Fran actually explains some Xs and Os to fans

According to his Fridays with Fran report from July 27, Fran actually answered that question that seems to be asked by a lot of Aggie fans, "Why do we run option to the short side of the field so often?"
Fran's explanation:

"One of the more interesting aspects of that is the reaction to the plays where we demonstrate when and why we run the option to the short side of the field. One example is Mike Goodson’s touchdown run in Austin last November when he ran around right end, to the wide side, or what we call running to the field. Then, when Stephen McGee ran the game-winning touchdown on the same play, he ran to the short side, or what we call running to the boundary.

In Austin this Tuesday I told anyone in the audience to ‘fess up if they were one of the fans who asks the question of why we “always” run to the boundary on the option. A large number of people raised their hands. (You know, the Aggie Code of Honor is for real – Aggies never lie ?)

The answer, of course, is that we don’t “always,” and when we do, it usually – not every time, but normally – has nothing to do with it the ball placement on the hash mark instead of the middle of the field. It always has to do with what the defense chooses to do, and Stephen’s ability to recognize it and get us in the right play.

Most folks are surprised when they find out that in many cases, such as those in “The Drive,” we actually break the huddle with four plays called. That is, it could be a run either direction, or either of two passes. Stephen checks us into the right play when he sees, for example among several things, where the safeties are shaded. They might be favoring the field side, which is often the case because a defense will try to use the sideline as a defender and protect where the offense has more room to operate. Based on that and a couple of other things, Stephen would check us into the boundary call.

Either way, we have to execute the play properly. When we don’t and the play doesn’t work, it leaves the impression we’ve called the “wrong” play, and if that’s to the boundary then it feeds the perception about running to the short side. "

If Fran would talk more Xs and Os, I really think he would endear himself more to the rank and file fanbase. That, and avoid making idiotic statements like, "We may be a better team than we were last season, but have a worse record."