October 4, 2007
A&M looking into Fran's contract for potential violations
CBS Sportsline is reporting that Texas A&M is looking into football coach Dennis Franchione's contract to determine if he may have violated the terms of the agreement by selling a team newsletter to boosters.
The examination of the contract seems to be an indication of Franchione's deteriorating relationship with his superiors. The website scandal combined with a blowout loss to Miami this season, a 29-24 record in 4½ seasons and a $2 million salary, has led to the dissatisfaction. The contract runs through 2013.The money made from VIP Connection was accounted for and apparently did not violate IRS laws, a source said. Government officials were consulted on whether the website violated any privacy rights of players by releasing injury information. It was determined there are no apparent NCAA violations a day after interim president Ed Davis called for an investigation into that possibility.
Any violation of the terms of the contract could keep the school from paying Franchione's buyout (or reduce it), if the coach was fired.
I'm still not certain as to how much merit I put behind this "report" by Dennis Dodd.
First, it's from Dennis Dodd.
Second, while there is a large contingent of Aggie boosters that have grown weary of Coach Fran, he hasn't lost the Aggie players. And - as I have learned - Aggies aren't the type to leave another Aggie behind. Even if they don't lov the coach, they certainly have to respect the players position in all of this. I suspect that the university may have looked into the legality of the move, but if there was a legitimate breach, then we would have heard about it from an official source rather than this annonymous source to CBS Sportsline.
Third, it's from Dennis Dodd.
And finally, if it were 100% true, then I'm sure we would have read about it in Coach Fran's email. Right?
Comments:
posted on October 4, 2007 11:27 AM — 205.188.116.136 — link — abuse?War Eagle Atlanta
said:
It's a standard legal practice. Why pay Franchione the buyout money when a possible violation of the terms of the contract could lead to the contract being voided?
Similar, but not quite as bad as to what the ATL Falcons are doing to Vick currently.
Certainly sounds like Franchione is gone...
TE
posted on October 4, 2007 12:27 PM — 204.68.245.11 — link — abuse? said:
Fran's a modern day Curley Hallman, the former LSU coach who road perhaps what was the greatest signing in small-college history to a job in the bigtime when Brett Favre's arm brought USM success, and Hallman to LSU's doorstep...
Thank again for that hire, Joe Dean...
Fran's no different...LT and one great season at TCU, and he gravy trained it into a gig at Bama, where he used paid for players to succeed their as well...only to jump ship again...and under his own wind, on the biggest stage...He's fallen a tad flat...
FanoftheGame said:
posted on October 4, 2007 2:48 PM — 198.211.223.194 — link — abuse?
I,for one, am not a big Dennis Francione fan. However, he hasn't exactly run A&M's program into the ground. He inherited a declining program from R.C. Slocum (who, by the way, still has a huge say in the program) with expectations of making the Aggies a national power. I agree that he may not be the man to do it, but then again, it just may not be possible. A great season once in a while- maybe, but a perrenial power, no way. Not as long as A&M sits in the shadows of Texas and OU.
To be fair, 7 or 8 win seasons should probably be the expectations of the university. Of course, the fans will always want more. If Fran beats Texas again this year or maybe even an appearance in the Big 12 title game, then his job is probably safe for another season.
A veteran coach with a great track record would never take the coaching job at A&M. So the university can fire Fran and hire a young upstart coach and probably get less results than they're getting with Francione.
Francione may not be a great coach, but he's probably as good as anyone the Aggies could land to replace him.hrposon said:
posted on October 4, 2007 9:20 PM — 98.200.123.115 — link — abuse?
When Fran leaves, I hope they bring back R.C. Slocum. He was the classiest coach they had in decades and represented the school very well. He didn't win any national championships but he did win a Big XII championship.
Maybe then a local Houston radio station will revive the "Slocum on Cell" comedy routine. It was a great start to a Thursday morning.AgRyan04
posted on October 4, 2007 11:43 PM — 98.199.64.233 — link — abuse? said:
RC continues to have a huge say in the program?
Where'd that nugget come from?
Look, I love R.C. but it was time for a change we were in a downward spiral right down the Bowl Prestige Chart....
1998 Sugar Bowl
1999 Alamo Bowl
2000 Independence Bowl
2001 GalleryFurniture.com Bowl
2002 No bowlFanoftheGame said:
posted on October 5, 2007 1:03 PM — 198.211.223.194 — link — abuse?
AgRyan,Maybe I read too much into it, but isn't Slocum currently a special advisor to the president of Texas A&M University. Aside from football, I'm not sure what exactly R.C. is qualified to advise anyone on. I believe he was consulted before the hiring of Francione by the Athletic Director as well as the President. By now though, he's probably advising the President and local student government on world affairs as they contribute to the declining graduation rates of student athletes and their inability to obey the laws of their respective states, or maybe even the price of tea in China, for that matter.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying he's calling plays from his suite at Kyle Field. However, I do think he will have a say if and when its time for Coach Fran to hit the road.
AgRyan04
posted on October 5, 2007 10:37 PM — 98.199.64.233 — link — abuse? said:
RC was a special adviser to the president but not anymore. It was only for the duration of his contract (which has ended -- I believe after the '05 season) so they didn't have to buy him out.
I'm pretty sure he's just enjoying himself out on his ranch now.
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Texas Zack said:
posted on October 4, 2007 8:34 AM — 69.92.27.21 — link — abuse?Yeah, when I first heard about this whole e-mail scandal, I thought this would be just want the powers that be at A & M would want: A chance to fire Fran. With all thats gone on through out this whole saga (and season) I dont see any possible way Fran will be back next season.