Eli Gold had as good a seat as anyone could have for Alabama football over the years.
The former Voice of the Crimson Tide, who was relieved of his duties following the season, joined AL.com’s Beat Everyone’s Golden Age miniseries this week and revealed the one Alabama coach who lied to him.
Gold, who first started Alabama games in 1989 during Bill Curry’s head coaching stint, has called games during for six head coaches (not including Mike Price 2003 who never coached a game and Joe Kines who coached one game in 2006).
“I got along with everybody,” he said on the podcast. “Every single coach I worked with.
“One of them lied to me, but coach (Dennis) Franchione did that to everybody.”
Franchione, who coached the Tide from 2001-2002, compiled a 17-8 record while in Tuscaloosa (7–5 in 2001 and a 10–3 in 2002). The 2001 team won the Independence Bowl, which became Alabama’s first bowl win in five seasons. The 2002 team won the SEC’s West Division. Due to NCAA sanctions under previous head coach Mike DuBose, however, the team was ineligible for postseason.
Alabama offered Franchione a 10-year contract extension worth $15 million.
However, there was speculation he was talking to Texas A&M. Speculation he denied prior to the 2002 Iron Bowl. Shortly after the Iron Bowl, Franchione flew to Texas to interview for the A&M job and never returned. He informed players of his decision to accept the job at A&M by video teleconference.
“I said, ‘Are you leaving?’” Gold said he asked Franchione.
“No, I’m not leaving,” Gold said the coach responded.
“I went back to the hotel ran into Ron Franklin, the old voice of ESPN’s college football. He said, ‘What are you hearing?’ I said, ‘I just came from taping the pregame show.’ I said, ‘Franchione told me he’s not going anywhere.’ Ron said, ‘I wouldn’t use that if I were you.’ I said, ‘Really?’ He said, ‘You do what you need to do, but I just talk to (A&M coach and AD) R.C. Slocum. ... The deal is done.’
“Of course, Ron was right.”
Franchione later explained he regretted the way he left Alabama.
“Oh sure,” Franchione said back in 2008. “We all make mistakes. I certainly wish that that hadn’t turned out that way. I regret that. I didn’t mean for it to turn that way or be perceived that way or anything like that.”
Franchione, who resigned from coaching the Aggies after the 2007 season, said very little about the way he left Tuscaloosa. He said there were experiences he had during that time that few people understand. He didn’t detail them.
Not saying goodbye to the players was the issue.
“Sometimes it’s late in the season, you’re so tired and worn down, you don’t think as well as you should have,” he said back in 2008. “And there’s no doubt there’s a lot of things about that I could’ve done differently.”
Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.