I wasn’t a fan of the way Dennis Franchione left Alabama. I’ve never made any secret of that. But I’ve spent some time reading the comments from his former players and from media members who covered him, and there is a consistency to them that is hard to miss. His players talk about a coach who was tough, fair and held them to a high standard. A coach who pushed them to levels they didn’t know they could reach. I’ve also seen story after story from media members, including people who were just getting started writing for student newspapers, about how generous he was with his time and how graciously he treated them. It made me think about my high school coach, Lester Smith, and friends like Jeff Farrington and Jamey Chadwell. I spend a lot of time writing and talking about the business of college sports. Contracts. Buyouts. NIL. Revenue sharing. But at the end of the day, there are thousands of coaches out there who have made a lasting difference in the lives of thousands of young men. Helping them become better men, husbands, fathers and citizens. That matters a whole lot more than anything I talk about. Rest in peace, Coach Fran.