We don't get paid for effort we get paid for results. If you don't believe this post ask your employer.

The original post is a joke. Fran hasn't done anything to turn the ship around. He was given the benefit of the doubt the first two season, now all the pressure is on him. How long are we supposed to support this guy and wait for the turnaround? I love BB but if I were him, I'd have fired Fran after last season. The guy just doesn't have it.

"A conservative is a statesman who is enamored of existing evils, as distinguished from the LIberal, who wishes to replace them with others."
--- Ambrose Bierce

"No one has any idea what would have happened if RC had stayed or if we had someone besides Fran. The current woes could be just as bad or worse. No one knows."

Exactly...so we have to go with what we have. The facts are that Fran hasn't gotten our program any higher than when he got here, and it can be argued that we've taken steps back. He suffered the worse losses in school history, including the 77-0 debacle, and the Baylor games (yes I said games.)

we've been relegated to 4th in the big 12 south, with no definitive signs of moving up. As fans we've been reduced to claiming the last 6 quarters of last season as "victories" when in fact WE LOST.

UT won the MNC, TT is winning 9 games, and OU still has Stoops and AD. When we lose we get manhandled, and when we win it's a struggle against Tx St and Baylor.

Now, you tell me what part of that post is not true? Why should we not hold Fran accountable for this? You say we don't know what RC would have done, and your right. So this is Fran's bed he made, now let him sleep in it? If we'd won 9 games in his first year would you want to give that credit to RC? Than why would you put all the blame on him?

Is Fran doing it deliberatly, of course not, but facts are facts. Fran's the coach and it's his fault...PERIOD.


[This message has been edited by prepyag03 (edited 3/29/2006 8:48a).]

[This message has been edited by prepyag03 (edited 3/29/2006 8:51a).]

I don't hate Coach Fran. I think he's a good and upstanding gentleman. However, I don't he is a good fit at Texas A&M and I don't think he has done a good here, nor has he preformed at anywhere near the level that would warrent the type of salary he gets.

But hate? No, I don't hate. I happen to like the guy, just not as our HC.

As long as people don't cross a line and get too personal (insults toward his family, death threats, etc.) I think people are allowed to make a couple jokes.

The guy's getting payed 2 million a year, I'm sure he can take.

Hell, I'd let you people make as much fun of me as you want for 2mil a year.

I think you will see a big change in the team this fall. From reading the football reports, the coaches are getting in the players faces and calling them out. Tough love works best. We are all pissed about last season. Fran even said that the team may be better but the record may not reflect it. A&M is down, but know where near it was when Jackie arrived in 82. I, like all of you, believe he has to get it done this year, thus all the changes made during the offseason. This team will surprise people. I will what until T + to make my choice as to wheather he stays or goes.

I get tired of people talking about his salary. Would any of us turn down a raise like that? No. It is really beside the point. He needs to start winning NOW. If not he needs to be replaced, but whether he makes 2 million or 1 million was someone else's decision. Either way it is a lot of money and comes with high expectations. Would it feel any better if he made 400K and we had the same record? Not me. What he gets paid is what the head coaching job at this school is worth. Is he the right man? One more year will answer that for good.

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From reading the football reports...

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Not trying to start anything here, but they've pretty much said the same thing for the past three years.

Gig 'Em

It's Frantastic - Frantabulous even.

I don't expect to win every game. But 16-19 at a school with our resources?!?!?! Ridiculous. We are one of the five biggest schools in the country, with one of the biggest endowments, with the most spirited student body, with former students who actively support the program. We should be a top program year in and year out. 16-19 is not acceptable.

All of the b itching and whining (although it may be deserved) will not change the fact that Fran will be the coach of the football team next season. I support the team; therefore I support Fran until he gives up, retires or is replaced.
That being said, he should have broad enough shoulders to handle some jokes and criticism.

Fran's life has been dedicated to football and this Texas A&M job is the culmination of all he has worked for. He is working his tail off to build a champion here and I am sure the early failures are deeply disappointing to him, to say the least. Some people think you can just throw money at someone and expect miracles. Don't forget money can't buy the experienced upperclassmen that you need to succeed in the Big XII.

It is ridiculous to claim Fran should have been fired after 2 or 3 years.

Who wants to coach for a school who won't give you time to recruit your own players and develop them ? We would truly ruin our program by firing Fran, and then getting a coach that is just decent would be tough. Getting recruits would also be tougher if they can't believe the new coach will have 4 years at least. Thank goodness Bill Byrne is running the show and knows best how to handle these situations.

Fran has been doing the best recruiting we have had in a while. Under the circumstances, that is incredible. It is just a matter of time before we start having major success on the field. A lot of people will be surprised at how well we play this year.

The man has stolen 6 mil from us thus far. This is not TCU, or NMSU this is a major rebuiling against two of the toughest teams in the country. He is not getting it done on the field or with recruiting. He deserves the criticism he gets. He knew he would have to try and recruit against Mack and Bob. That is why he is paid 2 mil per year. He is supposed to be good enough to recruit against them and gameplan against them. People said he was not good enough to do this, and they re right. So we complain. What else can you do.

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What else can you do.

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For starters you can refrain from rhetoric like "The man has stolen 6 mil from us thus far"

[This message has been edited by cecil77 (edited 3/29/2006 10:12a).]

The original post was spot-on.

Also, I personally believe that any college coach should get 4 years, no matter what. At the end of the year we can take a look at the season, and if he doesn't get it done then we'll have to look elsewhere. If he does, and I believe he will, then all of this is moot point.

Keeping RC for me came down to one thing, do I believe he can get us a National Championship. When I thought the answer was no, I felt it was time to look elsewhere. Maybe I was wrong, who knows. My point is this: I still don't believe we have seen Fran live up to his potential, and next year he is out of excuses. He is going to have to get it done on the field.

Anything we say, or don't say won't change what happens. But we can say some things that will make us look awfully stupid...

Anyone here who thinks there is anyone on this planet who wants to win more than Dennis Franchione is a complete moron. The man works his tail off. Two of our clients, one a major contributor the the AD, and his son, a leader on the team itself would adamantly refute everything that a lot of you say about the man. Has Fran Gotten the results we all wanted to this point? No.

Does that give free run to drag his name through the mud, make fun of his height, weight, family etc...?? Hell No!!

A lot of you need to give that a rest, because I find it damned embarrassing to come on this website and see a bunch of people who are supposed to be grown men and women, throwing poison and insults towards members of our AD and other Ags on this board on a routine basis.

I will continue to support our players and our COACH, so when the Ags are contending again I don't have to feel like a complete moron when I'm on my knees worshiping someone that I completely wrote off and berated a year ago.

What do I have to lose with this approach? Absolutely Nothing!! If things don't work out, we move on and let someone else try.

But I refuse to sit here and cast useless stones at anyone in the AD, because I trust that the right decisions will be made reguardless.

What I find funny is that somehow many people here think that their slanderous remarks and insulent behavior will in someway enact the change that they look for. Believe me... You are not viewed as the "intelligent community" when it comes to the people who hold the keys to power.

The same behavior 4 years ago was not what got Slocum ousted either, as much as a lot of you would like to take credit for it.

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Fran hasn't done anything to turn the ship around

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It's a big ship. Before you turn it around it has to be in running condition first. Not laying blame on the man or anything, but it was pretty well run aground when RC left.

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I won't be surprised at all if we win the BigXII this year.

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RoyIII_Ag08 - I completely agree, well said.

The guy is a human being and the vile commentary being spewed about him on this board is really sad.

I wanted him replaced after last season, and I have made some disparaging remarks, especially after the losses, but this constant drum beat of negativity, acrid commentary, and degrading prose is deplorable.

I agree that many go too far in what they criticize Fran for. I have defended Fran when I think it is warranted and I have criticized him as well, again when it is warranted.

I had high hopes for what he could do here when he arrived. I have grown disillusioned by the FranPlan when we are constantly getting out played by teams with inferior talent.

The other day, after I looked at his D1A coaching record. I realized that I am now a "pot banger."

Fran's D1A winning percentage is .551
He only has 2/14 seasons with fewer than 4 losses.

I have not seen anything yet that would lead me to believe that he will perform above his average while coaching at Texas A&M.

they could've said the same thing about joe pa countless times over the past ten seasons. they did say them. but he proved that he's a great coach and that having great teams are cyclical in college football, which they are.

fran is a good coach so give him a chance. lay off.

Seriously people.. the only reason Fran is in the position he is now is because everyone over-hyped him in his first season.

Take darnell for example.. we are all saying "I'm not going to make any generalizations until we see what he can do with this team on the field".

You were the same people who were saying we were going to win a national championship in Fran's first year. Why could'nt we just wait and see what Fran was doing and not base any opinions until we saw his team play? Everyone seems to want instant gratification and to be a superior program NOW! And I will say it.. our talent level over Fran's first two years was pathetic compared to that of the BIG 3 that we want so bad to defeat (except maybe tech, and during Fran, we have won our only home game against them).

Don't forget that the coaches over at Oklahoma know what a national championship is like, and their recruits want to know that same feeling. It's not easy beating two of the top 3 teams in the country every year.

Our rise back to power WILL come. We may not be BCS this year, but you can bet your asses we will be in a nice bowl, with MAJOR success to soon follow. And if I'm wrong, then our coach knows the consequences.

But seriosuly, what good are you doing the program, fans, recruits, TEAM, and their families by degrading the one person they need to believe in? Think about it..

There was a great thread on the M&W forum ElectricAg1 asked these questions:

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For someone to be unhappy with the job Fran has done, to think think he has done a poor job overall these last 3 years, without hating the man?

Is it also possible to think Fran has done a poor job without hating Texas A&M?

It is really hard to imagine that some of you all are adults or young adults.

I look forward to the pearls of wisdom that will be posted below.

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Here is my answer to these questions:

To question 1, Yes< BUT if the state of the Football Program is a significant factor in your emotional well being it's hard to be objective. PLUS the added emotional intensity of the state of success of our sibling rivals (the sips and tards), just multiplies the difficulty of remaining cool and objective and PATIENT!

Absolutely on the second question.

BUT, I don't think it is possible to SEPERATE the Head Coach and staff from the Texas A&M football team. I don't think you can say "I hate Fran! (which is kind of extreme, comes from an inbalance from question 1.)but I support the A&M team."

That's kind of like saying 'Well, I love my body, my heart and my vital organs, but I hate the head! So I'll just shoot the head and some how think that it has no effect on the body!'

That's kind of dumb. Get the comparrison?

I do have a problem with a large portion of the critism of Fran, but NOT ALL. If it is done in an objective and reasonable way, I have no problems with someone saying "I think we should of used J Lane a lot more during the ISU game! or 'I think we should of gone for 2 here'. No problem there but let's remember that hind site makes geniuses out of us all (well most people at least. HEHEHEHE)

I have no problem with that, I do however have a problem with "What a stupid blankity blank Fran is, he can't coach, he can't recruit, he has destroyed the program and blah blah blah!" Some have even compared him to some pretty evil historical figures and spread some really false info about him. (this again comes out of an over prioritization of values from question 1 and a willingness to believe lies to justify your hatred!)

I have asked the handful that do this over and over again if they can find at least one thing that Fran has done right, and mention it! Up to now, THEY CAN'T or won't! That irritates me and I just find it hard to not confront. I think they have a root of bitterness and that defiles! If Fran ever does succeed they are going to have a hard time enjoying the fruits of the success. (Kind of like some Cowboy fans who could never handle Jimmy Johnson's success!) These folk are getting ripped off. IMHO

You can't carry on any cohesive conversation with those type. When ever you challenge their opinion and ask them to defend it, They call it a personal attack or name call you or call you Mike McKenzie < Which I have been called. HEHEHEHE)

The other problem I have with criitizing Fran is that it really bares no positive fruit at all. NONE, ZIP, NADA. No one has yet answered my challenge as to how all this dung slinging does any postive thing for the program. They just repond that they have a right to share their opinions of feelings. No one doubts that right. That is not the question, the question is how does it help the program? No answer yet.

Even if we are as bad as these think, and I disagree. It's like having an ugly daughter. The fact of the matter is that to the eye of many she may be ugly. But as a father she's your daughter! Even if you know she's not the prom queen, I don't think you would just get up in the morning every day and say, "Geez girly your ugly!" (Furthermore,It's really a stupid father to be comparing your daughter to every every Hollywood sex symbol. Thus I don't care about the sips, Their not my daugther, not even my neice!) You'd be a pretty sick dad to do that. It also surely isn't going to help fix the problem is it? Words are powerful, thoughts are powerful, they have an effect, more than we know or are willing to admit. We'll be judged by them as well. If you don't think outsiders don't come on here and read these threads and make judgements your just plain dense and want to remain so! Sorry that's just the truth.

Texas A&M football is the only 'daughter' I have (metaphorically speaking) When someone is constantly calling her ugly and stupid (especially in public) I get a bit preturbed.

Even in my own family if a brother was calling my daughter ugly I think he better get ready for a beating!

That's what most the guys who have a hard time with me don't understand. They think I am pro Fran to the inth degree. Well, yea I am because, he is the HC (the head) of Texas A&M football. Which happens to be my 'daughter'. YOu can't say to me, "wow what a great body but gee she needs to wear a sack!" and not have me get a little rankled. (A little side note: as funny as it is for the Saints to be called the ain'ts and wear sacks to games. Tell me how that has helped the success of the Saints as a football team and they are PROS!? As a man thinks so he is!)

Finally, I still see the whole Fran thing as a work in progress. The jury is still out, I disagree with those who have already judged and beheaded him.

It becomes a lot harder to get pretty when those in your family are slapping you and throwing rocks at you every chance you get. It's like they want you to be ugly!

Let the man have a full and fair shot to get the girls mature and prettied up!

Even if Fran doesn't get the job done you won't see me throwing stones at him. I don't believe he is trying to sabbatoge the program. Once again that is a tree without fruit.

"only one thing is important!"

criticism of Fran's coachign and hating the man are two seperate issues.

some people have a hard time thinking others can criticize without hating.

saying Fran is not doing his job is not the same as saying you hate him. not even remotely close or related.

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one a major contributor the the AD, and his son, a leader on the team itself would adamantly refute everything that a lot of you say about the man.

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My guess is that the son is a certain offensive lineman...dad is just a tad bit smaller lol.

I am a decorated veteran (purple heart) of the RC War of 1996-02 and though my side ultimately lost the fight and the wrecking crew via friendly fire, I fully support the sentiment expressed in the original post that nothing is to be gained by villifying this coach or any other A&M coach on the worldwide web.

If you are bugged by the coach, I suggest you box him out of your thoughts and focus on what you DO LIKE about Texas Aggie football ---- i.e. we have a QB who seems to be channeling Bucky Richardson.



[This message has been edited by PanhandleSlim (edited 3/29/2006 12:19p).]

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No one has any idea what would have happened if RC had stayed or if we had someone besides Fran. The current woes could be just as bad or worse. No one knows.

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How exactly could it get any worse? I say two losing seasons in three, full of historical blowout defeats and upsets, is about as bad as it gets. There aren't many coaches in the Big12 that can claim those stats...

Spot on OPAG.

There is justifiable criticism but not everything that he does or says or happens deserves or is justified in the ridicule and criticism that is given.

This site is getting very difficult to visit because of all the crap you have to read through to get at any substance.

The snide comments and ripping on Fran don't accomplish anything.

Criticize his use of Javorskie vs ISU but give him credit for the game planning vs the sips which almost pulled that one out.

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How exactly could it get any worse?

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It would be much worse if we had unranked recruiting classes, halted the building of new facilities, quit trying to have inspired practices, etc.

Under Fran, the right things are happening to turn this program around, it is only a matter of time before it shows up on the field.

i still think my comment stands

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But seriosuly, what good are you doing the program, fans, recruits, TEAM, and their families by degrading the one person they need to believe in? Think about it..

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It would be much worse if we had unranked recruiting classes, halted the building of new facilities, quit trying to have inspired practices, etc.

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You just proved my point. You admit this sad state of affairs has come with ranked recruiting classes. What is worse than performing as poorly as we have with decent talent?

As far as builiding new facilities, Fran has nothing to do with that, and that would happen no matter what coach was here.

not having spirited practicies? Haha, come on, if this is really a way it could get worse, that comment speaks volumes.

The point is that all those things are what you need to do to turn a program around. Fran is doing the job.

You can't judge Fran by the performance of young, inexperienced guys. Bill Byrne knows this so you can bet Fran will get the time needed to turn this thing around.

R.C. would have never allowed Texas A&M to be last (nationally) in any defensive category.

I think the main thing we need to see is PROGRESS. You can throw out building your own recruits, developing facilities, etc. as what needs to happen first before we see better times. Fine. But for every program that you list that has waited for this, I can show you another one where a coach came in and showed PROGRESS with existing players. He is being paid a lot of money to do this.

I will also agree with NY Aggie about the difference of criticizing (contstuctive or not) and hating. Seems to me that some criticism is valid but can be over the top. But I also know that for those that sunshine pump every year, that too gets a little tiresome. Be a realist and see things as they really are.

Don't worry though, our record will be better next year. How could it not with the cream puff schedule we have in non-conference. Admit to yourself though that this coach should be ultimitely be judged by 4 games (ou, neb, tt, and tu). You lose those 4, sorry, I see no progress. Carry on.

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Fran has been doing the best recruiting we have had in a while. Under the circumstances, that is incredible

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I always get a chuckle when I see this sentiment. "incredible under the circumstances". Well, the circumstances were created by Fran so I guess he's doing an "incredible" job in spite of himself?

I also agree with the spirit of the original post in that personal shots at Fran, his family, or otherwise are hitting below the belt and that criticism of Fran should be directed toward his capacity as coach.