Click below to read pieces of the post-game interviews from the Iron Bowl 2002...

Dennis Franchione (Head Coach - prev. HC @ New Mexico 92-97 & TCU 98-20)

Coach Fran wasn't smiling much after his first Iron Bowl loss.
He and Coach Tuberville have beaten each other once.

These comments came during Coach Fran's post game comments to the press pool ...

We were a little bit out of sync and maybe a play or two behind at different times. Their quarterback, tailback and tight end had great games. The tight end played very well in the first half, and that little tailback played very good. With Campbell ... sometimes the worst thing we could do was cover too well. He would pull it down and run with it. He did a great job on the scrambles, and we knew that something we had to be concerned about in the game. It's just that he did very well. Second half, we came back out and played a little better. Shut them down defensively and got a score. We just could quite get in rhythm completely on offense, I thought their defense played well. Their secondary played well. I know they got some pressure on the quarterback and I think some of their pressure was obviously blitz. But often times coverage issues helped them out as much as anything. We got a little bit behind the chains a few times and had to do some things. That's not the best way to win football games, and that's a credit to them (Auburn) and what they did to put us in that situation.

Press Pool - Fran, did they do anything that you weren't expecting?

No, I don't think so. I told the kids all week that this was a no frills football game and I don't believe we were surprised by anything. I've said all week that they are about two plays away from being a 9-2 football team. I think they just played better than we did, and they won the game.

Can you talk about how their tight end was hurting you so bad. Is it because you were blitzing?

Well, I think we may have had a coverage bust one time. They caught us in a pressure. That guy is a great target though. They used him well.

Scheme-wise, defensively, what did they do to not allow you to get the running game going?

I don't think it was so much "scheme-wise". I think they just executed better. I mean, we practiced for pretty much what they did, and at this point, there shouldn't be a whole lot that surprises any football team after this many games. They just got off blocks and made plays, and we just didn't block them well. This game, at this point in the year, gets down to who blocks and who tackles the best, and who executes the best. Today, they did that.

Fran, you've done so many good things this year ... does this tarnish what you've accomplished this year?

Well, I probably need to think about that a little bit. This is a big game, and to not win the seniors' last game at home ... those things, it certainly doesn't taste very good, and it shouldn't. I still have tremendous admiration and respect for these seniors and what they have accomplished with this football team this year. You know we came up short today and that's not what they would have liked to have left with and not the way they want to feel. I would believe they would say that, and I think over time, we would say that too.

Did you have some uncharacteristic things happen with your team? It looked like Watts was shaky on a few throws.

It gets back to execution. We didn't make the plays when we needed to make the plays. That has not been like our team, but it was today, Again, I think you have to give them some credit for that. They forced us to be just a little out of sync at times. In these kind of games, when you get out of sync, those things happen.

Are you prepared for the backlash from fans tomorrow?

(chuckles) I don't know. I think so.

Coach, can you talk about how the little things didn't work. Them getting the lead early ... did it help cause that and take the pressure off of them?

It's kind of a formula that we've had on the road this year ... get ahead and then make the home team play from behind. They turned those tables on us.

Was there a frustration or difficulty calling the plays today, as you were looking for something that would work?

Anytime you are not moving the ball as well as you want to, there are some feelings in that regard.

Lane (inaudible) finally got past you?? and made a tackle today. Can you talk about that?

I wouldn't matter what I told him, he would try to do that anyway. He is feeling very improved over how he felt a month ago and he did make a tackle. Fortunately, one thing that's been one of our strengths has been our punt coverage. We were not as sharp in that game today. Their returner did a nice job.

Do you think there was anything y'all could co consistently today, or were you just kind of grasping?

It was one of those days ... some days you're one play ahead, other days you're one play behind. Today was one of those days when you felt kind of like you were a play behind sometimes.

question inaudible

It just gets back to we've got to be better on first down, and put ourselves in good calls on first down. At the end of the game there, we called a boot and got sacked on first down. SO then we're in second and 12-14 yards. Those are tough calls that put you behind the chains. Our first down calls needed to be better.

We all have injuries at this time of year. We certainly no different than anyone else, and that's just part of the game. Good teams close ranks and march on.

Does Amhad Childress have a broken hand or a broken wrist? Is he out for the season?

I don't know.

What did you tell the seniors after the game?

I asked them, "Were you ready to play? Did you play hard?" They said, "Yes." I felt like we did. I told the team I was proud of them, I'm still proud of them. I was disappointed that we didn't win today, and that we didn't win for the seniors. They've done so much for us. This was a tough week for the seniors. I think they had to put aside the emotions of having to play in their last home game. I didn't want to dwell on that in light of everything. But we'll talk with them more about that.

Could you talk about the two decision early in the fourth quarter to go for it on 4th down. Did you have a play that you felt really good about, or did you just think you could get that first down?

Both. Probably both.

Was it hard to see those two personal fouls. They really seemed to hurt.

You know, you're always disappointed. I think penalties hurt us today. Anytime we have struggled, penalties have been a part of it. I think we ended up with about 10 of them today. Unfortunately, that's been something that I haven't been able to get this team to do at a lower rate every week. They have some days, but today wasn't one of those days. Our penalties were very untimely it seemed like today.

Fran, can you talk about the added distractions this week?

Business as usual.

Are you glad your team gets to play again after a loss like this?

You bet. They deserve to get to go and play another game. I think it's just a chance for them to put this one behind them fairly quickly and get focused and try and play this next game.

Was there any hindsight in using Tyler instead of Brodie?

Not really. I think we try to play to their strengths. There's hindsight in everything you do at this point in time. Those guys have to have everybody play good with them. We tried to utilize them at times when we thought we could play to their strengths. I wouldn't feel that way right now.

Fran, you were pretty upset about all the rumors going around about your future here. Did that in any way distract you and the team from the game?

I don't believe so. Let's just talk about the football game. If I have to talk about all those rumor, it would be very inappropriate I think. This is about the players, and the game and today.

Coach, have you learned to say "That school down the road" yet?

I've always known how to say it.

Still to come ... interview transcripts for Coach Torbush, Tyler Watts, Waine Bacon, Kindal Moorehead, Shaud Williams and Wesley Britt.

Click here for the Alabama / Auburn slideshow

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Click on the name for parts of their post-game interviews ...

Dennis Franchione (Alabama Crimson Tide Head Coach)

Carl Torbush (Def. Co-ord./LBs Coach - prev. HC@UNC 98-00, HC@LBC 88-97)

Kindal Moorehead (#54 Sr. DE 6-4 304 lbs. Memphis, TN - Memphis High School)

Tyler Watts (#14 Sr. QB, 6-3 220 lbs. Pelham, AL - Pelham High School)

Waine Bacon (#24 Sr. SS, 5-10 195 lbs. Fort Washington, MD - Bishop McNamara)

Shaud Williams (#21 Jr. AB, 5-8 189 lbs. Andrews, TX - Texas Tech transfer)

Wesley Britt (#70 So. QT, 6-8 312 lbs. Cullman, AL - Cullman High School)