Franchione leaves Alabama for Texas A&M

Friday, December 6th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) _ Dennis Franchione steered Alabama through NCAA sanctions, directed a tradition-rich program to yet another 10-win season and had things looking up at the Capstone.

But Franchione's two-year stay ended Thursday, when he struck a deal to leave for Texas A&M. His decision drew elicited emotions of disappointment and resignation from the players.

Tailback Ahmaad Galloway said the Tide players ``are extremely hurt, about as hurt as you can be.''

``A lot of guys paid the price and stayed here, but Coach Fran had a decision to make,'' said Galloway, a senior. ``It's a decision that I can never understand or anybody else. When we all lay our heads down at night, we just pray that he made the best decision.''

Defensive coordinator Carl Torbush informed the players of Franchione's move. Senior quarterback Tyler Watts said it was an emotional gathering.

``This is terrible news for us, but we're going to move on,'' Watts said.

The Crimson Tide's quest to find a coach to restore the program to the heights it once reached under Bear Bryant began anew.

``It's a shock to all of us, of course, a great loss,'' athletic director Mal Moore said at a news conference.

Moore, who hired Franchione two years ago, said he has a ``short list'' of potential successors, but wants someone with college head coaching experience who will make a long-term commitment and ``honors the tradition of the Crimson Tide.''

``I think it is something that has to be moved on quickly and that is my plan,'' he said.

Moore would not say if Alabama sweetened a contract offer to Franchione to try to get him to stay.

``We made an offer to Fran that I felt very comfortable with and very proud of,'' the athletic director said.

Alabama had offered Franchione a 10-year deal reportedly worth $15 million, for an annual raise of about $400,000. The Tide went 10-3 last season for its NCAA-record 27th year of double-digit wins, and Franchione frequently indicated he would tend to the contract after the season.

Franchione's decision came about 24 hours after Moore initially confirmed that Texas A&M had requested permission to speak to the coach.

Speculation about the job at A&M surfaced in Texas newspapers two weeks ago, on the eve of Alabama's game with archrival Auburn. Mike McKenzie, a close friend of Franchione who edits the coach's Web site, said there was no ``behind the scenes'' negotiating until the team was preparing to leave Hawaii after its regular-season finale.

Texas A&M fired coach R.C. Slocum on Monday after a 6-6 season.

Franchione had been noncommittal on his future plans in recent weeks, dismissing reports in Texas that he would be the Aggies' new coach and calling one ``idiotic.'' He said he had ``never wavered'' on his intentions to return next season, but never promised he would stay.

``The first week they brought it up, he was just like, 'Don't worry about it. Just focus on the game,''' senior center Alonzo Ephraim said. ``That's just his personal life. I don't think it will hurt our program.''

John Croyle, whose son Brodie will be the Tide's quarterback next season, said the program would continue to thrive even without Franchione. The elder Croyle, a former Alabama player, said Tide football is bigger than any one coach or any one player.

``Coach Fran asked all those boys to hold onto the rope,'' Croyle said, referring to the team's slogan in 2001. ``They did and he let go and left. Those boys are going to be just fine.''

Brodie Croyle, who started two games as a redshirt freshman, went on a hunting trip to escape the hoopla Thursday.

The departing seniors had endured a coaching change, sanctions and a 3-8 season, but also were part of the 1999 SEC championship team. They're leaving in similarly uncertain circumstances.

``We feel very confident in the underclassmen taking the reins and making sure this program continues to head in the right direction,'' Watts said. ``If the players that are currently playing continue to show the kind of character that they have over the last several years, this program is in very good hands. And in a very short time, this program will be in prominence again.''

Ephraim doesn't want Tide faithful to harbor too many ill feelings toward the coach.

``The team's not going to hold it against him and we don't want our fans to hold it against him,'' Ephraim said. ``That's Coach Fran's life.''