Franchione Fiasco Over at Texas A&M

Yesterday the Aggies upset the Longhorns in the game after Thanksgiving that is traditionally the biggest game of the year for both teams. About an hour after the victory Dennis Franchione resigned as head coach of the Texas A&M football program. Coach Fran leaving was a bigger victory for Aggies than beating Texas as it was long overdue.

Franchione replaced longtime A&M coach R.C. Slocum back in 2002 who seemed to be more in touch with Aggieland. Slocum had been a part of Aggie football since 1972 and still holds an advisory position at the University. The winningest coach in A&M history left with a record of 123-47-2 never having a losing season at A&M. In 14 seasons Slocum led the Aggies to 11 bowl games and had the best winning percentage in the Southwest Conference, even edging out Texas legend Darrell Royal.

The five year Franchione tenure at A&M marked his second longest coaching job behind his six years at New Mexico. He treated coaching as a ladder instead of a commitment, after three years at TCU and a good season he was off to greener pastures and bank accounts at Alabama. After two years at Alabama and one good season he was off to Texas A&M for a 10 year contract for two million dollars a year.

Franchione was never able to do better than Slocum whom he replaced, and never showed the class of Slocum. The recent VIP newsletter scandal of which he charged supporters $1200 a year for comments on the players and injury reports among other things was particularly tacky. When he started I figured he would be gone by now one way or another. Had he done well he would have been on his way somewhere else and left the Aggies looking again.

So now the search starts again for a new head coach and rebuilding Aggieland. Hopefully the school will hire a coach that embodies Texas A&M University and its traditions rather than try to outbid others for a BCS spot. Oh and Coach Fran you probably missed this when you went to College Station. An Aggie does not lie, cheat or steal or tolerate those who do.