Bama's Franchione hoping players resist urge to jump ship

TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - Dennis Franchione wants to make this clear: He&#39;s staying at Alabama. <br> <br> He&#39;s just hoping the Crimson Tide upperclassmen follow suit instead of transferring to other teams following heavy NCAA sanctions and the prospect of not playing in another bowl. <br> <br> ``I have had no player indicate an interest in transferring to me,&#39;&#39; Franchione said Friday. ``I know some of them have been contacted, and just about to a man, they said, &#39;Coach, you have nothing to worry about.&#39;&#39;&#39; <br> <br> The knowledge that rising juniors and seniors can transfer out of the Southeastern Conference without penalty because of the two-year bowl ban gives Franchione plenty to worry about. <br> <br> In his first public comments since the NCAA sanctions were imposed on Feb. 1, Franchione dismissed ``silly rumors&#39;&#39; about him leaving for another job, including the latest speculation that the NFL&#39;s Tampa Bay Buccaneers were interested. <br> <br> ``I came in here with my eyes open and I knew that there were circumstances that I was going to have to adjust to,&#39;&#39; Franchione said. ``One year ago, I told you I wanted to be here. I have not wavered on that. I wanted to coach the Alabama Crimson Tide. <br> <br> ``I signed on here for a long haul.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> The NCAA placed the university on probation for five years for booster-related recruiting violations, slashing 21 scholarships over the next three years and imposing the bowl ban. On Friday, the university sent out a letter notifying the NCAA that it would appeal the sanctions. <br> <br> In the meantime, Franchione knows coaches have been calling many of his players, trying to lure them away from Tuscaloosa. <br> <br> ``There&#39;s no doubt we could lose a player or two, but I hope not,&#39;&#39; Franchione said. ``And I won&#39;t be surprised if we don&#39;t lose any.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Tailback Ahmaad Galloway said he will ``definitely, without a doubt&#39;&#39; return for his senior season. He&#39;s used his high school coach as a middleman, deflecting calls from several inquiring coaches. <br> <br> Galloway did speak to his hometown coach, Memphis&#39; Tommy West, but says he&#39;s not interested. <br> <br> ``The mass of the team is (saying) let&#39;s keep things rolling,&#39;&#39; Galloway said. ``Even the day we found the sanctions out, as soon as the meeting was over, we went right back to working out.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> And if a teammate wants to leave? <br> <br> ``If you&#39;re not for Alabama, then you&#39;re against me,&#39;&#39; Galloway said. ``That&#39;s my thinking.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Quarterback Tyler Watts, another senior-to-be, said he hasn&#39;t been contacted by any other schools. <br> <br> ``We&#39;re in it for the long haul,&#39;&#39; Watts said. ``We came to the university because we wanted to play here and nowhere else. <br> <br> ``I haven&#39;t heard any talk of transferring. I think everyone&#39;s excited about next year.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> West was the first coach to openly admit he would pursue Tide players, saying he would speak to Galloway, Kindal Moorehead and Dennis Alexander all from the Memphis area. He&#39;s not alone, though. <br> <br> ``It&#39;s not against the rules,&#39;&#39; Franchione said. ``It&#39;s hard for me to be critical of anybody that&#39;s not breaking the rules. I don&#39;t necessarily like it being that way, but I&#39;d be far more upset if they were breaking the rules.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Franchione said the only school that has notified Alabama officials of intentions to contact a Tide player was North Carolina State, which expressed an interest in linemen Kenny King and Dante Ellington. <br> <br> He said he was surprised about the depth of the NCAA&#39;s penalties, and is hoping the appeal will at least restore a year of postseason eligibility. <br> <br> ``I don&#39;t have much control over it,&#39;&#39; Franchione said. ``I&#39;ve got to keep leading this program. I&#39;ve got to keep getting these players ready for spring practice.&#39;&#39;