Fran's New Contract

[PhirePhilBennett]

Fran signs a 5 year, $8.5mm deal with SMU

2008 $0.01
2009 $1.00
2010 $1.00
2011 $1,700,000 + 700,002
2012 $1,700,000

Total Cost for SMU: $4,100,002.01

(freeing up $4.4mm to spend on assistants as needed)

According to the terms, Franchione will receive $1.7 million for next season. He could receive another $1.7 million in 2009 that could be offset by any job he accepts, be it in college, the NFL or on television. Franchione could receive another $1 million from A&M in 2010.

For example, if Franchione accepts another position that pays $1 million in 2009, A&M would only have to pay $700,000, regent Erle Nye said.

[J.T.supporta]

c'mon guys, can we all be realistic...

we arent going to sign anyone for a buck

[mustang91]

How about a penny?

[J.T.supporta]

How about a penny?

ok fine, we can give the next coach a penny for 1 year

[bigdaddy08091]

How about a penny?

ok fine, we can give the next coach a penny for 1 year

I can get Joey Florence from Denton Ryan if you would like. His assistants would be some of the best in the State? We would be WOW and not have to spend that much money.

[perunapower]

c'mon guys, can we all be realistic...

we arent going to sign anyone for a buck

How about a doe?

[PonyDogg]

c'mon guys, can we all be realistic...

we arent going to sign anyone for a buck

How about a doe?

D+

[J.T.supporta]

How about a penny?

ok fine, we can give the next coach a penny for 1 year

I can get Joey Florence from Denton Ryan if you would like. His assistants would be some of the best in the State? We would be WOW and not have to spend that much money.

no thanks mr. willis

[SWC2010]

c'mon guys, can we all be realistic...

we arent going to sign anyone for a buck

Correct.

Last season we paid a coach $500 thousand bucks and he delivered 1 win

[PhirePhilBennett]

Ur missing the point...he still gets paid 1.7mm regardless of how much we pay him

[BrianTinBigD]

I was talking about this approach on the way home. Why not let A&M pay his salary for 3 years. Then we can backload the money in year 4. Kinda like the Dickerson Trans AM. Let A&M pay for it and we get the benefits.

[mrydel]

The problem I see here is that I would expect Fran to use the $1.7 Million as a starting point for negotiations rather than what he would settle for for the first few years. Anything over $1.7 million and we have to pay it all.

[Peruna8891]

"F*** him, give him a dollar. Breakfast was my idea."

Sorry, a punch line from an old but very funny joke you all made me think of.

Long live Lewis Grizzard!

[smupony94]

A&M settles with Franchione
Regents approve $4.4 million buyout to be distributed over three years

By TERRANCE HARRIS
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

COLLEGE STATION — The VIP Connection e-mail newsletter ordeal has cost former Texas A&M football coach Dennis Franchione millions, but he walked away far from empty-handed.

The Texas A&M System Board of Regents approved a $4.4 million buyout deal Friday on which Franchione and athletic director Bill Byrne agreed prior to Franchione's forced resignation Nov. 23.

The buyout, which runs over three years, will pay Franchione $1.7 million the first year, $1.7 million the second year and $1 million in the final year. The money in the final two years of the buyout deal could be less if Franchione takes another coaching job at the college or pro level or becomes a sports commentator.

Costly e-mails
"I believe the agreement is fair and I would like to once again thank coach Franchione for his work and efforts here at Texas A&M," Byrne said in a statement. "We wish him and his family well in their future endeavors."

Franchione, who finished with a 32-28 record over five seasons, would have been due more than $8 million to buy out the remaining four years of his contract. But the VIP Connection flap, which involved selling insider information to A&M supporters for $1,200 annually, violated terms of his contract, which allowed the school to negotiate his buyout price.

Franchione's e-mail newsletter ordeal came to light in September and paved the way for his unceremonious dismissal despite his Aggies going 7-5, beating rival Texas in the regular-season finale and earning a Dec. 29 berth in the Alamo Bowl.

Also Friday, the Texas A&M System Board of Regents approved the contract of new A&M football coach Mike Sherman.

Sherman and Byrne agreed to a seven-year contract that pays him $1.8 million annually when he was introduced as the head coach Nov. 26. Sherman will receive $500,000 in base pay and another $1.3 in compensation in the deal.

But there was a dissenting vote cast by regent Gene Stallings, who coached the Aggies from 1965-71.

"I'm concerned we just got through a seven-year contract that didn't work," Stallings said. "Why would we do it again? I think (Sherman) is an excellent hire, but why not let him win a few games and then extend the contract."

Sherman deal set
The contract begins Feb. 4, 2008, and runs through March 31, 2015, with the understanding it can be initiated earlier if both parties agree. Sherman is working as Texans offensive coordinator until the season ends.

"We are extremely pleased the Texas A&M System Board of Regents has approved this contract," Byrne said. "Mike Sherman is an outstanding coach and the perfect fit for Aggieland."

Chronicle reporter Matthew Tresaugue contributed to this report.

[mustangxc]

The problem I see here is that I would expect Fran to use the $1.7 Million as a starting point for negotiations rather than what he would settle for for the first few years. Anything over $1.7 million and we have to pay it all.

Beggars can't be choosers! I don't see any program other than SMU offering him in the near future. He would be stupid not to "settle" for $1.7 million the first two years and $1million the third and then a heavily backloaded contract. I have to think he would want to stick it to the Aggies to a certain degree.