Franchione the repairman retools TCU into a winner

Sporting News, The, Oct 19, 1998 by Tom Dienhart, Mike Huguenin

Ever know one of those guys who can fix anything? Dennis Franchione is one of them. Don't bring him your toaster or TV set, however. He can't help you with that. But if you have a football program that has gone bad, give him a call.

Franchione is displaying his healing powers this season at TCU; the Horned Frogs are off to a 4-1 start after going 1-10 last season. It's an impressive enough turnaround to earn Franchione the distinction of doing the best job of any of the 14 head coaches who were hired in the Division I-A ranks before this season.

Franchione, who maintained a powerhouse program at Pittsburg (Kan.) State by going 53-6 from 1985 to 1989, arrived in Fort Worth after having rehabbed programs at New Mexico and Southwest Texas State. New Mexico hadn't enjoyed a winning record since 1982 until Franchione arrived and turned the trick in his second season (1993). He capped his tenure in Albuquerque by going 6-5 in 1996 and 9-4 last season, when the Lobes won the WAC Mountain title and played in the Insight.com Bowl. Southwest Texas State was in the midst of five consecutive losing seasons until Franchione fixed em up. Although those programs were in worse shape than the one he found at TCU, which under Pat Sullivan had winning seasons in 1994 and 95 and a bowl game in 94, Franchione still faced a big job.

"You can't change a team physically a great deal (when you first arrive)," he says, "but you can change them mentally."

With that, Franchione started building relationships. From Day One, he showed he cared about the players as people and students. He wanted to build a family. Shortly after recruiting ended, Franchione took his family bowling. Then, it was off to a basketball game for the family to cheer for quarterback Patrick Batteaux, a little-used reserve for Billy Tubbs' hoops team. And then there was the time the team meal was turned into a tailgate party at a baseball game. There, the family ate, cheered and supported teammate Royce Huffman, a standout on the baseball team.

During two-a-days, Franchione had his family sing the school fight song and alma mater every night after meetings. Different positions would take turns, giving the tunes their own spin.

"We tried to get them to be proud of who they are and where they are," Franchione says. "After home games and games where the band is in attendance, we sing. We try to do things as a team to build a togetherness that you are afraid may have splintered for a team that just went through a 1-10 season.

"(TCU) didn't have confidence or a high self-esteem the past two years. There is some talent here. I don't know how much. The biggest thing I've done is preach to them to play hard and play together and to believe in themselves. We are a fragile team that walks a thin line between winning and losing each Saturday."

TCU's offense has been spearheaded by Batteaux, who excels at running the option. When he doesn't keep the ball, he pitches to standout tailbacks Basil Mitchell and LaDainian Tomlinson. Franchione brought his unique 4-2-5 defense--headlined by linebacker Joseph Phipps, safety Reggie Hunt and end Aaron Schobel--from New Mexico. It is a scheme built for stopping pass-happy WAC teams. So far, it is working for a team that features just 12 seniors.

Franchione isn't the only first-year coach enjoying success. Here are five others who also have made quick impressions:

Paul Hackett, USC. He was the head coach at Pitt from 1990 to 1992 but had spent the past five seasons as offensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs. Still, Hackett has shown he still has it; the Trojans appear poised to improve on the 6-5 and 6-6 records they posted in 1997 and 96, respectively. Though Hackett is an offensive guru, USC is getting it done with defense. It will take time for the personnel to adapt to his sophisticated West Coast attack that features a phone-book thick playbook.

Dirk Koetter, Boise State. The Broncos were sad to see Houston Nutt leave for Arkansas, but Koetter has kept Boise State going after orchestrating some impressive offenses at Oregon. But the Broncos, who finished 4-7 last year, figured to move the ball; defense was the question. For the most part, however, Koetter's defense has been solid in a season that has been highlighted by a victory over Utah and a near-miss against Washington State. The Big West is wide open; keep an eye on Koetter's team.

Houston Nutt, Arkansas. The Hogs were in a haze under grumpy Danny Ford, going 4-7 each of the previous two seasons. Enter Nutt, who many thought was nuts for choosing to work under nosy athletic director Frank Broyles. Arkansas has benefited from a soft early-season schedule. Still, the confidence gained from the quick start will do wonders for an offense that has been energized by a healthy running back corps and a defense boosted by a terrific line.

John t. Smith, Louisville. Smith promised offense when he arrived from Utah State, and he is delivering. Quarterback Chris Redman has thrived under Smith's one-back, three-receivers attack, and the ground game has been a pleasant surprise. However, the defense has been as bad as advertised, ranking 110th in the nation. Still, Smith's exciting brand of ball has quelled fears that Louisville would be unable to attract fans to its new stadium with the program coming off a 1-10 season under ken Cooper.