Identity Crisis: ESPN gaffe causes confusion for Francois, Johnson families
ORLANDO -- Millions of college football fans were introduced to talented Florida State quarterback Deondre Francois during the Ole Miss game on Monday night. They also were introduced to his mother ... except not really.
Technically, they were presented someone who does not even exist.
During ESPN's live broadcast, the network's cameras more than once showed images of "Tasha Francois," who they claimed was Francois' mother. Francois' actual mother, Janice, told Warchant she started receiving text images immediately from bewildered friends.
"ESPN got the wrong picture up! O-M-G!," Janice said early Tuesday morning. "I don't know where they got her picture. I had people texting me all night saying, 'It wasn't me!' but it was flying all over the media as if it was me."
So who is the mystery woman?
It turns out it was Sanquinitta Johnson, who is the mother of Seminoles freshman offensive lineman Baveon Johnson.
Johnson and her husband were shown at various times of the night reacting to different events. At one point, ESPN showed a montage of Francois feeling pressure from Ole Miss' defense and the various hits he took.
The broadcast immediately cut to Sanquinitta Johnson with an overlay that read "Tasha Francois" and listed her as "Deondre's mother."
"Not easy being a parent," said ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler as the cameras showed Johnson looking on.
It proved to be a night to remember for Francois.
He threw for 419 yards, two touchdowns and rushed for 59 yards in No. 4 FSU's 45-34 comeback victory over No. 11 Ole Miss at Camping World Stadium.
* Also Read: Francois seizes the moment in Florida State debut
Francois' long-awaited debut came in his hometown of Orlando with his mother, younger brother and two uncles in attendance.
"I was able to enjoy it knowing there were more than 60,000 people around me," Janice said. "The excitement. The noise. I had a couple people come up to me and told me they were proud of my son."
Meanwhile, Johnson was busy answering texts from friends and family during the game about her "new son." One FSU fan at the game even approached her and asked which son was really hers.
"I thought it was so crazy," Johnson said. "We're a Florida State family, and we're all related anyway. I know for [Janice], I would have said, 'That's my son. Don't try to give my son to someone else!'"
Johnson said she understands mistakes happen, and she was able to laugh it off.
"I just hope when my son gets all that spotlight for doing the things he's supposed to be doing, they don't make that same little mishap," she said. "You just have to shake it off and laugh about it."
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