Football

College Football starts tonite. Texas A&M vs Utah 6:30 pm. I don't know if it is 6:30 Mountain or Central time. Apparently the A&M sports information department has never heard of time zones because the press release just says 6:30.

This should be an interesting year. For those who don't know, after the 2002 season the Aggies fired the winningest coach in school history. RC Slocum was there 14 years and had a .721 winning percentage. He never had a season below .500. But because he didn't win a National Title in those years the powers that be thought they could do better. So they fired him and hired Dennis Franchione Now Fran does have a good history, but not in the Big 12. He went 4-8 last year. So he managed to do in one year what RC couldn't do in 14, go below 500. He also set lots of records for turnovers lost, points scored against us, those types of things. But you have to remember that the Big 12 is the toughtest conference around.

So was firing RC and hiring Fran the wrong thing to do. Time will tell. You are really taking a chance when you fire a coach of the caliber and character of RC Slocum. But, although he had done fabulous in the old SWC he hadn't done great in the Big 12. So, if Fran can recruit better than RC and get them ready to play maybe it was the right decision. I respected RC both on and off the field, but IF Fran can out-coach him and keep the respect of people outside of football, it was the right decision. But last year was sure a disappointment.

So tune in to ESPN at 6:30 tonight and see the beginning of Fran 2004. The Utes have a pretty good team and are playing at home. Let's kick it off and get started, I am tired of waiting.