Franchione's VIP Connection: Cue the Taps?

Answer: I don't know.

Question: Given what we know about Dennis Franchione's role in the VIP Connection newsletter -

1)Can he be fired?

2)Will he be fired?

The Houston Chronicle's Terrance Harris examined Dennis Franchione's contract via FOIA request, and found clauses allowing for the swift termination of the embattled Texas A&M coach.

Franchione has said the $1,200 annual payments from the 12 to 15 boosters went directly to the company that maintains his site.
That admission could be in violation of Section 2.3 of his contract, which states Franchione is prohibited from receiving any money or benefits or gratuity whatsoever from any university booster club or other benefactor if such action would be in violation of NCAA rules.
A violation of that term could result in the termination of Franchione's contract, which runs through 2012, per Section 5.1 (a) under Termination for Cause. Franchione can be suspended without pay or the agreement can be terminated immediately if he breaks any of the rules listed in Sections 2.1 through 2.5.

It seems like based on this if A&M wanted to, they could fire him. Their response so far has been to investigate without excoriating the coach. How much of that is support for the coach and how much is PR and how much is show for when/if deposition time comes, we don't know? The Rick Neuheisel example has to be rattling in the back of the mind of the NCAA and Texas A&M, however.

Count on both parties being thorough and letting the lawyers meticulously work through all of this before decisions are reached. Don't like all this caution and deliberateness? Tough toenails, blame lawyers (or Rick Neuheisel), not that it'll make you feel better.