The ginormous Texas A&M / Coach Fran thread

PaulD

All-SEC
Dec 29, 2006
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Re: A&M fires Mike McKenzie

Here are some news comments:

"Texas A&M officials said Thursday that coach Dennis Franchione will be admonished for a secretive for-pay newsletter sent to boosters and that the school will report possible violations related to the newsletter to the NCAA.

"The school ordered the coach to shut down his Web site--CoachFran.com--and will issue a "letter of admonishment."

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3058459

"Texas A&M will self-report at least one NCAA violation relating to Dennis Franchione's e-mail newsletter VIP Connection.

"The school will self-report a violation of NCAA by-law 11.2.2 relating to reporting of athletically related outside income. Also, the newsletter may have violated the NCAA's bylaw against recruiting publicity. According to the school, the NCAA has informed A&M that the mentioning of recruits in the newsletter 'should be reported as violations.'

"The school also said it would limit off-campus visits for each impermissible reference to a prospective student-athlete."

http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/10402121

"Texas A&M football coach Dennis Franchione escaped losing his job in wake the VIP Connection e-mail newsletter, but that doesn't mean his job is safe."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5205841.html

"The shaky tenure of Texas A&M football coach Dennis Franchione received another jolt Thursday when the university admonished Franchione for his role in a secret newsletter operation that, according to an A&M investigation, became a vehicle for violating NCAA rules.

"In announcing the findings of the school’s investigation, A&M athletic director Bill Byrne said Mike McKenzie, an athletic department employee who wrote the subscription-based newsletter on Franchione’s behalf, has been fired."

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/big12/stories/MYSA101107.FBCaggiesfranchione.en.15da10d0b.html

"Texas A&M athletic director Bill Byrne said Thursday he admonished football coach Dennis Franchione, fired his personal assistant and ordered that CoachFran.com be shut down as a result of the 'VIP Connection.'

"A&M officials released hundreds of documents on its Web site about the secret e-mail newsletter that was written by Franchione's assistant, Mike McKenzie.

"The university shut down its entire athletic Web site and listed only links to various .pdf files so fans could judge the content for themselves.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/101207dnspotamulede.86c1dc.html


Aren't you glad he's not our coach any more?
 

Tradition4ever

1st Team
Oct 16, 2004
463
4
42
47
Carlsbad, NM
Re: A&M fires Mike McKenzie

Here are some news comments:

"Texas A&M officials said Thursday that coach Dennis Franchione will be admonished for a secretive for-pay newsletter sent to boosters and that the school will report possible violations related to the newsletter to the NCAA.

"The school ordered the coach to shut down his Web site--CoachFran.com--and will issue a "letter of admonishment."

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3058459

"Texas A&M will self-report at least one NCAA violation relating to Dennis Franchione's e-mail newsletter VIP Connection.

"The school will self-report a violation of NCAA by-law 11.2.2 relating to reporting of athletically related outside income. Also, the newsletter may have violated the NCAA's bylaw against recruiting publicity. According to the school, the NCAA has informed A&M that the mentioning of recruits in the newsletter 'should be reported as violations.'

"The school also said it would limit off-campus visits for each impermissible reference to a prospective student-athlete."

http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/10402121

"Texas A&M football coach Dennis Franchione escaped losing his job in wake the VIP Connection e-mail newsletter, but that doesn't mean his job is safe."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5205841.html

"The shaky tenure of Texas A&M football coach Dennis Franchione received another jolt Thursday when the university admonished Franchione for his role in a secret newsletter operation that, according to an A&M investigation, became a vehicle for violating NCAA rules.

"In announcing the findings of the school’s investigation, A&M athletic director Bill Byrne said Mike McKenzie, an athletic department employee who wrote the subscription-based newsletter on Franchione’s behalf, has been fired."

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/big12/stories/MYSA101107.FBCaggiesfranchione.en.15da10d0b.html

"Texas A&M athletic director Bill Byrne said Thursday he admonished football coach Dennis Franchione, fired his personal assistant and ordered that CoachFran.com be shut down as a result of the 'VIP Connection.'

"A&M officials released hundreds of documents on its Web site about the secret e-mail newsletter that was written by Franchione's assistant, Mike McKenzie.

"The university shut down its entire athletic Web site and listed only links to various .pdf files so fans could judge the content for themselves.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/101207dnspotamulede.86c1dc.html


Aren't you glad he's not our coach any more?

I don't think its fair that the Texas A&M football program may have to suffer further for Franny's actions. By reporting violations, I'm pretty sure that the athletic dept. will self-impose some type of sanctions against the football program, on top of probably letting Fran go. Then the coaching search ensues, and we here know what that can do to a program's momentum if they have trouble filling the position. On top of all of this, if the NCAA decides that they need to step in and dole out the righteous punishment from on high, we Bama faithful know what that can do to a program when it is hanging over your head.

Its just not fair to the program. Fran and MM did this without the knowledge of anybody else, or at least that is what it sounds like happened. I hate how coaches can leave a program in NCAA trouble, and the trouble stays with the program. It should follow the coach!
 

crimsonaudio

Administrator
Staff member
Sep 9, 2002
63,414
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Re: A&M fires Mike McKenzie

Everything that happened this today is an effort to establish breach of contract. The violations are minor, no different than the kind of stuff every school reports every year - it's being bandied about publicly in an effort to strengthen their case in the event Fran tries to sue for his pay-out. Today we are seeing A&M play for the $6.3 million they save for breach of contract...
 

RamJammer

All-SEC
Aug 29, 2007
1,067
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Birmingham
Re: A&M fires Mike McKenzie

Gotta wonder what ole Charllie North is thinkin right now, if he can sit still long enough to think...I'm sure he's squirning big-time! Couldnt' happen to a "nicer" couple of guys...
 

Crimson Surfer

News|BB|FB|REC, Super Moderator
Jul 14, 2001
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Re: A&M fires Mike McKenzie

http://firedennisfranchione.com/

http://firefranpetition.com/

http://www.franunderfire.com/

http://www.aggiecoach.com/

http://franshepnony.blogspot.com/

Franchione to issue 'letter of admonishment'
Franchione apologized to his team, the school and A&M fans in a statement released after Byrne met with reporters. He also tried to explain himself.

"I was trying to keep some loyal Aggies informed on our program in greater detail throughout the year," he said. "Please do not blame them. They were only trying to support our program."

Franchione said he was turning his attention to Saturday's game at Texas Tech and would not comment further on the newsletter.
Talk about accepting responsibility. "Don't blame them." :rolleyes:

:biggrin:
 

sabanball

All-American
Jan 4, 2006
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Re: A&M fires Mike McKenzie

Man those Aggie posters on TexAgs.com are quite the amusement.

First the majority of them constantly bash the entire SEC for being a bunch of "cheaters" but then they seem to want to go after an SEC coach to fill the "possible" upcoming vacancy due to the strength of the SEC conference compared to other conferences.

Second they rave about CTT's undefeated season in the SEC totally ignoring the fact that in 12 years in the SEC (combined Ole Miss and AU) that '04 was his only conference championship.

Third not one of them has considered what part UA's probation has played in CTT's success which boils down to only two 10+ win seasons.

Another thing is that the Aggies pride themselves on having tremendous "class" while some AU fans have spoken out recently complaining about CTT's lack of showing "class".

I honestly believe the Aggies are their own worst enemy...
 
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DC Tide

1st Team
Sep 13, 2007
407
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Re: A&M fires Mike McKenzie

This will undoubtedly get a lot of play this week. Looks like there's some good stuff in the emails.

Courtesy of the Everyday Should Be Saturday blog (article unlinked due to profanity in some of the blog's comments), here's one choice excerpt describing how CDF hired mock Rangers to provide motivation (or something) during a team meeting:

…two of the Rangers burst into the room portraying terrorists bearing (wooden fake) weapons. They “captured” Scott in front of the group and tied him up and blindfolded him, while the others held the players hostage. They were loud and chaotic and maniacal. Everyone was mesmerized.

Then suddenly, eight other Rangers in full field dress, as the good guys, sprang into the room’s three entrances and overpowered the terrorists, freed Scott, and secured the room. Their exercise started with a bang–a fake gas bomb (a balloon they exploded) that certainly got everyone’s attention.

As EDSBS editorialized, "It’s Medieval Times every day with Dennis Franchione!" I guess this is a shade better than what Jackie Sherrill had done to that steer, but jeez. I hope that Nick Saban doesn't do this kind of motivation.
 

RamJammer

All-SEC
Aug 29, 2007
1,067
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Birmingham
Re: A&M fires Mike McKenzie

Hmpf - Well now when they lose to Tech this weekend, he'll just say it's all this past distraction that casued the loss....Oh POOH!
 

bayoutider

Administrator Emeritus & Chef-in-Chief
Oct 13, 1999
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Re: A&M fires Mike McKenzie

As EDSBS editorialized, "It’s Medieval Times every day with Dennis Franchione!" I guess this is a shade better than what Jackie Sherrill had done to that steer, but jeez. I hope that Nick Saban doesn't do this kind of motivation.
That "Bull" wasn't a "Steer" till Jackie got through with it. ;)
 

bayoutider

Administrator Emeritus & Chef-in-Chief
Oct 13, 1999
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Re: A&M fires Mike McKenzie

Hmpf - Well now when they lose to Tech this weekend, he'll just say it's all this past distraction that casued the loss....Oh POOH!
There will be people in the stands who weren't even born the last time aTm beat TT in Lubbock. Over the last dozen years aTm has lost every time they played TT away and is only .500 at home against the Red Raiders.
 

BamaLuver

G&C | FB Moderator
Aug 16, 2000
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Re: A&M fires Mike McKenzie

I find it highly ironic that he left Bama because of NCAA violations. Now he makes his own. I actually like the A&M program and fans a lot, but as long as Fran is there, I have to pull against them every game.
I couldn't have said it any better!
 

mikeua69

All-American
Apr 16, 2002
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Re: Texas A&M Coach Fran admonished and Mike McKenzie is fired

Part of one of his newletters from espn.com that I found interesting...

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3058459

Some of the newsletters contained information about prospective A&M recruits.

One from Aug. 13 read: "TOTAL MUM ON THIS. A certain highly regarded prospect who has committed to Michigan showed up at practice Saturday wearing a USC cap, for which he took a lot of guff. ;)

"As they say in recruiting, it's a long time until February. Same for kids who say they're going to, oh, say, Alabama," it said.
Wonder who the Alabama part was in reference to? Damian Square?
 

lafella

Hall of Fame
Nov 27, 2006
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Re: Texas A&M Coach Fran admonished and Mike McKenzie is fired

I saw that also, guess he had his sites set on one of our commits. most likely wishful thinking on his part.
 

tidehawk

HS Moderator
Staff member
Feb 9, 2001
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Re: Texas A&M Coach Fran admonished and Mike McKenzie is fired

I am soooo glad this greaseball frannie and his buddy mike left Alabama. Hindsight is 20-20, but that really worked out for the best.
 

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