmas party last night for a "Dirty Santa" game, but my wife put a new label on the box; instead of saying "Crimson Tide" and "Coach Fran," it says "Texas A&M" and "Coach Fraud." Needless to say, it was a big hit and was "stolen" the maximum 3 times.
A group of friends and I are planning on travelling to Norman, Oklahoma next November for the Texas A&M at Oklahoma game. I can't wait to see the look on his face when he steps off the aTm bus and sees about 3 or 4 guys standing there wearing Alabama shirts and Oklahoma hats.
~U2Alabama
