October 12, 2005
Fran Fever fading?
One of the biggest surprises of the year has to be the way that the Texas A&M football team has faded into the background in the Big 12. The Aggies started the season as a Top 20 team, but are now just a shell of their former selves. And all this has occured in the heralded third year of Coach Fran.
The Wrecking Crew defense has been exposed as, well, a wreck. Colorado QB Joel Klatt set a CU record for 211 yards passing against A&M...in one quarter. The Reggie McNeal-led offense has looked helpless in it's last few games. And for the first time since he returned to Texas, Coach Fran is starting to get some hard questions from fans.
"We all feel, when you lose, when we don't play well, we haven't just let ourselves down, we've let a lot of other people down," Franchione said. "Aggies are as supportive and committal and as loyal as any place I've ever coached. Whatever is being said, we probably deserve it, a portion of it.
"I don't have a problem with criticism. I don't particularly care for what I think is unfair criticism, but I live in the forest and I can see what's inside, and some people can't. So sometimes I'm the only one who can recognize what I think is unfair criticism."Franchione chose not to divulge what he has deemed to be unfair criticism, but he said he recognizes that the team has not delivered the punch desired by fans, or himself.
"I don't accept things like that, and I'm never going to," Franchione said. "I haven't walked in [at other jobs] and snapped my fingers and everything changed overnight. I take it as a compliment that people think that's going to happen."
Fran is 14-15 heading into this weekend's game with Oklahoma State. His Aggie teams are just 2-10 in road games. And when you talk to the Aggie players, Coach Fran is feeling the pressure.
"In the past I've seen him pretty calm and cool and relaxed, and he really never got on anybody too hard," junior linebacker Justin Warren said. "With the high expectations, he has stepped up his intensity. I can notice it, and I know other players can notice it if I can. I can definitely see the sense of urgency with this team."
For my part, I think some of the criticism of Fran at this point its legit. He's had a couple of his recruiting classes and they are playing lots of underclassmen. With that, however, comes mistakes both on the field (missed assignments, etc) and off the field (poor study habits, film work, etc). This Aggie team is going to get better, but they need to step it up or they're going to miss a great shot to get into a decent Big XII bowl game.
And as a sign of the times, someone has already registered firecoachfran.com and firefran.com. It could be a very long year.
Comments:
Gameday Guru said:
posted on October 12, 2005 3:10 PM — 12.43.234.14 — link — abuse?
I agree that they were definately overrated this year and last year as well, but to say they are always overrated is moronic. I am guessing that the team you support also plays in the Big 12, seeing as your apparent dislike for the Ags is either out of conference rivalry or because you couldn't get into Texas A&M yourself. In either case you are entitled to your opinion. Here is a little food for thought.....In order for a team to have a chance at the National Title and other BCS Bowl games, Strength of Schedule plays into the equation. If a Longhorn fan gets his wish and A&M doesn't win a game, then UT's strength of schedule is weaker and doesn't help in the SoS factor for the BCS. If you ask a Longhorn football player, he'll tell you he wants A&M to be undefeated when the UT/A&M game comes around. A good example of Strength of Schedule playing a faactor in the BCS is going to be evident this season when Virginia Tech jumps Texas in the BCS polls because of the Longhorns apparently weaker schedule. Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.
BIG12_FAN said:
posted on October 13, 2005 11:40 AM — 66.169.178.186 — link — abuse?
I guess that my Baylor weekend post below is right on key with this thread.
"I am very proud of your aggies, a very big win at home, in overtime against a 23 point underdog that beat you last year. I would have taunted those scary Bears too, they deserve it right? I am so glad you got your first big win in Big 12 conference play this year. That 8 million dollar coach is really paying off for those big wins! Looks to me, the media, and everyone else that is not in an aggie cult like Baylor is your biggest rivals. You need to switch your last game of the year with your Varsity (…saw varsity’s horns off…) for Baylor. – gig’em; woop!!!"Maybe we should ask SMU to join the Big 12. They can give the same amount of money without the hassle of rules of not walking on grass and dealing with a school that thinks men chearleaders are better than 18 yr old women. Now that is just crazy!!!!
Fran said:
posted on October 13, 2005 2:39 PM — 12.43.234.14 — link — abuse?
Big 12 Fan heres are a few facts....SMU has 9 male cheerleaders, Baylor has 8 male cheerleaders(4 on the co-ed team, 4 on the white team). Texas A&M has only 5 yell leaders. You do the math. Secondly, TAMU is not the only University in the country with traditions and rules(such as not walking on the grass). Baylor was founded as a Baptist University. The "Original" Baptists that founded the University also believed it was a sin to dance. Baylor also has one of the largest dance teams in the Big 12. If Baylor doesn't honor their own traditions (even ridiculous ones) then ther is no doubt they would more than likely snub other Universities traditions. I personally have no probelms with any school's traditions. Unless of course killing your teammates is one of them. On another note, there is no doubt that the Aggie faithful is upset with the teams performance this season. Aggie fans expect to win. Win the Baylor faithful start expecting to win games instead of just covering the spread as an underdog you'll understand.
BIG12_FAN said:
posted on October 13, 2005 3:13 PM — 129.118.248.233 — link — abuse?
Fran,
1st, what scares me is that you know how many male cheerleaders half the Texas schools have. I don’t care about how many cheerleaders a school has. However, I do worry about a school when ALL they have are male cheerleaders. Doesn’t that worry you? But hey, I guess if those traditions are importation to you, then enjoy voting not your next cute male cheerleader. “Gig’em” brings a new description to mind. 2nd, I am NOT a Baylor fan but I am damn happy that they are your newest rival. You should trade in that Lassie dog for a catfish because your team is going to be bottom feeding for the rest of the year. This week, go Cowboys!!!!!
Yours truly,
Big12_Fan
Ron Mexico
Craig
AgRyan04 said:
posted on October 14, 2005 2:32 AM — 24.160.80.2 — link — abuse?
When we win the turnover battle we win and when we lose it we lose. It's as simple as that. Yeah, we're still very young but it has all come down to the turnover battle.
As for the comment: "defense has never been the strong side of a Fran coached football team" that is untrue.
I couldn't find any stats prior to 1999 but....in 1999 at TCU they ranked 5th in total defense & 15th in scoring defense....in 2000 at TCU they ranked #1 in both scoring and total defense....in 2001 at 'Bama they ranked #48 in total defense and #24 in scoring defense....in 2002 at 'Bama they ranked #3 in total defense and #5 in scoring defense.
Trust me, it's something that we have been waiting for and MOST DESPERATELY need.
I can say that the honeymoon is most certainly over in Aggieland....although most people want to see Torbush go more than they do Fran.
Fran said:
posted on October 14, 2005 9:05 AM — 12.43.234.14 — link — abuse?
Big 12 Idiot, why are you so worried about male yell leaders? Why does that scare you? Are you that insecure about your own manhood? Do you actually think that building a good football team has anything to do with the cheerleaders at all? Or are you just searching for anything to snub because your lack of college football knowlege doesn't give you anything else to talk about? Be honest with us here, is this personal? Did some mean ol' cheerleader beat you sorry butt senseless? All those years of being stuffed in lockers have finally made you snap. Well I really hope you get to feeling better and tell your mom I said hi, seriously.
go_bears said:
posted on October 14, 2005 3:33 PM — 209.189.245.116 — link — abuse?
BIG 12 FAN, why do you get such a kick out of just making people mad? Aggies are the most respectful group of fans anywhere. I've never seen more polite fans than when we went to College Station a couple of weeks ago. And why do you go around insulting their traditions? I wish Baylor had more culture for us to enjoy like that. I'm starting to wonder if you're just jealous that A&M sudents take extreme pride in their universtiy and traditions, which is something you apparently can't say for yourself. Seriously, the more ignorant comments you make, the more you look like a fool, so for your own good just give it a rest.
RJYH said:
posted on October 18, 2005 7:17 PM — 72.147.82.240 — link — abuse?
@VA_AG
I think the Bama fans are mad at Fran, not A&M. Even Coach RCS advised Fran against running out like a thief in the night. It wasn't "Momma Called," it was *poof*. No other coach has done that to either Alabama or A&M. Torbush may even be a worse scoundrel, since he decided to ask Alabama if he could be their head coach immediately after leaving with Fran.
Personally, most Alabama fans I know think highly of TAMU in general. How can one follow football and not respect the Aggies? The problem was how Fran chose to handle his leaving, not that A&M offered Fran a large sum of money. Unfortunately, like most fans, when they revisit something they dislike, those fans tend to have issues being articulate...
Tider said:
posted on October 19, 2005 3:40 PM — 208.207.2.209 — link — abuse?
A&M is my second favorite team after Alabama. We just cannot respect a guy like Francione. He spoke of respect and showed us very little. He promised a group of kids that he would be there for them, asked them not to give up on the program and bolted. They believed him only to see him leave in the night with no word, no goodbye. A&M is a class act. Francione is not. Watch your back.
James said:
posted on October 29, 2005 8:13 PM — 152.163.100.139 — link — abuse?
I am after watching the last three years go by at A&M, that maybe the great tradition, 12 National titles, Bryant mistique, and total support from former players, fans, and the inherit pride that goes with putting on the crimson jersey, may have made Fran look like a better coach than he is. Remember Bill Curry won a SEC championship while at Alabama, and was never successful anywhere else. I doubt that Alabama would be 8-0 if Fran was still there as coach. Looks like A&M went the wrong direction by firing R>C> and hiring Fran. With R.C. you had a really good coach, maybe not the best, but probably better than FRan. And R.C. operated with class, character, honor and integrity. All missing from Frans personality
bamafanntx said:
posted on October 30, 2005 1:51 AM — 207.218.214.207 — link — abuse?
I've heard an read a great deal about Coach Fran and how he turns programs around. I'm not so sure it's that he slightly enhances a program's success. I was upset like a lot of Tide fans when Fran left. However, I understand he felt like it was the best thing for him and his family. It appears it was also best for the TIDE family! Fran did an admirable job at Alabama. When I read how he turned around the Alabama program I have to laugh. Yes the tide was 3-8 the year before he arrived. However, 2 years before he arrived they were 10-3 with one of those losses to UCLA and one to Michigan by 1 point in the Orange bowl. They also beat Florida in Gainsville, which doesn't happen often and by 28 in the SEC championship game. They also had probably the best running back in the NFL in Shaun Alexander. Fran didn't recruit him. Doesn't sound like the program was totally in the gutter. The year they went 3-8 the were #3 preseason pick. Injuries and stupid actions by the coach destroyed moral. Before he arrived at TCU didn't they upset Texas a couple of years before for the first time in like 30 years. Everywhere he goes if you look at the history each team had shown promise or had signature wins recently. The sad part about his leaving Bama was his lack of integrity to go back and face his players and explain to them why he decided to leave. At the beginning of his second year when Bama was placed on probation the 38 seniors could have transferred with having to sit out a year. He convinced them to "hold the rope" and stay. They did, he didn't. That's what upset many fans and players! Not the fact that he went to A&M. As one of the previous posts mentioned Bear Bryant left A&M for Alabama. Yes, he did and he told his players face to face at A&M about his decision and why. Fran didn't! I don't want to see A&M do bad or lose every game like some Alabama fans. I'd rather see Tennessee do that. It seems to be happening as I write this. Fulmer hates Alabama to the point he decided to help the NCAA. See what it is getting him. Seems to me when you treat people badly, bad things happen to you. According to the players on Fran's last team at Bama, they didn't see him when they were in Hawaii before their last game of the year with Hawaii except on the sidelines during the game. Apparently he already knew he was leaving. Sad but true. What goes around comes around. Fran is a good coach, notice I said good not great. It is funny I haven't read anything about him destroying a program because after he left Bama they went 4-6 and 6-6. He really built that program up huh? I don't think he is a very good recuiter and evaluator of talent. Yes A&M has had top recruiting classes the last three years. His recruiting classes were partly responsible for Bama's record the last couple of years too. I wonder what kind of year A&M or any school would have if they lost their starting QB, TB & FB as Bama did last year and still went 6-6. Coach Fran, The Crimson Tide is 8-0 and about to be # 4 in the country. Good Luck!
bamafanntx said:
posted on October 30, 2005 1:59 AM — 207.218.214.207 — link — abuse?
To the post by VA_AG. Like I said in an earlier post, yes Bryant did leave A&M for BAMA. Do you know where Bear Bryant played football and graduated from. I'm not mad at A&M, after all A&M was responsible for the last Alabama coach to take them to the National Championship, Gene Stallings. Who if you know your history was one of the Junction Boys. Bama fans are not mad at A&M, they just no longer have any respect for Coach Fran!
Bamorlando said:
posted on October 31, 2005 11:49 AM — 192.92.218.192 — link — abuse?
I agree with fanntx, in that all my Bama friends aren't p*ssed with A&M, it's strictly Franphony and the absolute false promises that he made. While I could certainly understand a coach bolting for another school, it takes class to face the players and staff to let them know before the media publishes the story. After A&M tires of Franphony and his antics, we'll all be rooting and support your new coach and a real push for the Big 12 championship.
caaggie said:
posted on November 4, 2005 6:02 PM — 207.200.116.133 — link — abuse?
Fran has been described as a re-builder but not a winner. The Aggies did not need re-building, we needed to add on and go to the next level. That next level being national championships. Under his watch the once nationally ranked defense has gone to the bottom of college football. One of the toughest places to win a football game for a visiting team is fast becoming just another stadium, no matter how many Aggies we put in there. It comes down to winning on the field, and there has not been near enough of that. We are constantly out coached, out guessed and out adjusted during game time. A&M has the facilities, the fans, the history and the support. It is time to make it pay with Championships and consistent national dominance.
raider-alley said:
posted on November 6, 2005 2:19 AM — 66.169.215.63 — link — abuse?
We all love coach Fran you should keep him for years and years, but come to think about it we loved coach Slocum too. So maybe you should just put some guy from the parking lot in there because we would probably be pretty fond of him too.
Wreck 'em Tech
ROCK said:
posted on November 7, 2005 10:07 AM — 63.151.88.43 — link — abuse?
DEFENSE, DEFENSE, DEFENSE...........FRAN LACKS THE ABILITY TO COACH THIS, AND WE SHOULD ALL START TO QUESTION IF HE EVEN THINKS IT IS AS IMPORTANT AS OFFENSE. FRAN IS A FAILURE AND A MISTAKE ON OUR PART, AS AGGIES WE STRIVE FOR EXCELENCE, LETS MOVE ON AND FIND SOMEONE THAT CAN HELP US ACHEIVE THIS, HE LACKS TO ABILITY TO MOTIVATE HIS PLAYERS, SOMETHING THAT EVERY LEADER MUST POSSESS TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
Bamaman said:
posted on November 11, 2005 6:47 PM — 65.1.112.113 — link — abuse?
I have always had a great deal of respect for Texas A&M. I think you guys were tricked into believing the Coach Fran hype. Bama was tricked as well, fortunately for us we only had to endure it a short while. Fran's greed and total lack of integrity caused him to leave in the middle of the night without speaking to his team. I can think of nothing more insidious. Now, with Alabama at 9-0 and ranked number 3, it's enough to make you believe in karma. Brodie Croyle's father was quoted in the New York Times a few weeks ago saying that Coach Fran did not turn out ot be the type man he thought he would be, a man of character. I shudder to think that my son would ever run across a so-called leader like that. He will leave your fine university soon, I'm sure, and I'll be back to rooting for you. You can only hope it is sooner rather than later.
Rool Tide!!!!
Hex said:
posted on November 13, 2005 12:40 AM — 12.73.57.93 — link — abuse?
Francionne sux.
He's a charlatain.
The AD oughta go too. In fact A&M (my alma mater) class of '69, should drop sports. They are an embarrassment in all of them.
Yeah the basketball coach surprised us all last year. But the prior one was paid about ten thousand percent more than his worth. But who said anyone at College Station knows anything about business. In fact drop the school of Business too.
A&M waited about 15 years too long to fire that baseball joke Johnson, they'll probably fall for Fran's BS and lies & excuses for at least another 4 or 5 years.
I cannot calculate the number of times A&M has embarrassed me on national TV or just in an arena.
tim temple said:
posted on November 27, 2005 2:27 PM — 152.163.100.139 — link — abuse?
i'm an alabama fan. we had fran for two years . he was a good coach. personaly, i thought he would have bama back in national contenion in a year or two. then it happened. he lied to the fans. we later learned the deal was done before the auburn game. he lied to the press and the most disgusting thing of all, he lied to his players. he also didnt tell them of his decision. he just left.how any a.d. can trust him is beyond me. how his coachs and players can trust is a mystery.i hate to see texas a&m suffer and perhaps next season he will turn it around. after all, he is a good coach but dont ever trust him completely because sooner or later he will leave you hi and dri, especially if a&m has a good season next year and he becomes hot again. aggie fans have questioned his coaching ability and he will not forget.
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Gameday Guru said:
posted on October 12, 2005 10:08 AM — 12.43.234.14 — link — abuse?A&M's successes and failures under coach Fran should really be no big suprise. Fran is a good coach and his track record supports this. However, his track record also shows that his past success has been due largely in part to teams built behind a solid running game and a decent quarterback who wasn't expected to carry the offense. The situation at A&M is reversed. The running game is decent at best and McNeil is expected to win every game for the Ags. This isn't Fran football. As well, defense has never been the strong side of a Fran coached football team. Historically, he has fielded a defense with alot of team speed that was capable of making plays when outsized against bigger or stronger opposition. The Big 12 is a tough conference to compete in if you can't match your opponents size and strength, as well as speed. The Ags are very talented, but very young. There are no real playmakers on defense to overcome the mistakes that are going to occur with an inexperienced group of guys trying to live up to the "Wrecking Crew" defense. I do believe things will greatly improve with the Ags in the next few years, but it is going to be a long road and the other teams in the Big 12 aren't going to wait around for the Ags to catch up.