Tuesday, December 21 TCU coach has pact with his team
MOBILE, Ala. -- Along with everything he's done to help turn
Texas Christian's football program around, coach Dennis Franchione
has proved to be a man of his word.
He first came through last season, fulfilling a promise to his
players to dye his hair blonde if the Horned Frogs went to a bowl
game.
This year, he promised to get a tattoo if they won their
conference -- and that's the first thing Franchione did when TCU
arrived at the inaugural Mobile Alabama Bowl.
There's no telling what he'll do if TCU (7-4) beats No. 20 East
Carolina (9-2) in the Wednesday night game.
"They did their part, so I had to live up to my end of the
deal," said Franchione, whose Horned Frogs won a share of the
Western Athletic Conference title.
Franchione did get a tattoo in Mobile. He refused to say what it
was or if it was permanent, only revealing that it was on his right
arm.
The coach is slowly learning to watch what kind of deals he
makes with his team.
When he arrived at TCU two years ago, he inherited a team coming
off a 1-10 year. His wide receivers had dyed their hair blonde and
asked Franchione if he'd do the same if they went to a bowl. TCU
went to the Sun Bowl, where it upset heavily-favored Southern Cal.
And Franchione died his hair.
"When you inherit a one-win team, you say 'Yeah, sure, I'll do
it,"' he said. "And then they went and did it and I was stuck."
After consecutive seven-win seasons, TCU's first since 1958-59,
Franchione has learned his lesson.
Still, he might look for just a little incentive to beat East
Carolina on Wednesday. It's the first meeting between the two
schools, but won't be the last -- TCU is joining East Carolina in
Conference USA in 2001.
"Obviously, for us to be playing a team from Conference USA is
certainly a preview for what's ahead in the upcoming years,"
Franchione said. "We're excited. It's a young and growing
conference with great vision, much like our athletic department."
Luckily for East Carolina, it will be their only meeting with
TCU running back LaDainian Tomlinson.
Tomlinson set an NCAA Division I-A single-game record earlier
this year by running for 406 yards against UTEP. He's already said
he'll return for his senior season, but will be gone by the time
TCU joins C-USA.
The school is already kicking around ideas for a Heisman Trophy
campaign for Tomlinson next season, which doesn't surprise East
Carolina coach Steve Logan.
"This kid is a great player and I know they are talking about a
Heisman Trophy run for him next year," Logan said. "I think that
is an appropriate conversation for them to be having."
But Logan isn't overly worried about stopping Tomlinson because
of the Pirates' much-improved defense.
Under first-year defensive coordinator Tim Rose, East Carolina
has improved in every recognized defensive statistical category and
risen from No. 65 in the country in total defense to 38th.
Rose said Logan's faith in him started the turnaround.
"We were provided autonomy by Steve for the defensive staff to
do our jobs," Rose said. "That's been a big plus. He's let us do
what we want to do and allowed us to employ an aggressive approach
to stopping opponents."
East Carolina, which returned only six defensive starters this
season, two of whom were lost early in the season with injuries, is
one of only three teams this season to hold at least five teams to
nine points or less in a game. And the Pirates are only allowing
opponents 3.2 rushing yards a carry.
"We're not a dominating defense but we have the ability to make
big plays," Rose said. "Someone has made a big play on each drive
in most every game we have played lately."
