FanHouse Dennis Franchione

Former Texas A&M assistant and ex-Green Bay coach Mike Sherman returned to the Aggies nearly two years ago vowing to restore Aggie pride, dignity and accountability to the once proud program.

But in less than two complete seasons, Sherman doesn't seem close to his promise.

This will certainly be a tough week in Aggieland after A&M fell asleep against Kansas State and did not wake up until the mediocre Wildcats had pulled off a 66-14 rout in Manhattan, Kan., Saturday. And as crazy as it sounds, the score wasn't anywhere as close as it appears.

The College Football Songbook is a weekly feature in which we'll be making as much fun as humanly possible of the most embarrassing moments in college football. Through words, music, and related video we'll leave a lasting memory implanted on the brains of the vanquished that they are not soon to forget.

It's everyone's favorite time of year, when coaches drop like flies mere days after getting the dreaded vote of confidence from the administration. I'm actually going to miss Ed Orgeron. But still, you let the program down, you gets the pink slip. Just don't let that door hit you in the ass.



Hat Tips:

Special hat tip as always to Pete Holiday for putting the video together.

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Answer: I don't know.

Question: Given what we know about Dennis Franchione's role in the VIP Connection newsletter -

1)Can he be fired?

2)Will he be fired?

The Houston Chronicle's Terrance Harris examined Dennis Franchione's contract via FOIA request, and found clauses allowing for the swift termination of the embattled Texas A&M coach.

Franchione has said the $1,200 annual payments from the 12 to 15 boosters went directly to the company that maintains his site.

That admission could be in violation of Section 2.3 of his contract, which states Franchione is prohibited from receiving any money or benefits or gratuity whatsoever from any university booster club or other benefactor if such action would be in violation of NCAA rules.

A violation of that term could result in the termination of Franchione's contract, which runs through 2012, per Section 5.1 (a) under Termination for Cause. Franchione can be suspended without pay or the agreement can be terminated immediately if he breaks any of the rules listed in Sections 2.1 through 2.5.

It seems like based on this if A&M wanted to, they could fire him. Their response so far has been to investigate without excoriating the coach. How much of that is support for the coach and how much is PR and how much is show for when/if deposition time comes, we don't know? The Rick Neuheisel example has to be rattling in the back of the mind of the NCAA and Texas A&M, however.

Count on both parties being thorough and letting the lawyers meticulously work through all of this before decisions are reached. Don't like all this caution and deliberateness? Tough toenails, blame lawyers (or Rick Neuheisel), not that it'll make you feel better.

Living in Alabama, the Iron Bowl is never far from your mind. It's truly something that is talked about every day of the year. But recently the series has lost its luster. Why? Well, it's simple - Alabama is just not competitive anymore. Auburn has won four in a row and five of the last six.

During the Tigers run to an undefeated season in 2004, fans and coaches alike were worried about a letdown against Alabama in the season finale. The truth is, Alabama is the most overrated team and program in the country.

They are like that guy you went to high school with in the 1980's, who still wears his Member's Only jacket. The Tide Nation can't get over the fact that the Bear is really dead. Never mind that he's been gone for more than 20 years. Before every game they pay homage to him on the big stadium screen. Do they realize that today's players haven't a clue who he is or when he coached? Like an analysis on Fox Sports said recently, "Auburn is Alabama."

What he means is that Auburn's program is where Alabama's used to be. It's a sad commentary for the once proud program from Tuscaloosa. Here's an interesting fact: Since the turn of the 20th Century, Auburn has had 15 head coaches. Since 1983, Alabama has had eight.

Dennis Franchione left the Alabama head coaching job for Texas A&M. Would anyone have guessed 20 years ago that someone would leave Alabama for College Station? In fact, Bear Bryant left A&M for Tuscaloosa. My how times have changed.

Alabama is the most penalized program in the history of the NCAA. And their last run-in came within a whisker of getting them the dreaded death penalty. To finish my point, after the Mike Price debacle, Alabama could find no credible head coaches to even consider the job. Case in point, it settled for a "green" Mike Shula over another former Tide player, Sylvester Croom. That was the best they could do.

Meanwhile, in Auburn, the Tigers are chasing their second SEC Championship in three years and are in the hunt for the national championship. In case you missed it, Alabama had to come from behind to beat Vanderbilt on Saturday, 13-10. As the stadium PA announcer likes to scream, "This is Alabama Football."

Link: Football Saturday In The South