PonyFans.com

This Aggie Newsletter fiasco has all the traits of a classic Slush Fund. The AD allegedly wasn't told. Yeah. If Franchione claims "all the money went to the website" and there were only 10-12 recipients let's see the paperwork. Something doesn't smell right. Most of the information should be discoverable by a Freedom of Information Request although portions may need to be redacted for the players medical information. I expect the big city newspapers already have lawyers working on this.

Sporting News columnist has an interesting angle on this in that Fran may have broken health privacy laws if he released injury information without players consent. This in itself, if true, could get A&M off the hook for paying out any of Fran's contract if they fire him.

It would serve DF right if he got canned on a technicality with no pay, just like he got out of the Alabama contract on a technicality. What goes around....

And just this past week there were folks on this board saying that coach Fran would make a 'great hire' as SMU's next head coach in football.

Me included. He still might be the best choice out there if we have to change coaches. But if he has an NCAA beef against him, we won't touch him.

I posted on this yesterday. It is a clear violation of HIPPA and related Texas state law if he disclosed any medical / injury information about the athletes. The law is clear and there is no room for interpretation. You can not disclose the information except under certain circumstances and with certain authorizations.

If he broke the law there should be some punishment, but I doubt however that the school, the Big 12, or the NCAA do anything.

MrMustang1965 wrote:And just this past week there were folks on this board saying that coach Fran would make a 'great hire' as SMU's next head coach in football.

not this folk. i can't stand that guy and if he is hired my giving to SMU athletics ends. he's exactly what we don't need.

The Aggie$ are as dirty as anyone in college football, but you can bet they will "circle the wagons" and we won't see any major violations uncovered from this. My Aggie sources have told me some great stories about how they get things done. This looks like it is all about getting rid of Fran...not bringing down the program.

Why would any major donor want to be a part of an "insider" program like this anyway? If I was classified as a major donor, I'd expect some free stuff--receptions, personal letters from the coach, etc. Not some nickel and dime me to death email.

Any major donors care to comment?

Stallion wrote:This Aggie Newsletter fiasco has all the traits of a classic Slush Fund. The AD allegedly wasn't told. Yeah. If Franchione claims "all the money went to the website" and there were only 10-12 recipients let's see the paperwork. Something doesn't smell right. Most of the information should be discoverable by a Freedom of Information Request although portions may need to be redacted for the players medical information. I expect the big city newspapers already have lawyers working on this.

I would bet you're right. Releasing medical information -- even to other fans -- is a major no-no.

If SMU even thinks of hiring Fraudchione I'm out for good.

The guy got lucky and outbid other mid-majors for LT and turned it into two high-profile national jobs and has totally failed.

I bet LT couldn't even get past the first wave of the SMU admissions czars. The fact TCU let somebody in who can't even complete an English sentence tells you all you need to know about TCU.

Terry Webster wrote:Sporting News columnist has an interesting angle on this in that Fran may have broken health privacy laws if he released injury information without players consent. This in itself, if true, could get A&M off the hook for paying out any of Fran's contract if they fire him.

DMN said today no privacy laws appear to have been broken.

Legally they are incorrect. But I would expect them to cover for A & M, no surprise there.

yeah I read that too-and don't agree. They asked specifically about HIPPA Health Insurance Portability something Act and I remember that UT assistant under Penders got nailed for the same thing before HIPPA was ever passed. There are other federal statutes involved.