Franchione on the way out as Texas A&M coach

[Queasy]

Link

Dennis Franchione's days as the head coach at Texas A&M appear to be numbered.

Texas A&M is talking about buying out Franchione's contract, sources have told ESPN college football analyst Andre Ware.

Franchione has been in hot water with the university for a newsletter he was sending out to donors willing to pay $1,200 for inside information. In mid-October, Texas A&M officials admonished Franchione for his secretive, for-pay newsletter and said the embarrassing episode would be a factor in deciding whether he returns next season.

The school said it would report the results of an internal investigation to the NCAA because of possible rules violations, and Franchione was ordered to shut down his Web site, CoachFran.com. He also will receive a "letter of admonishment."

"The Aggies are embarrassed right now," athletic director Bob Byrne said in October. "This has been a very unfortunate incident we do not want to experience again."

Franchione, who came to Texas A&M from Alabama in 2003. He's 31-27 overall with the Aggies. He also coached at TCU and New Mexico.

Texas A&M is reportedly researching whether Franchione violated his contract with the income he received from the newsletter. If he is found in violation of the contract, the Aggies may not have to pay the coach anything upon firing him.

Franchione's contract pays him $2 million per season and runs through 2012. A buyout will be $141,667 per month for the remainder of the contract, or about $8 million. Ware reported Monday that Texas A&M is looking for a buyout in the $2 million range.

Ware reported that Texas A&M wants to talk to Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville for a potential vacancy. He reported that the school is working with Chuck Neinas, who runs a consulting firm specializing in hiring coaches.

Texas A&M is 6-4 this season heading into a game at Missouri on Saturday.

Tommy Tubberville of Auburn is heavily rumored to be interested in the job but he isn't commenting.

CBS Sportsline

Dennis Franchione agreed to a buyout Monday from Texas A&M and is out as coach. It was not initially clear if Franchione will remain as coach through the remainder of the season.

As CBSSports.com reported two weeks ago, Franchione began speaking to school officials about his buyout.

The Aggies are 6-4 after losing to then-No. 6 Oklahoma 42-14 on Saturday.

 

[sciencewhiz]

I think it would be funny if another coach from a school in Alabama replaced him.

 

[eplebnista]

Originally posted by: sciencewhiz
I think it would be funny if another coach from a school in Alabama replaced him.

Indeed

 

[JM Aggie08]

it's about dam time.

the "Can Fran" shirts have been in production for about a year already.

 

[JasonCoder]

Hate to see a program as proud as A&M go through crap like this. Here's hoping A&M rights the ship.

 

[pyonir]

I am Jack's complete lack of surprise.

 

[MazerRackham]

Aggie fan must be happy to hear this news!

 

[ElFenix]

i forgot that andre also works for ESPN (he's a local sports radio talk show host as well as color man for texans radio), as i was looking for the typical 'ESPN has learned' crap that they do.

 

[Wreckem]

A&M is hoping he'll take the $2million buyout or risk losing it at if the NCAA determines he violated NCAA regs.

 

[Wreckem]

Originally posted by: JM Aggie08
it's about dam time.

the "Can Fran" shirts have been in production for about a year already.

Yeah an $8million buyout is STEEP, and until now A&M hasnt had a way to lower it or not pay it. Fran gave them that oppurtunity with that news letter.