College Football
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."

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