Dennis Franchione did what he was hired to do at Alabama last season. Brought in from TCU after the 3-8 season in 2000 that cost former coach Mike DuBose his job, Franchione, who came to Tuscaloosa with the reputation of a master rebuilder, delivered again.

Franchione kept his new charges’ attitudes positive when the Crimson Tide was 3-5 and facing bowl elimination in its ninth game when it trailed Mississippi State in the fourth quarter. Alabama rallied to win that game, 24-17, then finished the regular season with a huge win at rival Auburn and a win over Southern Mississippi.

All of a sudden, at 6-5, Alabama had played its way into the Independence Bowl. The momentum carried over into that game, as the Tide came away with a 14-13 victory over Iowa State.

Alas for Franchione and his staff, who had nothing to do with the situation, NCAA sanctions for recruiting improprieties uncovered in the tenure of DuBose rocked the program in early February. Had the Alabama administration not cooperated fully with the NCAA during its investigation, which focused on Alabama boosters paying cash to high school prospects, the program might have been shut down under the so-called "death penalty."

The sanctions that did result were tough, because Alabama was a repeat offender. The football program had been slapped with a one-year bowl ban and a reduction in scholarships in 1995. The effects of those sanctions hadn’t totally been overcome when the program was in trouble again. And Alabama’s basketball program even got into the act in 1998, when a former assistant coach was accused of asking boosters to provide cash payments for recruits.

Alabama was given five years probation and banned from postseason competition, which includes the SEC championship game and bowl games, for two years. Scholarships were also reduced by six -- plus the 15 Alabama had earlier self-imposed in a three-year period. And the school was ordered to disassociate itself from the boosters in question.

Alabama was later given the right to appeal the NCAA’s decision in a hearing set for Aug. 16 in Chicago. Reportedly, the school will seek to reduce or eliminate the postseason ban.

To his credit, Franchione maintained a good attitude about the harsh sanctions. He and his staff salvaged a decent recruiting class, though the NCAA’s bombshell was announced just days before national signing day.

In late spring, Alabama came up with a bonus for its players when it added a Nov. 30 game at Hawaii. The Tide might not be eligible for a bowl, but a trip to Hawaii for an ESPN-televised game is a decent substitute. Hawaii had an opening when Washington State cancelled a scheduled game. Alabama officials were only too happy to fill the void.

Perhaps Croyle (6-2, 198) will put some heat on Watts (6-3, 217) later in the season, but for the time being, Watts is the man. A year ago, he started the first nine games before a torn groin muscle forced him out of the Auburn and Southern Miss games. Watts still managed to rack up 1,889 yards of total offense, 1,325 passing and 565 rushing. He led all SEC quarterbacks in rushing yardage and was sixth in the league and 35th in the nation in passing efficiency (135.1).

Watts completed 94-of-172 passes (54.7 percent) and threw 10 touchdown passes. Further evidence that he’s the best two-way threat in the league: Watts rushed for 100 or more yards three times, against South Carolina (162), Ole Miss (110) and UTEP (101).

Croyle, who red-shirted last season, joined the Tide in January 2001 and has had the benefit of participating in spring practice the last two years. Croyle showed some positive signs in the spring, completing 7-of-15 passes for 118 yards in the A-Day game. But he also was intercepted once and missed some open receivers.

Croyle had a great career at Westbrook Christian (Ala.) High School. Despite missing his senior year with a torn ACL, he set Alabama records for career passing yards (9,323) and touchdown passes (105).

Alabama is loaded at tailback. So much so that Franchione and his staff figured out a way to use that strength to maximum advantage. Senior Ahmaad Galloway (6-1, 228) and junior Santonio Beard (6-1, 207) figure to get most of the work at tailback, so junior Shaud Williams (5-8, 175) and sophomore Ray Hudson (5-11, 197) will see some action at the newly created position of A-back.

The Tide’s wealth at running back starts with Galloway, who led the team and was third in the SEC in rushing last season with 881 yards. He scored six touchdowns. Galloway ran for more than 100 yards in three games, against Vanderbilt (144), Auburn (127) and Southern Mississippi (126).

Galloway, a two-time Academic All-SEC pick, has 1,573 career yards, 16th on Alabama’s all-time list.

Alabama led the SEC and was ninth in the nation in rushing last season with an average of 226.4 yards per game, largely because the Tide could rest Galloway with Beard, who shook off a slow start and rushed for 633 yards. Beard came up big against Auburn, running for 199 yards and a pair of touchdowns on just 20 carries.

Galloway broke a school record in a loss to Tennessee when he averaged 14.1 yards per carry. He piled up 141 yards on 10 carries against the Vols.

Alabama can counter the size of Galloway and Beard with the speed of Williams and Hudson. At A-back, they will be given the opportunity to carry the ball or catch passes.

Williams put up some numbers in his only season at Texas Tech. He set the school’s single-game freshman rushing record with 230 yards against Colorado. Williams finished with 658 yards on 112 carries, also running for 100-plus yards against Iowa State (148) and North Texas (151).

A year ago, Hudson was the Tide’s fourth-leading rusher, as he carried 37 times for 205 yards.

Junior fullback Donnie Lowe (6-2, 247) wasn’t used much last season, but he’s a capable short-yardage back and can catch passes.

Franchione is looking for improvement from his receivers. The unit loses Freddie Milons, who was taken by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round of the NFL draft.

Senior flanker Antonio Carter (5-9, 195) is Alabama’s leading returning receiver. A year ago, he caught 32 passes for 428 yards and a touchdown. Carter is tied for fourth on Alabama’s all-time receptions list with 106, and his 1,294 career receiving yards is 10th all time.

Carter’s big game of the season came in the opener against UCLA. He caught six passes for 104 yards and his lone touchdown.

Dre Fulgham (6-1, 214), a junior, had a solid spring and is listed as the starter at one split end spot. Last season he played sparingly, appearing in eight games. He caught two passes for 42 yards, most of it in one lick against UTEP. His lone reception in that game went for 34 yards.

The other starting split end is Sam Collins (6-1, 181), a senior. A year ago, Collins started twice and caught 18 passes. He led Alabama receivers with four touchdown catches.

Senior Theo Sanders (6-3, 248) will start at tight end after playing in every game last season and earning three starts. He caught just one pass, but that went for 26 yards against Vanderbilt. Sanders, owns four of Alabama’s five weight-room records for tight ends, including a 525-pound squat.

This is one of Alabama’s strengths. The Tide returns all five starting offensive lineman from 2001: sophomore tackles Wesley Britt (6-8, 304) and Evan Mathis (6-5, 288); senior center Alonzo Ephraim (6-4, 295) and guards Justin Smiley (6-4, 292), a sophomore, and Marico Portis (6-3, 308), a senior.

Alabama’s experience on the line is a relief to Franchione, who was uncertain as to how well this unit would fare as the 2001 season began. He was pleased with the results.

The veteran on the line is Ephraim. Though Portis, too, is a senior, he didn’t play much until last season. A year ago, Ephraim started 11 games and was in on 708 snaps, tops on the team. He also led the Tide’s offensive linemen with 118 knock-down blocks, including a season-high 20 against UTEP. Ephraim reached double figures in knock-downs six times, also victimizing UCLA, South Carolina, LSU, Auburn and Southern Mississippi.

Ephraim’s strong season didn’t go unnoticed -- he was a first-team All-SEC pick by the Associated Press.

Other linemen who figure to contribute this season are senior tackle Dante Ellington (6-6, 354), junior tackle Matt Lomax (6-2, 284), junior guard Dennis Alexander (6-6, 339), senior tackle Lannis Baxley (6-7, 314) and center J.B. Closner (6-4, 290), a red-shirt freshman.

As well as the line performed last season, Franchione sees room for improvement.

Alabama has to replace departed Neal Thomas, who last season was sixth in the SEC in scoring with 78 points. He kicked 15 field goals and 33 extra points.

Brian Bostick (5-11, 187), a sophomore, should get the first chance to replace Thomas. Mike McLaughlin (6-1, 190), a red-shirt freshman, was listed behind Bostick on the spring depth chart. At Gautier (Miss.) High School in 2000, McLaughlin was a first-team USA Today All-American after making 12-of-16 field-goal attempts. Five of those were from more than 40 yards, including a long of 49. He scored 234 points in his career, third best in the country all-time for a kicker.

Senior Lane Bearden (6-2, 198), who also punts, will handle the kickoff duties, which he has done since his red-shirt freshman season in 1999. He isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty on the kickoff team. A year ago, he made six tackles.

Alabama got a scare in the spring when senior tackle Jarret Johnson (6-4, 281) fell down grabbing his right knee after chasing Croyle out of the pocket. Fortunately for the Tide, Johnson’s injury wasn’t as severe as it initially seemed. He suffered a slight tear in the MCL, and though he missed the rest of spring practice, he was supposed to be ready to go in the fall.

Johnson, a first-team All-SEC pick by the Associated Press and Birmingham News a year ago, led the Tide with nine sacks and 14 stops behind the line (including five tackles for loss). He also had 10 quarterback pressures and forced two fumbles. His contributions would have been hard to replace.

Kenny King (6-5, 277) fills the other tackle spot. Last season, King was an Academic All-SEC pick as he started 11 games and made 47 tackles. He led Alabama with three fumble recoveries.

The starting defensive ends are senior Kindal Moorehead (6-4, 293) and sophomore Nautyn McKay-Loescher (6-4, 244).

Moorehead, who was also banged up in the spring, was a first-team All-SEC pick by Football News and a second-team pick by the league’s coaches. Moorehead started 10 times last season and collected 41 tackles, 5.5 sacks and five stops behind the line.

McKay-Loescher, who hails from Canada, played in every game last year, tying his career best with six tackles against Arkansas and Tennessee. He also had a sack against Arkansas, South Carolina and Auburn and recovered a fumble in the Vanderbilt game.

Look for some youngsters to make an impact at this position, especially after the departure of Saleem Rasheed, the first-team All-SEC and Academic All-SEC pick who left school early and declared for the NFL draft. Rasheed was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in third round (No. 69 overall).

Freddie Roach (6-2, 237), a red-shirt freshman, won the starting middle linebacker job in the spring. Roach, a two-time all-state pick from Killen, Ala., was a two-way threat in high school, rushing for 1,277 yards and 18 touchdowns and making 194 tackles his senior year. He was generally considered the No. 2 linebacker in the state in 2000.

Cornelius Wortham (6-1, 225), a junior, will start at strong linebacker. He started the final eight games in 2001 and finished as the Tide’s fifth-leading tackler with 56. He also made three tackles behind the line and a sack. Wortham had a career-high 14 tackles in the Ole Miss game.

Junior Brooks Daniels (6-2, 204) will start at rover. As a sophomore, he started in every game, making 102 tackles. He had six double-figure tackle games, including a career-high 16 against Ole Miss. In the last six games, Daniels averaged 11.5 tackles. He came up with eight against Iowa State in the Independence Bowl.

Franchione thinks he saw improvement in this unit in the spring, but he’s reserving judgement until the fall.

Left cornerback Gerald Dixon (5-11, 182) is Alabama’s most experienced defensive back. He started as a sophomore in 2000 and again last season, when he finished fourth on the team in tackles with 56. He made a career-high 11 tackles against LSU.

Either sophomore Anthony Madison (5-9, 180) or senior Hirchel Bolden (6-0, 196) will start at right cornerback. Bolden started every game last season and made 48 tackles. He also had 10 pass breakups and a fumble recovery.

The safety positions are in capable hands. Former walk-on Waine Bacon (5-10, 195), the defensive MVP of the Independence Bowl, is back for his senior season at strong safety. Charles Jones (6-0, 175), the free safety, started in five straight games last season. He finished with 32 tackles and three pass breakups.

This position is solid with Bearden, who won the job as a sophomore, returning for his senior season. A year ago, Bearden averaged 39.6 yards on 50 punts. He landed 17 punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.

As a sophomore, Bearden punted 52 times for a 41.4 average. He had just one punt blocked that season.

Michael Ziifle (6-0, 232) is listed as Bearden’s backup.

Shaud Williams should also help Alabama’s return game, which relied heavily on Freddie Milons last season. Alabama was third in the SEC in kickoff returns, largely on the strength of Milons’ 374 return yards (a 23.4 average).

At Texas Tech, Williams averaged 26 yards on three kickoff returns.

A year ago, Antonio Carter returned 20 punts for an average of 6.9 yards and seven kickoffs for an average of 22.3 yards. Carter broke a 50-yard kickoff return against Vanderbilt and returned three punts for 48 yards against Southern Miss.

Junior Nick Ridings (6-0, 235) will handle the long-snapper duties.

Without question the NCAA sanctions, announced just days before national signing day, hurt Alabama’s recruiting. But the Crimson Tide staff was able to salvage what Franchione said "might be as special a recruiting class as I’ve seen in my career."

The class isn’t special in terms of the number of high school or junior college All-Americans signed, though Alabama landed a few. But Franchione was grateful to the group of predominantly in-state high school players who stuck by the Tide despite the impending probation.

Alabama signed 20 players, including four from junior college. Among the high school signees, all but offensive lineman Grant Dickey (6-5, 300), who came from Lee High School in Tyler, Texas, are from Alabama.

A year ago, Franchione red-shirted all but one of his freshmen. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him do the same this season, though some talented rookies were signed. Ken Darby (5-11, 190) of Huntsville Butler High School was generally considered the top running back in Alabama last season. He rushed for 1,591 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior and was rated by SuperPrep as the No. 36 running back in the country.

With no bowl game to look forward topending the outcome of an appeal to the NCAA the Crimson Tide will have to stay motivated in other ways. That will be Franchione’s task this season, but his job was made a little easier when Alabama made a late scheduling change and added a game at Hawaii.

And the schedule points to several big games the Tide can focus on, particularly a Sept. 7 road match-up against Oklahoma. And there’s always the annual Iron Bowl grudge match against Auburn. This season the game will be played in Tuscaloosa.

Franchione is intrigued with his second team at Alabama.

"I think we have a chance to be a better ball club," Franchione said. "We have to have a few things fall in place and certainly have a challenging road schedule, not that our home isn’t, but we have some tough road trips [Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, LSU]. I’m leaving spring feeling like we have a little bit better ball club. How much we can accomplish and how far we can go, we’ll go into those 29 fall practices before we know those things."