Fran: ‘Nothing’s Changed’
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, December 4, 2002
The Selma Quarterback Club’s meetings are normally uneventful affairs that draw one reporter.
Tuesday night’s meeting drew a throng of media because of Alabama head coach Dennis Franchione’s arrival in Selma.
And the one question that keeps following Franchione made its way to Selma.
Will he stay at Alabama?
Franchione answered the tired question Tuesday the same way he had before.
Franchione’s appearance in Selma was his first speaking engagement since the Hawaii game.
Monday, Texas A&M fired its head coach, R.C Slocum, and Franchione is rumored to be atop the list of replacements. All of this comes after a weekend when the Tide (not bowl eligible), traveled to Hawaii for a 13th game of the season, and won 21-16.
The first question asked of Franchione when he stepped off the plane was, &uot;Are you taking the job at Texas A&M ?&uot; Tired from a long flight, he replied the same thing he said before the Hawaii game, &uot;Nothing’s Changed.&uot;
With rumors flying about Franchione leaving Alabama for Texas A&M, the Selma quarterback club meeting drew two news trucks, and over 10 reporters, one as far away as Houston.
When asked how it felt to be one of the coaches whose name pops up every time that a coaching position opens up,
Franchione stated: &uot;It gets a little tiring, and a little cumbersome. It can kind of wear on you and it’s not what you want all the time.&uot;
When asked if he had been contacted by Texas A&M, Franchione stated, &uot;No. Nothing has changed.&uot;
During the course of the evening he talked about the trip to Hawaii, and some of the accomplishments that his team had made this season.
Franchione then went on to talk about some of the seniors on the team. &uot;It’s a great thing to see the growth of our underclassman this year, and the things that they have been able to accomplish.&uot;
Lane Bearden, punter for the Tide, was also a source of talk. &uot;In 30 years of coaching I have never seen anyone like Lane Bearden, and the things he was able to accomplish this year,&uot; said Franchione. &uot;I will remember Bearden forever for the things he was able to accomplish.&uot;
The way that Franchione talked about the underclassmen that are coming up on the Alabama team, it sounded like he would be back next year.
Amid all of the turmoil, the Quarterback Club awarded three scholarships, and gave away $10,000 in a raffle.
The winners of the three scholarships were, Jamie Parker from Central Christian, Jai Miller from Selma High School, and Tony Terrell from Dallas County.
The big $10,000 winner was Johnny Smith.