The latest chapter in the
Coach Fran story involves his departure at the
University of Alabama in favor of what he must have considered a more promising job at
Texas A&M.
Rumors of Fran's departure and Texas A&M coach
R.C. Slocum's departure spread quickly during the week of
Alabama's last game against the
University of Hawaii. Originally, Fran denied all rumors and said very adamantly that he had
no intention of leaving.
Slocum did, in fact,
get the axe in early december and a about a week later (on
December 10th, to be exact) Fran boarded a private jet registered to a
wealthy texan (NOT Texas A&M, mind you).
Franchione would not return to
Tuscaloosa. He accepted the job that afternoon and sent for his
family. As opposed to talking with his
players and
University of Alabama administration, he asked his assistant coaches to do his
dirty work.
News surfaced
after the fact that Fran had an exemption in his contract at
TCU that allowed him to leave and take the
A&M job, should it become available.
This was not
small potatoes in Tuscaloosa, where
The Tide was in the middle of
NCAA Sanctions for alleged recruiting violations.
When the
sanctions were handed down, Fran encouraged (some would say
begged) the players not to leave. The
NCAA gave them an opportunity to transfer without sitting out for a year (which is mandatory in other circumstances). Fran used words like '
trust' and '
loyalty' when talking to the team in those pivotal days. A year later, and with players no longer allowed to transfer without penalty, Fran jumped at the first
job offer that came his way.
It was also
frowned upon that he did not come back to address his players personally.
While originally
public opinion in the world of
College Football seemed to be behind Fran's move, it quickly shifted as the weight of Fran's departure became
more obvious.
Ivan Miasel of
ESPN.com closed an article about the fiasco with the line:
"In Franchione's first meeting with his players, he will ask for their commitment. He better hope they don't read the papers."
And that about
sums up this chapter of the Coach Fran Story.