Nice article about Zow in the morning paper. I expect Watts will start next Saturday, even if he is only 90% healthy.
bill evans Hartselle, AL [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------- http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/sports/columns/011111a.shtml Fortunately for Tide, Zow not a quitter MARK EDWARDS TUSCALOOSA -- When Alabama wins a game, head coach Dennis Franchione usually makes his obligatory "Way to go" speech to his team before giving out a game ball. But he couldn't wait Saturday. The Crimson Tide head coach skipped all the congratulations, except for the ones he wanted to shower on senior quarterback Andrew Zow. Immediately after Franchione and his assistant coaches herded the players into the locker room following a 24-17 win over Mississippi State on Saturday, he stood in front of the room and began searching the crowd. "Where's Andrew Zow?" he asked. "Where's Andrew Zow?" Several teammates pushed Zow to the front of the room with Franchione, who awarded him the first game ball of his college football career. After not playing much all season, Zow led Alabama to a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns and a come-from-behind victory. After giving the football to Zow, Franchione told the players, "You should be proud that he's on your team." Zow smiled and bowed his head as his teammates chanted, "Drew, Drew, Drew." Franchione may have enjoyed this moment as much as any this season. He got to reward someone who not only helped win a game but also smoothed the way for the Franchione regime this season. Zow, a senior, started for three years under former head coach Mike DuBose, but when Franchione arrived after last season, junior Tyler Watts proved he was better. Watts learned the offense more precisely than Zow and showed an ability to play mistake-free and keep Alabama out of negative-yardage plays -- two attributes Franchione values heavily. Still, even though Watts won the job fair and square, Franchione couldn't help but wonder how Zow would handle the demotion. As it turned out, he didn't need to worry. Zow continued to display the same enthusiasm and leadership that he did when he started. He showed he was willing to follow the new coach, and plenty of his friends on the team followed his example. "He's never sat on the sideline saying he was ticked off at not getting to play," said senior receiver Jason McAddley, who was Zow's roommate for 2½ years. "He's always into the game, and if he sees something he thinks might help, he'll come up and say something. He's supportive of Tyler and the whole team." Zow got his chance Saturday because Watts suffered an injured groin muscle in his left leg in the opening quarter. He left the game and never returned, even though he stayed on the sideline dressed in his uniform. Afterward, Watts walked off the field, limping badly. He left the locker room riding the back of a golf cart driven by an Alabama trainer. Franchione doesn't like to discuss injuries publicly. So when a reporter asked about Watts' status for this week's Auburn game, he smiled and answered, "Don't ask me that." Pressed, Franchione added, "He'll be ready to play next week." He also said that Watts could've played again Saturday if needed, although that seems a little far-fetched. Watts didn't appear ready to play anytime soon. So who knows if Zow will have more chances for glory? It might be nice to see him get at least one more chance, though. After throwing for 157 yards Saturday, he is only 17 behind former All-American Jay Barker on Alabama's all-time passing yards list. Zow said he would love to have that record, but then he smiled and added, "I'm not going to cry about it if I don't get it." ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/. To unsubscribe from this list just send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a BLANK subject line and the single word "UNSUBSCRIBE" (without the quotes) in the body or visit http://www.RollTideFan.net
