Texas A&M admits to selling inside information to it's boosters

[bigboydan]

Now thats just flat out wrong!

This should have never happened in the first place. Now what even matters worse is you can't help but wonder how many of those boosters bet the Aggies games during this stretch.

Franchione discontinues inside info newsletter for A&M boosters

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Texas A&M coach Dennis Franchione said he has stopped selling inside information on the Aggies in a newsletter to boosters who paid $1,200 per year in subscription fees that helped finance the coach's personal Web site.

About a dozen elite boosters subscribed for the past three years to the e-mail newsletter, called "VIP Connection." It offered Franchione's candid assessments of players and specific injury information, details Franchione routinely declined to discuss publicly because, he would say, it is not "our policy" to disclose injuries.

Franchione, who coached at New Mexico from 1992-97, made subscribers sign a confidentiality agreement and said he doesn't believe any of the inside information was used for gambling, the San Antonio Express-News reported in Friday editions after obtaining a copy of the newsletter through a "third-party source."

"We asked them to sign something," Franchione said. "And for them not to do that. Most of these people are tremendously loyal Aggies."

Athletic director Bill Byrne could not immediately be reached for comment by The Associated Press on Friday.

The newsletter was written by Mike McKenzie, Franchione's personal assistant. The two denied benefiting financially from the newsletter, although Franchione said proceeds were used to underwrite his personal Web site, coachfran.com.

In one newsletter, McKenzie wrote about six players being unavailable to play against Montana State and listed their specific injuries. A seventh player was "iffy" because he had not fully recovered from a mild concussion, according to the newsletter.

McKenzie also wrote about Franchione's assessment of the Aggies' wide receivers.

"Privately, Coach told me last night that Earvin (Taylor) and Pierre [Brown] are very steady but with average speed," McKenzie wrote. "Kerry [Franks] has great speed, but [is] inconsistent in receiving."

"The whole point of it was for them to be informed about the program, straight from the head coach," McKenzie said.

McKenzie referred to "VIP Connection" as "private correspondence between a head coach and the individuals involved."

Franchione, who makes about $2 million per year in a contract that runs through 2011, has offered refunds to the subscribers, McKenzie said.

[Willie Bee]

Now thats just flat out wrong!

This should have never happened in the first place. Now what even matters worse is you can't help but wonder how many of those boosters bet the Aggies games during this stretch.

I'd be willing to bet that anyone who did bet 'em each and every game since Franchione got there sure hasn't made any money. Now, if Franchione was really giving out 'insider information,' and implying to fade their asses some week's, then it's a sh¡tty deal and you're right, it's flat-out wrong.

Anyone see one of these 'insider information' reports yet? Just how juicy was the info? Did Fran say something like, "We're suiting the kid up and telling the other team he's playing, but he won't see any action" or something about what kind of game plan A&M was going to run? Did he say anything about the Aggies having 'inside information' on the other teams? What exactly was this 'insider information' being bandied about? How many people have read the rest of the crap published regularly in the San Antonio Express-News?

If boosters want to pay a dime-plus to get information about a couple of Aggie players having average speed, something they could get in Dave Campbell's preseason mag, then what's the big deal about some rich alum getting some feel-good e-mail for his donations?

Disclaimer: I am a very proud former student at Texas A&M, a lifelong Aggie since about nine months before birth. However, if this gets the moron Franchione and Dollar Bill Byrne canned or at least starts pushing both towards the door, I'm all for it

[bigboydan]

I'd be willing to bet that anyone who did bet 'em each and every game since Franchione got there sure hasn't made any money.

Who's to really say those boosters bet "ON" them though Willie. For all we know they could have bet against them too, and until there is some type of internal investigation done by the NCAA we will never know.

I just keep remembering what happen to those two boosters that were killed not too long ago after anarchy was discovered inside the Alabama and Michigan programs.

[Willie Bee]

Who's to really say those boosters bet "ON" them though Willie.

The same people who seem to think that they necessarily bet at all. I'm convinced with the right marketing campaign you could get the general public to call for an investigation of a cricket fũck.

[mv09]

Im an aggie and there is outrage over this.

Everyone already hates the guy and now this comes up. Its absolutely pathetic. Sure, Frank Beamer and other coaches do it, but at least his teams perform (and charge 800% less).

Fire this guy

[DrunkenLullaby]

(and charge 800% less)

Quite potentially the most impressive thing Beamer has ever done.

I pray for your sake that no Longhorns read this!

[Willie Bee]

Im an aggie and there is outrage over this.

That seems a bit over the top. Any Aggie who is expressing shock and using this non-story to fuel some rage against Franchione is wasting energy. Aggies should have been outraged when the school hired the idiot and expected this slime to lead the football program to the Promised Land. And as far as I'm concerned, even more outrageous than Franny selling this 'insider information' is the fact he had people lining up to buy the sh¡t.

Like I said, if there are e-mails with Franchione saying something like, "McGee and Lane are not playing this week, we're withholding the information until all good Ags can get their bets down on the other guys," then it's insider information. If Art Schlicter's and Denny McLain's addresses are among the distribution, then it's shady. But e-mailing a bunch of goombah's and telling them your corners have average speed? C'mon!

Though I am for firing his ass

[bigboydan]

How many years does he have left on his deal anyways Willie?

[Willie Bee]

Oh hell, I think he's signed through 2012. But he's never stayed at a university through his contracts before, and I'm sure A&M has various outs in the deal.

This is a molehill turned into a mountain.

[bigboydan]

I'm surprised all those disgruntled gamblers haven't DOS'ed his site yet.

Heres the latest news on this extremely shaddy newsletter saga.

A&M coach admonished for producing secretive newsletter

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Texas A&M officials said Thursday that coach Dennis Franchione will be admonished for a secretive for-pay newsletter sent to boosters and that the school will report possible violations related to the newsletter to the NCAA.

The school ordered the coach to shut down his Web site -- CoachFran.com -- and will issue a "letter of admonishment."

Athletic director Bill Byrne said he'll consider the newsletter when he evaluates Franchione at the end of the season. Franchione's $2 million per year contract runs through 2012.

"This will be part of his performance review," Byrne said. "The Aggies are embarrassed right now. This has been a very unfortunate incident we do not want to experience again."

Byrne was not aware of the newsletters -- which boosters paid Franchione $1,200 a year for -- until a reporter inquired about them about a month ago. A&M hired a consulting firm to investigate about two weeks ago, after Franchione admitted he provided the information in a newsletter called the "VIP Connection."

"My guess is there was an attempt to keep it from us," Byrne said. "I think the whole thing started as something well-intended, to keep a number of people who were good donors to the university forever informed about things that were going on. It just got out of control."

Franchione apologized to his team, the school and A&M fans in a statement released after Byrne met with reporters. He also tried to explain himself.

"I was trying to keep some loyal Aggies informed on our program in greater detail throughout the year," he said. "Please do not blame them. They were only trying to support our program."

Franchione said he was turning his attention to Saturday's game at Texas Tech and would not comment further on the newsletter.

David Batson, A&M's compliance officer, said he did not expect the NCAA to penalize the program with sanctions, though he wouldn't rule it out.

"I think the actions taken by the institution will suffice," Batson said. "But ultimately, that's a decision by the NCAA."

The NCAA did not immediately return a phone message.

Some of the newsletters contained information about prospective A&M recruits.

One from Aug. 13 read: "TOTAL MUM ON THIS. A certain highly regarded prospect who has committed to Michigan showed up at practice Saturday wearing a USC cap, for which he took a lot of guff.

"As they say in recruiting, it's a long time until February. Same for kids who say they're going to, oh, say, Alabama," it said.

The e-mail continues that Franchione talked to an official whose daughter goes to A&M. From Franchione's view, the newsletter reads, the official was "subconsciously not trying to appear biased about A&M" and making calls against the Aggies.

"He said the official didn't like what he said," the e-mail said, "but the plan was counter-subconscious espionage; get the official to think subconsciously about what he might be thinking about subconsciously ... well, you get the gist."

Among A&M's actions, Franchione was ordered to no longer employ "any staff members that could be construed as representing Texas A&M or providing information or reports relative to his position as head coach at Texas A&M."

Byrne said Franchione's longtime personal assistant, Mike McKenzie, actually wrote the e-mails, and Byrne suggested that Franchione may not have always known about the content. Byrne said McKenzie is no longer an A&M employee, though Byrne was unaware if Franchione was still employing him in some capacity.

The school pointed out three areas where possible violations occurred:

• Franchione did not report to A&M income generated through his Web site or from the VIP Connection. The school said Franchione thought he did not have to report the income until he actually received the proceeds that exceeded expenses incurred for maintaining the Web site.

The school reported that Franchione's Web site and the e-mails generated about $80,000 between June 2005 and June 2007. The school said Franchione's net profit was $37,806.32. A&M said McKenzie was paid by Franchione.

• The VIP Connection occasionally contained information about prospective student-athletes. The NCAA prohibits a school from commenting publicly on recruits until they sign letters of intent.

• The school suggested that Franchione violated Big 12 Conference standards of sportsmanship.

Batson said neither Franchione nor McKenzie was aware of newsletter recipients using the information for gambling.

The school released a list of 23 recipients of the VIP Connection, including Franchione's wife, Kim, and their oldest daughter, Ashley.

Batson said the school has gathered newsletters from as far back as November 2006. He estimated that the newsletters started in the fall of 2004, the year after Franchione arrived at A&M.

[Willie Bee]

Shaddy?!?!?!

Again I ask, Dan, how many of these 'shady' newsletters have you read and exactly what did they contain?

[bigboydan]

It wouldn't matter how many I, you, the whole world read Willie. If there was any inside info content in those newsletters at all then it was indeed "shady".

[Willie Bee]

Define 'inside info' please. Is "Kerry [Franks] has great speed, but [is] inconsistent in receiving" inside info to you?

[raiders72002]

Who's to really say those boosters bet "ON" them though Willie.

If he tells the boosters that all these guys are hurt and they're a big fav, in essence he's saying I'll make sure we don't cover.

[bigboydan]

If he tells the boosters that all these guys are hurt and they're a big fav, in essence he's saying I'll make sure we don't cover.

My point exactly Raiders.

[Willie Bee]

Yes, if that's what he's telling them. But is that an example of the 'inside information' he's passed along, or just supposition on the part of those who haven't read the 'secret e-mails?'

[WestsidePete]

of course the info was used for gambling for or against A&M...or sold from bosters to gamblers...why else have it out there?? why would bosters care if someone's injury or more or less serious and have to pay for it....this is totally shady and he should be fired....

[Willie Bee]

The only thing shady about all of this are the wild accusations going around about what exactly was in the newsletters. How many have you read Pete? Dan? Raiders?

Like I said from the start, I hope this does get him fired, would love for the AD to find some fine print in the contract that could get A&M off the hook for the zillion years left on the deal. But the only stuff from the newsletters that I've been able to read come off like something you'd read in Dave Campbell's preseason football rag.

[WestsidePete]

He collected money in exchange for info on the football team that the general public had no knowledge about and the university was not informed of the payments or release of information in the beginning....that's wrong...why should the university have to do an internal investigation to find this out?? If it was presented to the university openly and candidly when the website was creadted, then this would be different, but it wasn't.

[Willie Bee]

Wrong and stupid, in my opinion. But illegal? Maybe if he never reported the income, and depending what they find it certainly could be a violation of some silly NCAA rules.

Still, this argument has now been deflected away from the initial claims of all the 'inside info' and how it was undoubtedly used for all sorts of amazing gambling action to the fact that it was just unethical in general terms. And my question remains, how many of these e-mails has anybody read? Hey, if someone can show me how there was viable 'inside info' in them, I can eat a plate of crow and admit I was wrong. But I want something more meaty than the crap they listed in the initial article and quoted below once again. Understand also that what's in the quote below is not even first hand stuff from Franchione himself. Boosters pay bazillions of dollars each year, some of it under the table, at every damn school that is trying to win on the Div I-A level. A lot of them do it because they just want to feel like an insider and walk around with their chests all swelled while tailgating and telling their friends, "Psst, I talked to Coach Bozo last night and he tells me they're going to blitz more today."

"Privately, Coach told me last night that Earvin (Taylor) and Pierre [Brown] are very steady but with average speed," McKenzie wrote. "Kerry [Franks has great speed, but [is] inconsistent in receiving."

[mv09]

Define 'inside info' please. Is "Kerry [Franks] has great speed, but [is] inconsistent in receiving" inside info to you?

All the Bulletins, Emails, Booster Information, and everything related to this matter was posted on the AggieAthletics website. I read a good portion of the emails and they were very shady.

No real information was given out, but stuff like "Jorvorskie had his hand stitched up after being cleated came back to play in the 2nd half". A lot of stuff about People on the TexAgs fan message board posting information and Fran being pissed about it and wanting to know who it was.

Im sure its still there if you go to the website.

A&M is not hiding anything. This is ALL Coach Fran. A&M fans and administration is outraged and will probably use this to help ease the buyout clause at the end of the year.

He's gone.

Wrong and stupid, in my opinion. But illegal? Maybe if he never reported the income, and depending what they find it certainly could be a violation of some silly NCAA rules.

4 NCAA violations, 1 Big 12 Violation

[mv09]

Wrong and stupid, in my opinion. But illegal? Maybe if he never reported the income, and depending what they find it certainly could be a violation of some silly NCAA rules.

4 NCAA violations, 1 Big 12 Violation

Hey, if someone can show me how there was viable 'inside info' in them, I can eat a plate of crow and admit I was wrong. But I want something more meaty than the crap they listed in the initial article and quoted below once again. Understand also that what's in the quote below is not even first hand stuff from Franchione himself.

All the information was from Coach Fran's mouth passed on by Mike McKenzie who was in charge of the website.

That quote was the only real interesting part of the email newsletter that was released at first.

Like I mentioned, all personal emails, violations, newsletters, booster information, and everything used by Mike McKenzie on his computer.. documents, emails, etc.. was on the Aggie Athletics website.

Its not on the front page to my knowledge anymore, but if you look for it, im sure you'll find it.

No real gambling insight, but very shady.

It looks real bad. Much worse than my initial reaction.

[mv09]

http://www.aggieathletics.com/features/vip/

[Willie Bee]

A&M is not hiding anything. This is ALL Coach Fran. A&M fans and administration is outraged and will probably use this to help ease the buyout clause at the end of the year. He's gone.

Good, I was against him being there from the start. But...

"Jorvorskie had his hand stitched up after being cleated came back to play in the 2nd half"

Was that e-mailed out just before they went back for the second half giving bettors real inside info, or was the whole thing just nobody knew he played with stitches after the game was over?

4 NCAA violations, 1 Big 12 Violation

Wasn't aware the NCAA had already ruled on any violations, just thought the school was turning over all they knew. The Big 12 violation was what I read as something to do with "Sportsmanship Standards." C'mon! That sounds like something they can use for leverage to get out of his contract easier, which I've said all along I'm all for.

I'm not as upset about it, obviously, as the rest of the fans and administration. And what amazes me is that this is 'All Fran' as you say. What about the mofo's who paid the money? If this juicy inside info was used for gambling edges, aren't the former students who bought in just as guilty? How about letters of admonishment for them, or are we saying they had no clue what kind of information they received and they never used it for gambling?

[mv09]

There really wasnt any big gambling information in the emails ive read.

I posted the link to the emails a minute before your post, so you probably didnt see it while you were typing your message. Everything is there.
From Casual Emails to Email from Fans or outrage

[pokernut9999]

When this first came out I heard someone say all schools do this , but this price was not as high as Texas A&M's. If that is true then it is no big deal.

[mv09]

When this first came out I heard someone say all schools do this , but this price was not as high as Texas A&M's. If that is true then it is no big deal.

Ive heard about 2 or 3 other schools who did it, including Frank Beamer at VT. However, Fran's newsletters included names of recruits and numerous other violations. Plus some of it sounded really shady.