On his way?

Official says Aggies close to deal with Franchione

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) -- Texas A&M is approaching a deal with Dennis Franchione to make him the Aggies' next football coach, the chairman of the school's board of regents said Thursday.

"I understand they are past the big items," Erle Nye said.

Nye said university representatives and Franchione have agreed to many terms of a contract, such as its duration, salary and other items.

"I would say they are in constructive discussions," he said.

Nye cautioned that he was not involved in the discussions and was reporting what he'd heard from university officials.

Franchione was scheduled to meet with Texas A&M officials Thursday, just three days after R.C. Slocum was fired after 14 seasons with the Aggies. Franchione and his wife Kim boarded a private plane Thursday morning in Tuscaloosa, Ala., reportedly bound for College Station.

Franchione has five years left on his contract at Alabama, with the deal paying him about $1.1 million a year. He has not signed an extension reported to be worth $15 million over 10 years.

He guided the Crimson Tide to a 17-8 record over the past two seasons, including 10-3 this year. But Alabama can't play in a bowl game this year or next because it's on probation by the NCAA, for recruiting violations that occurred before Franchione arrived.

The A&M board of regents has proposed a five-year contract for Franchione to take over the Aggies' football program, the Houston Chronicle reported. Terms of an offer to Franchione were believed to be about $10 million to $11 million.

Athletic director Bill Byrne, hired away from Nebraska by A&M on Tuesday, was believed to have met Wednesday with Craig Kelly, Franchione's legal representative, to talk about a proposed deal.

Franchione has for several weeks been considered a possible replacement for Slocum, even before he was fired.

A&M lost to rival Texas 50-20 on Saturday, finishing the season 6-6 to match the team's worst record under Slocum. Not even a victory over top-ranked Oklahoma could save his job.

Franchione met for about three hours Wednesday afternoon with Alabama athletic director Mal Moore and members of the Alabama board of trustees, then left without commenting. He canceled speaking engagements Wednesday night in Columbus, Ga., and Thursday in Montgomery, Ala.

Moore said he granted A&M officials permission to talk to Franchione but wanted the coach to stay with the Crimson Tide.

"I will not impede coach Franchione in any manner if he wishes to talk to A&M," Moore said in a statement. "However, I wish to stress that we want coach Franchione to finish his coaching career at the University of Alabama.

"We have made what we feel is a strong and fair contractual offer to him."

Franchione coached at Texas Christian in Fort Worth before taking the Alabama job. The Horned Frogs went 10-2 in 2000, their most victories 61 years.

Slocum, who has spent all but one season since 1972 on the A&M coaching staff, has three years remaining on a seven-year contract worth $1 million annually. A&M president Robert Gates said Slocum accepted an offer to remain at the university as his special adviser.

"I talked with R.C. this morning; we still have to work out the details to nail down," Gates said. "I've already arranged an office for him. We're in the process of talking about the content of the position.

"I expressed to him my enthusiasm in staying on and being an adviser and helping me. We talked about a lot of things that he could do," he said. "He is, without question at this point, the most recognized, and I think it's fair to say the most beloved Aggie there is alive right now with a devotion to the school."

 

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