DENNIS FRANCHIONE’S SECRET GOSSIP SHEET
TMZ.com’s blowing up like crazy these days, so they must be hiring, meaning you should forward Dennis Franchione’s curriculum vitae their way with all due speed. The brilliant, mold-breaking, team-building-exercise-lovin’ 1997-motivational-guru-of-tomorrow isn’t only a colossally overrated coach who ditched an entire organization overnight. He’s also a hell of gossip columnist for his own team.
The skinny (that’s what they say in gossip columns!):
Texas A&M football coach Dennis Franchione said Thursday he has discontinued a secret e-mail newsletter sent to select boosters willing to pay $1,200 per year for team information that Franchione routinely has withheld from the public.
“I knew it was probably going to be controversial,” Franchione said. “I certainly didn’t mean for it to be that. When I knew you guys were starting to ask around a bit, I thought, ‘Maybe we shouldn’t do this.’”
There’s your peaches, right there: Franchione saying that he didn’t think he should publish the newsletter once people started asking about the letter. The newsletter, as the article details, went out to around 12 subscribers who signed confidentiality agreements, a nice bit of frosting for the story since the newspaper was able to get a hold of the super secret, confidential newsletter in the first place.
This indicates several things. One booster among these 12 has sold off all his shares in FranRon, Inc–otherwise, how the hell did the paper get their hands on it in the first place? Second, Coach Fran trod on a real ethical line here, since leaking information on games that are always wagered on by gamblers (potentially the boosters themselves, no?) in secret isn’t illegal, but is certainly jankety, skeevy, and questionable at best.
But enough about character. We don’t know Franchione, the person. We only see Franchione the coach and his actions, leading us to our next point.
Three, it indicates something you can only write on the internet, but it’s something we feel comfortable saying because we think there’s ample evidence of it at this point: Dennis Franchione is a fucking idiot. A total fucking idiot.
–Overwrought game plans are high school offenses in disguise and never fail to squander the talents of players like Reggie McNeal and Jorvorskie Lane.
–Craig James was laughing at your defensive scheme on national television. That’s enough, right?
–Aggie record is 28-24 going into this season with an annual salary of over 2 million dollars.
–Claimed his father was buried in an Alabama sweatshirt…two months prior to leaving the job for Texas A&M.
–Left a team without saying goodbye to his players at Alabama.
–Lost 77-0 to Oklahoma in 2003
–Hit your grandmother with a semi and dared to claim the right of way.
Dennis Franchione parked your car for you.And now, it’s come out that he’s selling exclusive info about the program in an extremely insecure format to subsidize CoachFran.com, including player injuries and unflattering player assessments, in a year when his job is clearly in danger.
The explicit editorial stance from here on out at EDSBS is that Dennis Franchione is a fucking idiot. A total goddamn piss-shitting paste-eating fucking idiot. We wouldn’t trust him with sinking a leaky barge full of bricks with the U.S.S. New Jersey. We wouldn’t trust him to feed our pet alligator Lawrence if we had freezer full of dead chickens and a shovel at the ready. We’d send him an email telling him all this, but we’d have to get in line, and he’s too busy emailing those friendly Liberians back with his bank account numbers. “I’m going to roll in my African riches! EXCELSIOR!!!”
Proven: Dennis Franchione is a fucking idiot. Q.E.D, motherfucker.
Note that no, this isn’t an attack on his character. This an attack on his intellect or lack thereof. These are all very public and very stupid actions on behalf of a person. It’s not garbage, Mike Gundy, if you can back it up. Franchione has a habit of doing very stupid things in the public eye. Objectively stupid things, like this, like leaving Alabama without saying goodbye, like pretty much everything about the Miami gameplan, like his mismanagement of Reggie McNeal. There’s plenty out there to back it up. His resume of dumb is deep, compelling, and documented.









51
Herb says:
Is that a picture of Coach Fran or NC Gov. Mike Easley? Have the two ever been seen in the same place at the same time?
September 28th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
52
dash says:
Bravo!!!!!!! Welcome to the party. I’ve known he was a POS for 5 years.
Fact correction: Fran stated his father-in-law was buried in an Alabama shirt, not his father.
September 28th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
53
That's Hedley! says:
This is a fuck-up of Mackovician proportions.
September 28th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
54
JeffAU says:
for #31
Does “hadn’t been exposed for what he is” mean the same thing as “we wouldn’t have listned to reason anyway”?
The coach-worship is some powerful shizz. Good thing the tide fans don’t have time for that shit anymore, huh?
September 28th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
55
Lumpkin rhymes with Blumpkin says:
cheesecake?
September 28th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
56
gerry dorsey says:
#52
no it doesn’t.
September 28th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
57
bitterhorn says:
Longhorns don’t take any pleasure in watching the a&m program auger into the dirt. It’s bad for our SOS and bad for the conference.
September 28th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
58
VandyJ says:
For Orson, +1000 cocktails and a side job writing performance appraisals for my more insipid co-workers.
For Fran, take two Nelson Muntz laughs out of petty cash.
September 28th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
59
Der Schatten says:
*cricket chirps* Where da Noles at? I feel like poking them with sharp sticks and flinging poo in their general direction. C’mon yaaaaa pansies. Wassamattah? Reflecting on the simple fact that your QB situation is worse than Da’ U and Aubie…combined!
September 28th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
60
Doug says:
All kidding aside, Franchione’s influence over/respect from his players has been a little questionable ever since Reggie McNeal’s famous eye-roll in the huddle a couple of years ago.
Now consider all these TAMU players who’ve been made aware that their own coach was very possibly shit-talking their play or ability to a select cadre of big-money boosters. How in the world does Fran motivate these guys now? What do you think are the chances they decide to toss the rest of the season just to get their dumbfuck coach out the door that much sooner?
September 28th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
61
BamaJoe says:
We were snookered, too, so I don’t want to heap abuse on Texas A&M. I hope you A&M guys get rid of him before he causes too much more damage. He talks a good game, but he is a horrible recruiter and let’s too many distractions affect his coaching.
I’d think the IRS needs to look into his $1200 a booster deal and see where the money is going. I doubt it takes that much to run a website. Websites run by other coaches above board probably gathers readily available info from many sources and puts it all on one website. I doubt their handing out super secret info.
Jeff, you need to get a grip. Your team is floundering. Maybe you need to worry about what you’re going to do now that Tuberville is taking Auburn back to its rightful place – the cellar of the SEC. although you might do better once you reinstate Lester the plagiarist.
September 28th, 2007 at 2:19 pm
62
QuiltybyAssociation says:
Doug — I know how. He makes them read “Kim’s Korner” until they want to go out and kill somebody.
I for one feel duped by this news. I was certain that Fridays with Fran was the be-all, end-all of inside dope from Coach Fran.
September 28th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
63
roaminggator says:
I nominate Franchionne as supreme college football duschebag of all time….Anyone second this motion?
BTW, if you think this money they paid himwas only for info on the team….then think again.
September 28th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
64
Missed by a mile says:
Fran’s a scumbag. Reminds me of Tuberville. Tuberville has had more success, but he is going down the tubes this season just like Fran. I wonder how the Eufala National Champs are going to salvage the season. Maybe it’ll get better once the plagiarist is reinstated.
September 28th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
65
Andy says:
I second the motion. Where at TAMU can we send donations of tar and feathers?
September 28th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
66
bitterhorn says:
And where’s our Friday Bunda?
September 28th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
67
Southern Papa says:
I think Coach Fran just revealed himself as one of the missing Peacock brothers.
September 28th, 2007 at 2:46 pm
68
Laugh says:
He offered the bigwigs 12 minutes free suckling each month.
“Why, yes, they’re leaking right now, thank you very much.”
September 28th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
69
gerry dorsey says:
#58
i was wondering the same thing. i talked to an aggie about 18 months ago who started for both rc and fran, and was the kind of player who was a coaches wet dream…played hard, played hurt, made grades, etc. he said fran was an fucking asshole and he never did get the respect of most of rc’s recruits. now obviously those guys are gone, but i wonder if the feeling in the lockeroom has changed much.
September 28th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
70
Cincy says:
is there going to be cheesecake or are we going to have a problem?
September 28th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
71
Billy in Baton Rouge says:
At this point one has to ask the question: Exactly what has Dennis Franchione done right in his career since recruiting LaDanian Tomlinson.
September 28th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
72
Biggus Rickus says:
You guys do realize that a simple google image search can provide you with all the bunda you can handle.
September 28th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
73
Hog in Ohio says:
Nice job. Coach Fran is unquestionably “mentally challenged,” but the title of biggest dip-$hit in college football still has to go to Houston Nutt. I’d love to see a comparison piece on these two geniuses. (I’d love even more to see Nutt coaching A&M next year). Their track records and decision making characteristics are vomit-inducingly similar.
September 28th, 2007 at 3:19 pm
74
Stephen Colboar says:
I was thinking about if Houston Nutt had done this, what the reports would say…
then I realized that he obviously wouldn’t have time to do this shit, he’d dish out txt hits from practice.
September 28th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
75
kleph says:
now why the hell couldn’t you have posted this two months ago when i was freezing in lima and the hate could have kept me toasty warm.
keep coach fran out of bolivia, btw. that particular demise is reserved for badasses on the scale of che guerra and butch cassidy & the sundance kid.
September 28th, 2007 at 3:26 pm
76
joe says:
Fran didn’t recruit Tomlinson. Pat Sullivan did. So to answer your question, he has done absolutely nothing in his career to be considered a good coach.
September 28th, 2007 at 3:30 pm
77
GamecockTony says:
Coincidentally, SMU tried the reverse approach in the 80’s. Their booster supplied a newsletter weekly to the players… handwritten on $100 bills.
September 28th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
78
J. Plott says:
Thank you. That’s all I can say right now Orson, Thank You.
September 28th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
79
Tommy Boy says:
Can we get some cheesecake…I keep coming back to this site hoping to see bunda, and I’ll I’m greeted with is the ugly mug of that fucking idiot Fran.
September 28th, 2007 at 3:34 pm
80
Tommy Boy says:
I’ll = all
September 28th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
81
Brian O'Blivion says:
Wow. Simply wow. -1
All bunda requests. -1
Fantastics / nice works -1
Here’s a tip. When you are telling one of your stories, try to have a point. It makes it so much more interesting for the listener.
-Steve Martin
Substitute “reader” for “listener”, and add “,motherfucker” for the EDSBS version. Rinse. Repeat.
September 28th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
82
Ding! says:
Jeff, I can’t believe you had the AUdacity to post that after the AUsome season slogans provided by Tiny Terry Bowden.
September 28th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
83
Fesser says:
If Coach Fran was actually selling proprietary injury information to a select list, in addition to the aforementioned doucheiness of it, is it also illegal? It seems like inside injury information would be useful to gamblers, and I have to imagine that a coach selling info useful to gamblers would cross into non-Kosher territory pretty fast.
Also, fuck Rutgers. The prof in the NYT article is a blowhard, but the counterallegations of racism are BS.
September 28th, 2007 at 3:52 pm
84
Crabs says:
#83
It’s called a violation of the HIPAA act of 1996 – and if applied to this case – he could be charged with a felony.
September 28th, 2007 at 3:59 pm
85
Fade Into Bolivia says:
$1,200 buys a lot of little debbies. Hit the bricks Fran
September 28th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
86
Hokie Andrew says:
I’ll chime in and add that Franchione made my all time greatest douchebags in college football when he left Alabama. Especially after he talked players into staying despite the sanctions, only to turn around and seek greener pastures. Abandoning a team is an inherently douchey thing to do but his goading the players into staying with talk of seeing things through and over coming hardship was particularly vile. Plus it lead to the ouster of R.C. Slocum who by most accounts is a real standup guy who was having success at A&M. Teams that shit can good coaches just to catch onto something more shiny deserve ever ounce of grief they get, a’la Solich at Nebraska. Idiots.
September 28th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
87
Crabs says:
Sounds to me as if leaving that fucking shithole Alabama is the only smart thing he has ever done.
September 28th, 2007 at 4:21 pm
88
Holly says:
*complicated series of snaps*
September 28th, 2007 at 4:24 pm
89
Boston Frog says:
No. 71:
Pat Sullivan recruited LaDainian Tomlinson. LaDainian played his first season at TCU under Sullivan in 1997.
Fran inherited Football Jesus.
September 28th, 2007 at 4:26 pm
90
sabanball says:
Totally Fucking Frandiculous
September 28th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
91
Der Schatten says:
Crabs veins have ice water running through them…plus a lil’ vinegar.
September 28th, 2007 at 5:39 pm
92
Anonymous IV says:
“keep coach fran out of bolivia, btw. that particular demise is reserved for badasses on the scale of che guerra and butch cassidy & the sundance kid.”
Here, here Kleph. Thank you for sticking up for the Land of the Aymaras. Fran is not worthy of going to the land where the ruins of Tiwanaku provide evidence that something really badass happened there. Unlike Fran’s coaching carreer. Moving 200 ton stones without the wheel is awesome. Doing it at an altitude of over two miles leaves one speechless and breathless!
September 29th, 2007 at 1:05 am
93
Beergut says:
Orson,
It has only taken you five years to realize this?
I wanted Fran gone after the 2003 season (It didn’t take long to see his hype was better than he was.).
I’m hopeful I may get my wish, and soon.
September 29th, 2007 at 2:42 am
94
eric y says:
Let’s get Sammie to talk to Coach Fran about Jay Whitlow and his dog and see what we can do if Jay was in Texas or if Jay was in Alabama I mean if Whitlow is sure that his dog is terminal and has rabies what could Jay do in Texas vs. what could Whitlow do in Alabama regarding ending the life of the dog without Jay having to pay the Alabama vet or the Texas vet to do the deed for him but Whitlow is clear that he doesn’t want Coach Fran to have anything to do with this and end up like Micheal Vick.
September 30th, 2007 at 11:25 am
95
Harry says:
Did Franchione really pick his nose on national TV? And then not wash his hands? I’ll bet those Alabama football players are glad now that he didn’t come and shake their hands goodbye.
October 18th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
96
FanofFran says:
I love how everyone thinks they know everything that went on between Dennis Franchione and Texas A&M. The fact is you only know what the lying idiots told the public…you have know idea what went on behind closed doors…like how Bill Byrnes is a freaking liar and knew everything about the news letters…when Franchione was packing up his things to leave Bill Byrnes came in to tell him he was so sorry for doing what he did a betrayed him and blah blah blah…of course you all wouldn’t know anything about that Dennis Franchione is my uncle and I stick by him 100% no one really knows what football coaches have to go through. So why don’t you ask people who actually know instead of listening to the stupid media!
November 4th, 2008 at 11:23 am