Eagle Staff Writer
Franchione will serve as a commentator for ESPN Radio beginning Aug. 30 with the Alabama vs. Clemson game, he said. The remainder of the schedule was unclear Tuesday.
"I'm very excited to stay close to college football this season and obviously feel very good about being associated with ESPN," Franchione said.
Other contract details weren't immediately available, and ESPN officials would not confirm the contract Tuesday.
Dan Quinn, ESPN associate manager of communications in Connecticut, said the company had yet to announce its upcoming schedule or its talent roster but suggested the information could be released in coming weeks.
Franchione abruptly resigned his post last November just minutes after the Aggies upset the 11th-ranked Texas Longhorns, 38-30. The move ended a tumultuous year that included a scandal in which the coach was accused of selling private team information via subscriptions to a secret e-mail newsletter.
His tenure tarnished by NCAA infractions and losses on the field, Franchione -- a former coach at Texas Christian University and Alabama -- essentially was forced to quit after five years at the helm of Aggie football after many A&M alumni and administrators had expressed disappointment in his performance.
Franchione said he auditioned with ESPN earlier this year in Bristol, Conn. He only recently learned he had been selected for ESPN Radio, he said.
• Holly Huffman's e-mail address is holly.huffman@theeagle.com.
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Posted by: Cuz On: 8/15/2008
Comment Title: Denny.... we wish you all the best
Dennis and Kim are wonderful people. People make mistakes... he's now paying for them...give him a break.
Posted by: Sooner in Aggieland On: 8/8/2008
Comment Title: who cares
Does it really matter? How many of you will actually be listening to games like Alabama vs. Clemson- and on RADIO?
Posted by: On: 8/8/2008
Comment Title:
Just mute the TV? He's on radio. And if I mute that, wouldn't it sort of defeat the point?
Posted by: Moses Hall On: 8/7/2008
Comment Title: Frantastrophe
When will our long, national nightmare come to an end?
Posted by: Dennis Franchione On: 8/7/2008
Comment Title: trainwreck
This is what Im trying to avoid for the upteenth time im my career.
Posted by: Shipwreck On: 8/7/2008
Comment Title: solution
Just mute the TV.
Posted by: Sam Jones On: 8/7/2008
Comment Title: Dennis Franchione
The people in Alabama and Texas fell you guys have hit rock bottom, by hiring Dennis Franchione. We do not want to hear anything this lair has to say.. I guess character is not a factor when making a hire anymore. This guy has messed up so many young men’s football careers because of his ego. This man should never coach another game in his life. He did not even play the game, himself. So, what does he have to say!! Just using ESPN like he has used TCU, Alabama and Texas A and M for his next job.
Posted by: Matt '93 On: 8/7/2008
Comment Title: Hold the rope fran!
As a proud member of the aggiesforum website (formerly known as firedennisfranchione.com), this story only shows how rediculous espn has become. Have they ever heard the sound of his voice? The only football play he could call while at A&M was the zone read option. He will be a deer caught in the headlights when he calls a game where one of the team actually throws the ball down the field. To everybody who wishes him luck, he's got a couple of million little pieces of luck still coming to him from A&M and what kind of luck did he bring to A&M? fran is a fraud who, unfortunately, was finally caught at A&M.
Posted by: KAllen On: 8/6/2008
Comment Title: oh my
I could not stand listening to his voice when I actually liked the guy as a coach. I cannot imagine having to listen to that voice through an entire game. Glad he is there and not on the Aggie sideline though.
Posted by: CDub On: 8/6/2008
Comment Title: Good Luck Fran
Good News For Fran! I wish the best for him, I hope he is successful!
Posted by: Wes On: 8/6/2008
Comment Title: NCAA Infractions?
It is irresponsible of the author to summarily state that "NCAA infractions" tarnished Fran's tenure. He may not have achieved the level of success he should have at A&M, but he's never been accused of not running a clean program (at any stop). Clarification of exactly what you are talking about is warranted, at a minimum. However, if you're referring to the ticky-tack e-mail stuff, you really should let that go.
Posted by: Aggie Fan from Beaumont On: 8/6/2008
Comment Title:
is Franchione still living in the Brazos Valley area ? either way...he isn't the best radio personality I would have chosen for the spot. He is very mono-tone and can easily put most people to sleep.....like the Aggies he coached !!
Posted by: Aggie On: 8/6/2008
Comment Title: Thumbs up
Good for you Fran! Best of luck
Posted by: vatsa On: 8/6/2008
Comment Title: Nice!
Irony that he is commentating Alabama game! Hope he livens up his commentary style contrary to his offensive strategies! He might have to relinquish the buyout money from A+M as per his severance contract. Wishing him all the best!
Posted by: Coach Bible On: 8/6/2008
Comment Title: do what?
Who's going to hire Fran for "another coaching stint?" Mr. personality will be hard to listen to on the radio, funny that he's doing the Alabama game though, i bet the tide nation will love that.
Posted by: On: 8/6/2008
Comment Title:
He's got a duty to mitigate his damages, and a paycheck from ESPN ought to fall in that category - or at least that's what I remember from first year contracts. My question is: who thought that Fran has a voice for radio? I could understand putting him on camera for some face recognition, but his voice is terrible.
Posted by: Dan Moriarty "56" On: 8/6/2008
Comment Title: Retired
What affect will the contract with ESPN have on the pay-off agreement Coach Fran has with the Athletic Department of Texas A&M? It should reduce the payment.
Posted by: Stephen On: 8/6/2008
Comment Title: Best of luck to him
Hopefully this will tide him over 'til he gets another coaching stint.
Posted by: #22 On: 8/6/2008
Comment Title: ?
Who the hell wants to listen to him? Come on ESPN is that the best you can do geez