Texas State's beat writer got an e-mail from the AD, Larry Teis, regarding the question to whether Dennis Franchione would return in 2015.
This is a response to a simple question on whether Fran would be the coach going forward.
Also, one of the top donors offered this statement.We always have to stress academics and compliance first, then focus on wins and losses off the field. Traveling around the country attending football games and also visiting other campuses in the State of Texas, we still have a need for new and updated facilities, such as a larger weight room and an indoor practice facility. You saw that indoor at Arkansas state. Lafayette has an indoor also. You saw the recent blurb in the Statesman. I would ask you, do your research. Tell me what enrollment size of a university has to do with wins and losses? What does academic quality have to do with wins and losses? We have strong academic standards and a small academic support staff. Out all all FBS football playing schools, we may have the toughest standards compared to the size of the support staff. If it was enrollment size, Baylor and TCU would not be the two best in the state per CFP (College Football Playoff) rankings the past few years.
We have just completed our 3rd full season as an FBS football member. We are competing against not only Sun Belt schools but other schools in the State of Texas for the best student athletes to attend Texas State. Our goal is to recruit student athletes that are excited about a college education, will always operate within the rules, and want to prepare themselves to compete each weekend.
Putting things into perspective, if you compare us to our Sun Belt peers, schools in Texas in the American Athletic Conference, and Conference USA, we should be disappointed that this year we failed to do only what Houston and Arkansas State have done the past three seasons. On the field, here are how many losing seasons each of these fifteen schools have incurred the past three years.
Houston – 0
Arkansas State – 0
Texas State – 1
Louisiana Lafayette – 1
Rice – 1
North Texas – 2
UTSA – 2
UTEP – 2
Ga State – 2
Troy – 2
NM State – 3
Idaho – 3
La Monroe – 3
S. Alabama – 3
SMU – 3
As I have said before, the previous twenty years of Division 1 football in San Marcos, we had only 4 seasons of 6 wins or more and no conference championships. In the past 12 seasons, we have had 6 seasons of 6 wins or more and 2 conference championships. Is that great? No, but it has been improvement and also places us ahead of many of our competitors. I got this job because of a compliance disaster. Maybe getting a Ph.D. at a university and serving as athletic director hurts me, because I busted my tail, worked hard, struggled in class, took out loans, worked 2 jobs, and graduated with a doctorate degree. I want our athletes to first appreciate hard work and understand that getting an education is what 99% of them will fall back on.
The media and fans could care less if you walk across the stage, they want you to walk across the end zone. I told you Lafayette and SMU are 2 schools fans pushed me to be like, now they are both in NCAA trouble.
If I was a Texas State fan, I'd be livid. Coming off a 3-9 season is one thing, but this clown show is pathetic.“Two things that you and a lot of other people need to understand. Buying out a contract would be very difficult for Texas State. The money required is hard to come by and I am always in favor of allowing a contract to be filled, on both sides. I do not believe in wasting money. Second, to find a great coach for the amount of money that Texas State can and should pay would is impossible. I believe that Fran is the 7th highest paid in the Sun Belt. Not very good by a lot of peoples standards, but high enough for him to be expected to produce.”
