re: Phillip Sims' high school coach thinks he got a raw deal.

quote:

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No he didn't Watts and Zow split time.

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Franchione mum on QB
11/27/01

STEVE KIRK
News staff writer

TUSCALOOSA The University of Alabama's starting quarterback won't be
determined solely by Tyler Watts' health anymore.

"Andrew (Zow)'s performance has to be a factor now," first-year Crimson
Tide head coach Dennis Franchione said Monday, referring to the
fifth-year senior's 22-for-29 passing performance in a 31-7 victory over
Auburn on Nov.17.

Before the Auburn game, Franchione said Watts would start if he was 100
percent healthy. But that is not the case going into a 6 p.m. Thursday
kickoff between the Tide (5-5) and Southern Mississippi (6-3) at Legion
Field.

Watts, a junior, started the first nine games of the season but hasn't
played since pulling a groin muscle in the first quarter of the
Mississippi State game Nov.10.

Franchione didn't reveal his starter Monday, but he did defend his
decision-making concerning a quarterback debate that has surrounded this
team for three years.

"Early in the year Tyler understood the offense far better than Andrew,"
Franchione said. "Andrew has said that and been open about it. And it's
true. Tyler always knew where to throw the ball, and he's comprehended
the details and nuances of this offense quicker than Andrew.

"That's basically why Tyler has played. As time has gone on, Andrew has
caught up."

Some Alabama fans have questioned Franchione's quarterback decisions to
this point. Also, some black Alabama fans have claimed in newspaper
letters to the editor and on sports talk radio shows that some white
Alabama fans don't want a black quarterback, and that Franchione's
decisions have been influenced by that.

Zow, the school's career record-holder in total yards, plays and three
passing categories, said Monday he appreciates the support but he called
it "a lot of people's opinions. ... The coaches are around us every day
and they evaluate us. And I'm not thinking they would jeopardize (the
team)" by bringing race into their decisions.

Franchione has consistently said that the best players play for his
football teams, and Zow said he doesn't look at the quarterback
competition as a black-white issue.

"I'm just looking to go out there and play, basically," Zow said. "The
support I get from anybody is greatly appreciated ... But if it's (based
on) race, I think we need to probably look over that and continue to go
forward."

Zow said he tries not to think about the issue of race.

"Wherever you go, you're going to have racism or race problems," Zow
said. "But how I think is, I go out and try to be a quarterback and
overlook things like that."
Zow agreed with Franchione on Monday. He saidthat he didn't know the
offense well early in the season.

"I've grown to understand it more and better," Zow said. "I think I was
trying to get to the perfect play throughout the season. Sometimes you're
not going to have the perfect play. I believe I started learning that
throughout the season."

Franchione said, "Andrew's performance (against Auburn) is an example of
his understanding and how it's grown over the course of time. He might
have been ready to do it quicker, but we got into a rhythm with Tyler.
But he was ready to do it when he did do it.

"I know the team has confidence in both of those young men. The coaches
have confidence in both of them.

"If both of them are healthy, it's still a real competitive issue and
they'd probably both play."

Franchione was secretive about his starting quarterback before the Auburn
game, too. Meanwhile, Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville told anyone who
would listen that Watts would play and he prepared his team to stop the
Watts-led option running attack.

Watts didn't play a snap.

"Whether (the uncertainty) will have as much of an impact on Southern
Miss as it appeared to have on the last game remains to be seen,"
Franchione said.