COACHING RECORD

2007 SCHEDULE

 

COACHES HOT SEAT ANALYSIS

With a 25-23 record in 4 seasons at A&M, Franchione is entering a critical season to his continued employment in College Station.  It would be hard to overemphasize the importance of that win last season against Texas, because the natives would be crawling down Fran's back of he had gone 4 seasons without beating the hated Longhorns.  Again in 2007, the Big 12 is ultra-competitive and A&M's season will turn on just a few games in-conference and the fascinating match-up with Miami in South Florida in September.  With Miami being the only competitive game out of conference, and the murderers row of Texas Tech, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Texas to finish the season, Franchione needs to be undefeated heading into Big 12 play.  We are picking A&M to beat Miami, but we also see a bloodbath towards the end of the season with the Aggies losing 5 of their last 6.  If that happens, Franchione will have his team bowl eligible, but you can be sure the people in Aggieland will be none to happy.  Would Franchione lose his job if he puts up a 7-5 record and loses to Texas?  Hard to say, but the one thing that Franchione has going for him is his contract.  The buyout for Coach Fran is $141,667 times the number of months left on his contract, which runs through December 2011.  Therefore, in December 2007  his buyout would be $6.6 million, and that is just a whole lot of money, even in Texas.

 

THE BOTTOM LINE

If Franchione takes A&M to a 7-5 record in 2007, he will almost certainly keep his job.  If he goes into the Texas game at 6-5, which we think is the worst record A&M could possible have on that date, a loss to the Longhorns would be devastating to Coach Fran.  6-6 with a loss to Texas, probably sends Franchione packing, even if they have to write him a check for $6.6 million.

 

TOP REPLACEMENTS 

Gary Patterson (TCU), Paul Johnson (Navy), David Bailiff (Rice), Rick Stockstill (Middle Tennessee), Jeff Bower (Southern Miss), Bo Pelini (Asst. LSU), Brent Venables (Asst. Oklahoma), Sonny Dykes (Asst. Arizona)