5 Reasons to Hire Fran

[peruna11]

curious about a non-compete... wonder if his contract is out there somewhere?

[papawasamustang]

I think Fran or Dodge are the 2 best choices @ this time.
The longer this strings out it appears that something like this has to be the direction SO is going.
Coaching staff in place & recruiting are +'s.

[Big Hoss]

I think Fran or Dodge are the 2 best choices @ this time.
The longer this strings out it appears that something like this has to be the direction SO is going.
Coaching staff in place & recruiting are +'s.

If it's Dodge, we would have the same question: why did it take so long? UNT's last game was Dec 1 when they lost to FIU (who hadn't won a game in 23 tries, might I add).

[Texas Red]

Aston has the classic "Dallas" complex that seems to affilict most Fort Worth lawyers. That being said, we all agree to Hire Fran Now!

[gregkinzer]

who will be paying the $1200 a month for the secret blog?

Just kidding!

[58raider]

As a graduate and long time supporter of Texas Tech, I highly encourage SMU to hire fran. I've sincerely enjoyed playing against Fran's team for the last five years and look forward to more of the same (results) should he land at SMU.

Anyway, good luck with the coach search.

[Chuck Norris]

Honestly, the three years I had to live in Dallas were the worst.

I like B/CS, had everything that I needed to be happy, good college sports, good eateries and bars, close enough to major cities to go see concerts that don't come to town.

Not to derail the thread, but I'll take quality of life in B/CS over Dallas any day. I like some parts of Dallas, but not to live there. That is why I call Ft. Worth home now.

HAHAHA College Station to Ft. Worth. Its hard to clean the s#it from your boots huh

[Aston94]

More like College Station to Dallas to Houston to Fort Worth.

I like Dallas, just not where I want to live. Just cracks me up how some of you Dallasites look down at places like B/CS and Fort Worth.

[TCU owns YOU]

why would anyone even consider Coker over Fran?


Fran is a proven turnaround expert and will revitalize this program from players, students, coaches, alum, admin, and media. To my knowledge, Coker has not accomplished a major turnaround.

Fran is an excellent x and o's coach who had the #1 defense in the nation at TCU and beat UT twice in the last two years at A&M. Coker has not impressed me with his use of talent or discipline.

As one poster put it, he could sleep walk to a bowl every year in C-USA. Coker is a wild card in this situation with no proven results like Fran.

He is proven recruiter with 15+ years recruiting in Texas. Coker doesn't have half the connections or experience in Texas that Fran has. Reality is SMU will recruit Texas and not Florida or Georgia.

Fran also develops undeveloped talent with 1-star recruits like Brian Urlacher (NFL devensive MVP) and 2-star recruits like LaDainian Tomlinson (NFL MVP) and 2-star recruit Aaron Schobel (2006 NFL sack leader). He sent 14 kids to NFL in 2000 (tied Florida State for most from any college that year) from a TCU team that was ranked 5th in the state in recruiting. Coker hasn't had half of this success in developing talent, although alot of this is Gary Patterson but Fran should get credit for hiring and listening to him.

Also you get a 90% discount on Fran since A&M pays the $1.8 million for his first four seasons. To my knowledge, you will have to pay full price for Coker.

[Nacho]

Seriously what are we aiting on? We do not have a secret coach stashed away. It seems to be down to Coker and Fran. Neuheisel my be going to UCLA but not here with his 52 NCAA viloations. I love Chow but he is an OC with no experience as a HC. We need a proven builder of programs to come here. I just don't get it. Unless we hire someone head and shoulders better than Fran I am going to be very disappointed after all this wasted time.

[Aston94]

To clarify a few things:

1. Fran is not a "great x's and o's coach." At A&M he was routinely outcoached.

2. A&M will pay Fran $1.8M in 2008, $1.8M in 2009 and $1M in 2010. They pay the 2008 amount even if he gets another job, the next two years are reduced by his current salary.

But I do think Fran is the best hire for SMU because:
1. He know what it takes to win at a school like SMU in DFW.
2. He knows Texas recruiting.
3. He has a staff that would come with him.

[Nacho]

Fran ran a very conservative option offense the last couple of years at A&M. Don't ask me why expcet that he had J-Train and Goodson at RB with McGee at QB. I think he can x & O with anyone. He did wonders at TCU and did go 9-3 at Alabama before he left to take more money at A&M.

[Aston94]

As an Ag who went to Miami and Norman this year I can tell you he was outcoached on many occaisions this year, and over the past few years. His offense and defense got more and more basic.

[TCU owns YOU]

To clarify a few things:

1. Fran is not a "great x's and o's coach." At A&M he was routinely outcoached.

2. A&M will pay Fran $1.8M in 2008, $1.8M in 2009 and $1M in 2010. They pay the 2008 amount even if he gets another job, the next two years are reduced by his current salary.

But I do think Fran is the best hire for SMU because:
1. He know what it takes to win at a school like SMU in DFW.
2. He knows Texas recruiting.
3. He has a staff that would come with him.

I would not say he was routinely outcoached. He beat Mac Brown the last two years and being outcoached by Stoops is something every coach has done. I believe Fran also outcoached Stoops when Bama recovered the onside kick in Norman to shock the Sooners. Fran's loss to Tech was on a miracle bomb. Is Patterson a better X and O's coach, probably. Is Franchione one of the 30 best in the country, probably. Is Fran the best X and O's coach available or considering SMU, YES.

[SMUer]

defense got more and more basic.

Good, our players need things in baby steps.