Aggie with a plan

Texas A&M coach puts positive spin on QB controversy

KANSAS CITY -- Since it seems nothing Dennis Franchione ever does is ordinary, why would his first Big 12 media day be any different?

With Texas A&M’s old coach, R.C. Slocum -- now an analyst for Fox Sports Net -- doing interviews in the back of the room, the new coach sat at the front answering questions Wednesday alongside the two players he chose to represent the Aggies: quarterback Dustin Long ... and quarterback Reggie McNeal.

"I suppose it’s kind of unusual to bring two quarterbacks to media day," Franchione said, "but right after 'How you doing?' everyone’s first question is usually, 'Who’s the quarterback?'"

For once, the noted football nomad Franchione is taking over a program where the cupboard is far from bare, and as a result it seems no one knows quite what to expect. In various preseason polls, Texas A&M is picked as high as ninth in the country and as low as fifth in its own division.

Furthering the enigma is the fact that a program known for so long for its dominating Wrecking Crew defense is coming off its worst defensive season since 1982.

What we do know is that Slocum left Franchione one heck of a welcome present when he recruited McNeal, an electrifying true freshman last fall who engineered A&M’s upset of then-No. 1 Oklahoma, and Long, who as a sophomore starter threw for 2,509 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Together, they combined for the first 3,000-yard passing season in school history.

"I don’t think I ever had the luxury of two young quarterbacks both so talented and at such an early point in their career," said Slocum, ousted last November after 14 seasons and a .721 winning percentage. "One thing I feel good about is that program’s in better shape for the future because both of those guys got playing time last year.

How to dole out that playing time will be another matter.

Franchione, who led TCU to a bowl berth in 1999 employing a two-headed quarterback system, has gone out of his way to spin the matter as a luxury rather than a headache. By dealing with it in the open, he hopes to avoid the type of season-long distraction seen at some schools.

For their part, Long and McNeal seem to get along great, openly joshing with each other Wednesday while saying all the right things.

"Overall, Reggie and I have done a good job of working together, pushing each other," Long said. "If you’re ‘the guy,’ you could be lackadaisical without someone behind you pushing you."

"When Dustin’s playing," McNeal said, "I’m going to back him up 100 percent."

Which brings up the question of when exactly are they going to be playing?

Franchione insists he has no idea.

"If it means playing Reggie on first down, Dustin on second, whether it’s by series or by play, if that’s what it takes for our football team to be successful, that’s what we’re going to do," Franchione said. "I can’t emphasize enough how important it is that your players believe in both guys. If we are truly a team, we’re going to focus more on our job and less on who pulls the trigger back there."

If all goes to plan in the chemistry department, A&M very well could have an explosive offense come fall. In addition to the two quarterbacks, the Aggies return standout receivers Jamaar Taylor and Terrence Murphy and leading rusher Derek Farmer, plus Franchione plans to use fleet-footed junior Jason Carter, a former quarterback and kick returner, at the hybrid "A-back" position in which Alabama’s Shaud Williams flourished a year ago.

"Y’all just sit back and watch," McNeal said. :We’re going to shock a lot of people this year."

Defensively, A&M lost a lot -- NFL first-rounders Ty Warren and Sammy Davis, leading tackler Terrence Kiel and veteran linebackers Brian Gamble and Jarrod Penright. The Aggies do, however, gain new coordinator Carl Torbush, who drew raves for his work at both North Carolina and Alabama.

In fact, all of Franchione’s assistants followed him from Tuscaloosa. Though he took a lot of heat, including in this column, for the ugly handling of his departure, Franchione does look noticeably more at ease in his new role. While the level of fanaticism at Alabama seemed to spook him, he’s embraced the numerous traditions associated with A&M faithful. Gone is the perpetual scowl, replaced by a somewhat giddy smile.

As he said Wednesday, Franchione is back in the state where he once coached. Now, all he has to do is deliver another thing with which he’s familiar: victories.

That, and figure out the whole quarterback thing.

In White they trust

Never one to shy away from expectations, Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops put the proverbial target on his team Wednesday by declaring, "We have a stronger team coming into the year than at any other time in my four years as coach."

No question the Sooners on paper have the makings of possibly their best defense yet. And the pundits seem to agree, putting the Sooners first or second in nearly every national preseason poll.

Strong words, nevertheless, for a guy who’s banking on a quarterback that’s coming off two ACL surgeries.

The quarterback in question, hard-luck senior Jason White, says he’s in better condition than before either injury, and Stoops gave similar raves about White’s progress. But Stoops also made a point of emphasizing that the sum is greater than its parts, so to speak, referencing Ohio State’s Craig Krenzel and the Baltimore Ravens’ Trent Dilfer as examples.

"I think its been proven time and time again you can win championships without the best quarterback in the country," Stoops said. "There are a lot of ways to win. It takes more than just a quarterback."

Not yet the best

Texas receiver Roy Williams, who stunned a lot of people when he bypassed NFL riches last January to return for his senior season, says he’s determined to prove he’s the best player in the country.

Problem is, as of now he’s not yet considered the top receiver … in his conference. That would be Oklahoma State’s Rashaun Woods, recently selected as preseason player of the year.

"I think that drives me to be the best," said Williams, projected to go as high as the third overall pick if he’d come out. "I’ve been doing this for four years and I haven’t yet done what I really wanted to do."

The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Williams is a naturally gifted speciman who admits he slacked off in the weight room at times his first three years. That changed this summer, when he moved back into the dorms and became the unofficial leader of Texas’ offseason conditioning program.

Considering he’s yet to have a 100-percent, injury-free year yet, Williams already has gained 2,787 yards. There’s no telling what a healthy, beefed up Williams could accomplish over a full season. Some would say Heisman.

Not him.

"I’m convinced a pure receiver can’t win the Heisman Trophy," Williams said. "And there’s no chance I’m going back there to return punts."

Worth noting (Big 12 edition)

The Big 12 title game returns to Kansas City this fall for the second time in four years, and Big 12 commissioner Kevin Weiberg said next year’s game will also be in a North Division city, either Kansas City, St. Louis or Denver. That decision will be made in October. Early next year, the conference will award the next three years’ title games and is considering anchoring the event in one city. … Life after Seneca Wallace is a off to a bizarre start for Iowa State. Junior Chris Love enters the fall listed No. 1 on the depth chart but is suspended for the Cyclones’ Sept. 6 opener against Ohio following a July 3 arrest for driving while intoxicated. That means redshirt freshman Austin Flynn and juco transfer Waye Terry will get all the first- and second-team reps in fall camp. "After that, it’s up for grabs," coach Dan McCarney said, "but let’s face it, you lose 29 days practicing with the first or second team, you’re going to be significantly behind." … Texas sophomore Edorian McCullough, expected to compete for a starting spot in the secondary, failed to meet academic requirements and will miss the season. … Chijioke Onyenegecha, considered by many the nation’s top junior college cornerback last year, is expected to enroll at Oklahoma in time for fall practice after winning an appeal that released him from his Arizona State letter-of-intent, but it’s unclear whether he’ll be deemed academically eligible. Redshirting this season, especially considering OU’s already crowded secondary, may be an option. … Kansas coach Mark Mangino hopes to use quarterback Bill Whittemore less as a runner this season. Last year’s Big 12 offensive newcomer of the year acted as a de facto tailback at times, rushing 137 times for 549 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Stewart Mandel covers college sports for SI.com.

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