College Football Wire Notes | Rumors surround Franchione at A
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Texas A&M officials said they will wait until the end of the season before deciding the future of coach Dennis Franchione, who was rebuked this year for allowing boosters to buy information about his players.
The Aggies are 31-27 in Franchione’s five seasons, losing ground to the elite teams in the Big 12 Conference. Franchione is a combined 2-12 against main rivals Texas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma. His standing was undermined by the discovery of subscription e-mails to boosters that gave information about players.
Franchione’s contract pays him more than $2 million a year and runs through 2012.
The Houston Chronicle and CBSSports.com reported Monday that Franchione and the school were working on a buyout deal that would take effect at the end of this season.
“There are several false rumors circulating regarding the Texas A&M football program,” school officials said in a statement.
Alan Cannon, a spokesman for the athletic department, said athletic director Bill Byrne will wait until after the season to evaluate Franchione, as he does with all coaches.
“I have received no indication that he has changed his stance,” Cannon said.
On Sept. 20, the Aggies lost 34-17 to Miami on national television. A week later, a newspaper revealed a series of e-mails that Franchione had been sending to boosters, who paid $1,200 to receive them. The e-mails contained news about players’ injuries and academic standing.
Byrne was not aware of the e-mails until a reporter asked about them. On Oct. 11, Byrne admonished Franchione and ordered him to shut down his personal Web site.
Notes
• The meeting is scheduled for today, a would-be San Diego sports marketer sitting with NCAA investigators to discuss allegations he supplied Reggie Bush - the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner who is playing for the NFL New Orleans Saints - with cash and gifts while the tailback was at USC.
Lloyd Lake, part of a fledgling agency that was designed around Bush as its first client, has filed a civil lawsuit alleging he and a former business partner gave more than $291,600 in payments, lodging and other accommodations to Bush and his family from November 2004 to January 2006. While the lawsuit wends its way through the courts, the NCAA is pursuing an investigation into whether Bush violated eligibility rules. If so, he could be deemed retroactively ineligible and USC could face sanctions.
But connecting USC to violations could be difficult even if the NCAA finds that Bush broke the rules. The NCAA and Pac-10 must prove USC coaches or administrators knew or should have known about the alleged violations, most of which would have occurred in San Diego, hours from campus.
• Coach Bill Callahan sidestepped questions about his future at Nebraska, saying he is focused on preparing to play Kansas State on Saturday.
Callahan, whose team has lost five in a row, declined to say whether he has been asked to resign with the promise of a settlement. If he is fired at the end of the season, Callahan’s contract calls for Nebraska to pay him more than $3 million. Interim athletic director Tom Osborne has said he won’t make a decision on Callahan until the season ends.
• Texas senior center Dallas Griffin will miss the rest of the season after tearing a ligament in his right knee.
• The Naval Academy canceled classes Monday, giving midshipmen another day to celebrate the first victory over Notre Dame in 44 tries. Navy won 46-44 Saturday in three overtimes.