Would You Be Happy With Coach Fran?

expony18 · Post by **expony18** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 4:38 pm

SMU Football Blog wrote:I am stunned that right now it is 20:1 in favor.

what are the other choices? Over Bowden? No. But things could be worse then Fran

mrydel · Post by **mrydel** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 4:41 pm

beamout2000 wrote:I am not sure how Fran's reputation helps rebuild your program. He messed up the job at A&M, he jumped ship at Alabama when the going got tough. I am not sure he has left any program better off than when he got it (he sure didn't help Texas State's future. Yes we had two winning seasons under him but when he left we didn't have a lot to build on and didn't have a winning season again until 2005 and three coaches later). I just don't see him as the person that can rebuild a program and that is what you need.

Go back and read your post. Then rank the schools you mentioned and include SMU. There is your answer. Most anyone can improve the worst football school in Divsion 1A. In Fran's case, he has staff, recruiting ties, a son with JC links, a reputation (good or bad depending on the person), and he is likely to leave if he turns the program around which means 1) the program has turned around, and 2) we can hire even better because now the program is turned around. As long as Carroll and Spurrier continue to shun our calls, we have to go to plan Q.

beamout2000 · Post by **beamout2000** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 4:42 pm

Forgot that Fran is Texas Monthly's Bum Steer of the Year in the January 2008 issue. If the choice is between Fran and Coker I would choose Coker. Fran is a proven recruiter in Texas but I think some of that ability may have been damaged because of the circumstances that surrounded his firing.

TCU owns YOU · Post by **TCU owns YOU** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 10:47 am

who said no?

SMUstang · Post by **SMUstang** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 10:54 am

If SMU was to hire him, I would not be happy with him until he started winning. If we could just win the games we lead in the 3rd or 4th quarter we would be doing a lot better.

Roach · Post by **Roach** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 10:55 am

As much of a slimebag as he is (hmmm ├â┬ó├óΓÇÜ┬¼" anyone called Deion Sanders yet?), he did improve UNM and Froggy High by miles over what he inherited at those schools. Nonetheless, there's something inherently sleazy about him. Would I cheer for him if he won here? Yup, and if he got the program above water and then got a call from another school, I'd help him pack.

His most attractive asset is the fact that he has a son who is a JUCO coach.

TCU owns YOU · Post by **TCU owns YOU** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 1:31 pm

SMUstang wrote:If SMU was to hire him, I would not be happy with him until he started winning. If we could just win the games we lead in the 3rd or 4th quarter we would be doing a lot better.

You would not have to wait long. Franchione would have winning record in season 1.

TCU owns YOU · Post by **TCU owns YOU** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 1:34 pm

Roach wrote:
His most attractive asset is the fact that he has a son who is a JUCO coach.

WRONG. His most attractive asset is that he is damn good coach who knows how to turn around a struggling program. He is also one of the best recruiters in Texas.

Smooo fans are making waaay to much out of the Juco thing. Hell, how many JUCO players do you get each year. TCU gets about 2 kids a year from JUCO and I believe it take 11 to play football. Do yall really think SMU is going to start signing 5-10 players a year from Blyn Junior College? Fran doesn't need a gimmick to recruit, he is recognizable figure in HS kids mind and know the HS coaches after 15 years of recruiting the state of Texas.

Stallion · Post by **Stallion** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 1:43 pm

I don't think the JUCO comment was made with respect to TCU anyway. But the JUCO advantage of perhaps getting Franchione's son has been squandered by Orsini. Most of the top JUCOs at Blinn have signed already. The second semester JUCOs usually don't get into SMU anyway. But you are 100% correct that Fran is an outstanding recruiter proven at both BCS and non-BCS schools

Argyle Pony · Post by **Argyle Pony** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 9:42 am

The Jones interview could be a coverup for another coach to be interviewed also. Several coaches will finished their season as will professsional assistants during the coming days. We are just curious. I believe coach Fran could make up the difference in recruiting better than almost any coach mentioned. I would be happy to have coach Fran as our new coach. I still feel a surprise is in the making..but we will just have to wait and see...and durn it...I've never been a good one to wait...We really don't need those from other boards contributing for it means very little to us. Orsini has done a thorough job in what he is doing and we anticipate will make the best recommendation...Go Mustangs!!!

TCU owns YOU · Post by **TCU owns YOU** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 12:33 pm

You all are so nearsighted. In the grand scheme of things, the current recruiting class in not a big issue. If you hire Fran and go to 9 bowls in the next 10 years, who really cares about December 2007 Juco recruits?
Look at the long term and not so worried about current recruits.

friarwolf · Post by **friarwolf** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 1:11 pm

I was excited about Fran early on because I thought he could bring some of his son's juco players with him, he could take advantage of A&M not having a coach and even after Sherman was announced, I thought he could still snatch a couple of his recruits with Sherman occupied with coaching the Texans, and I thought his offensive philosophy could take advantage of Willis' skills.

I guess we're down to the third item at this point if Fran would even come here having to take sloppy fifths or sixths.....I know this, I bet his asking price has escalated.......

This whole thing has become a tar baby.................

friarwolf · Post by **friarwolf** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 1:21 pm

Argyle Pony wrote:The Jones interview could be a coverup for another coach to be interviewed also. Several coaches will finished their season as will professsional assistants during the coming days. We are just curious. I believe coach Fran could make up the difference in recruiting better than almost any coach mentioned. I would be happy to have coach Fran as our new coach. I still feel a surprise is in the making..but we will just have to wait and see...and durn it...I've never been a good one to wait...We really don't need those from other boards contributing for it means very little to us. Orsini has done a thorough job in what he is doing and we anticipate will make the best recommendation...Go Mustangs!!!

Argyle Ponyeagle,

If Orsini surprises us with a great hire - and I hope he does, I will liken it to the fat kid in right field who falls down and the fly ball drops in his glove.......He has swung and missed at his top two choices and his cover of "waiting for coaches still coaching" is quickly coming to an end. I know there
were a lot of important people including GT who were expecting a coaching announcement weeks ago..............

Nacho · Post by **Nacho** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 2:02 pm

The A&M class for this year is ranked #10 by Rivals. I think that's a little better than when he arrived. RC had been on a downward spiral. If you are going to make up facts at least get them right. The sanctions got to Alabama not Fran. Shula suffered and so did Saban who was also 6-6 this year. I don't know how Fran gets the blame for their records.

TCU owns YOU · Post by **TCU owns YOU** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 3:49 pm

Nacho wrote:I don't know how Fran gets the blame for their records.

I think the talent pool was really low when Fran inheritted A&M. I believe they have not sent a player to the NFL in 2 or 3 years, which hadn't happened in the previous decade.

Fran consistently recruited Top 10 classes in the nation at A&M. He also helped recruit a TCU class that finished #9 in the country their senior year (2005).

Would You Be Happy With Coach Fran?

Woud you be happy with Coach Fran being the next SMU Head Coach?