Fran

Texas A&M seems to have Dennis Franchione all locked up to be head coach.

And I'm more than a little amused, for many reasons. First, did we ever really believe Fran a few weeks ago when he refused all comment on A&M's "current coach," whom he really respected? And are we really supposed to take the Ags seriously when they whoop it up (or is it gigging 'em? I sometimes forget) about their "tradition" when they've just replaced a multi-decade Aggie and the most successful coach they've ever had with a guy who skips along to a new program and a bigger paycheck every 2-3 years? And really, as good a coach as Franchione may be (and I think he's pretty good), are we really supposed to believe that a details-oriented, defensive-minded coach is going to get A&M over the hump to a national championship (you know, the same hump that the last details-oriented, defensive-minded coach couldn't)? These are things that have me smiling as I think about the goings on in College Station.

As an OU fan, I'm actually a little relieved it's Fran. I don't think of him as a huge upgrade over Slocum, frankly, and the thought of Mike Stoops being in charge of that program scared the hell out of me.

But we shall see. That's why this is a fun time of year.

[Posted at 18:20 CST on 12/05/02] [Link]