November 28, 2005
Coach Fran fires Aggies' defensive coordinator
Texas A&M football coach Dennis Franchione fired his long-time defensive coordinator Carl Torbush on the heels of a 5-6 season.
"After evaluating our defense, I felt like it was in the best interest of our football program to make a change at defensive coordinator," coach Dennis Franchione said in a statement. "I think Carl is an outstanding person and an excellent coach, but for whatever reason, we were not effective on defense."
Without question, something needs to be done to improve the Aggie defense. The Texas A&M defense finished the season last in the Big XII defensively, and 108th ranked defense nationwide. The Aggies were 48th against the run and 117th against the pass.
That said, you also have to wonder if this is Coach Fran's "get out of jail free" card with the Aggie boosters. The strong showing against Texas was welcome and may have actually saved Fran, but losing year-in-and-year-out to your biggest rival isn't good long-term for a coach's tenure. Making the move now definitely gives the critics their pound of flesh while Fran gets some additional time to right the ship.
Comments:
Fan of the Game said:
posted on November 29, 2005 10:00 AM — 12.43.234.14 — link — abuse?
Torbush had to go! If you don't have a solid defense in the Big12, you'll never be able to compete with better teams in the conference, much less, the country. Now with that said, we all know this move was as much political,as it was anything else. Fran is a good coach, but he can't afford another season like this one. The saddest thing about Aggies season, is that they were talented enough to win alot of games. Fran's use of that talent was nothing short of pathetic. Texas A&M has a rich history of great defensive teams and to finish 108th in the country is totally unacceptable. So go ahead Fran, fire anyone who isn't part of the solution and get the Aggies back to where they expect to be.
Big12_Fan said:
posted on December 1, 2005 12:21 PM — 66.169.178.186 — link — abuse?
What needs to happen is to fire Franchokie now!!! But your cow dung tossing school will sit around and do nothing just like good ole R.C. Chokem. Then it will be too late and you will end up right where you started; fighting Baylor in overtime at home and still being called UT's junior varsity.
“…saw varsity’s horns off….”
Ringer135 said:
posted on December 1, 2005 1:12 PM — 68.224.210.165 — link — abuse?
Reasons for the 5-6:
10)Herbstreet jinxed them preseason
9)Tomlinson is playing for the Chargers now
8)McNeal was overhyped / underperformed
7)Fran is still adjusting to real college football
6)Injuries
5)Recruitement classes / young players
4)Consistency in performance (see above)
3)A mediocre coach under the aTm spotlight
2)Worn out from the Baylor game
1)Fans didn't "whoop" hard enough this year.Wrecking Crew said:
posted on December 5, 2005 3:00 PM — 162.136.192.1 — link — abuse?
One more year, then FRAN will be gone. He fired his long time defensive coordinator as a last resort; only because he hasn't recruited any Texas talent. I played for Emory in the 70's when our offense was four yards and a pile of dust. A&M was know for its defense.. Now, the pendulum has swung the other way, and we are not known for anything except being ranked last in Div 1A.
Fran has four easy games out of the chute in 2006-2007... If any one of those teams pass for over 200 yards, its time to hire another coach;
Roll Tide said:
posted on December 6, 2005 12:01 PM — 71.8.36.185 — link — abuse?
Are you still crowing about your coach? He was playing us all something bigger. I guess he/it ends in College Station. I think R.C. left a little bit of talent. Enjoy Fran, I'm sure he has some slogan for all of you. His last one in Tuscaloosa was "Hold the Rope", and he's the one that let go.
R. McLarry said:
posted on December 16, 2005 5:12 PM — 65.54.154.115 — link — abuse?
In the A&M/tu game, was there a specific reason for the kickoffs going out of bounds after travelling a short distance? It appeared that onside kicks were being attempted by the kicker without anybody else being aware of the decision. Later when kickoffs were made by A&M, they went out of the end zone. (This may have already been discussed but I've been out of the country since the game and have just returned.)
Josh Breedlove said:
posted on December 26, 2005 11:11 AM — 207.17.89.82 — link — abuse?
I'm from Lubbock so probably kind of biased in my opinions. For some reason coach Fran hasn't worked out too well, I guess wins and losses is how to measure it. I love ESPN radio and according to the Herd in todays game coaches only have a couple of years to turn it around; and the great ones do this. Theres gotta be some really great coaches out there for you guys. A&M is a great school you deserve a great head coach.
Walter Carroll said:
posted on January 8, 2006 12:38 AM — 24.227.96.84 — link — abuse?
When Fran left Alabama, I was unhappy for our players who didn't have a clue. He showed not one iota of class, instead of meeting face to face with his players, as Bear Bryant met with his A&M players to tell them that he was leaving for Alabama, he sent a video tape instead. We have a class coach now, one who has Alabama roots, and I'm proud of what he has accomplished. He is young and his inexperience shows at times, but he bleeds crimson. I hope that A&M can find just such a coach, and dust the Franchione mistake from your boots the way we have here in Alabama.
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AgRyan04 said:
posted on November 28, 2005 9:22 PM — 24.160.80.2 — link — abuse?I have nothing personal against Torbush but he had to go. In his 3 seasons as DC we had our two worst defensive seasons in the school's history.
As for Fran, I still believe he still needs to be given the time to get his at least his first recruiting class through the system. This year only 4 of his players from his first recruiting class were classified higher than sophomores. At that point if things aren't significantly better a big change needs to be made.