Franchione disturbed by A&M players' arrests(9 so far-Just Win, Baby!)

espn.com ^ | 3/16/04 | AP

[Diddle E. Squat]

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Two Texas A&M football players have been charged with alcohol-related crimes after they shouted racial slurs outside a fast food restaurant.

Police, who were called to the restaurant to investigate, followed a sport utility vehicle driven by A&M football player Geoff Hangartner from the restaurant early Monday to a nearby home where Hangartner failed a field sobriety test, The Bryan-College Station Eagle reported in Tuesday's editions.

Hangartner was charged with driving while intoxicated. His passenger and teammate, Cole Smith, was cited for public intoxication, according to the newspaper.

Coach Dennis Franchione said the charges against his players are unsettling. Nine members of the 2003 football team have been arrested since September, the newspaper reported.

Franchione said he has stressed accountability to his athletes.

"As many conversations as I have had with our team, I am very disappointed to learn of these events," he said in a statement. "These young men understand they will face stern consequences."

Hangartner will be a senior in the fall. He has started at center for the past two years and earned third-team All Big 12 honors. Smith, who will be a junior, has appeared in one game in 2003.

Police were called to the restaurant just before 1 a.m. when two white men began shouting racial slurs at black passengers in a car in front of them, according to court records.

College Station Police Lt. Mark Langwell said one of the players got out of the sport utility and began yelling at the car's driver. Hangartner told police Smith had gotten into an argument with the car's driver, but would not say what was said.

The people inside the car told police they wanted to press charges based on the racially charged verbal attack, which a police officer, who was across the street, said he could hear, according to a written affidavit.

An officer who spoke with the two players at the home said he could smell alcohol and noticed that Hangartner's eyes were glassy and bloodshot. Hangartner said he had five drinks earlier in the night.

He was released from the Brazos County Jail Monday after posting $2,000 bail.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Maybe they can get Tarkanian to coach the basketball team?

[Diddle E. Squat]

Looks like the Aggies are going to follow Oklahoma's path to success?

Oops, I gotta go, Cedric Benson is trying to break in and steal my TV again(he wants to watch The Big Dance, ya know)...

[dfwgator]

In defense of Franchione, how many of these players were recruited by RC Slocum?

[Diddle E. Squat]

At least 2. Thus noted in the keywords...

[VRWCmember]

The people inside the car told police they wanted to press charges based on the racially charged verbal attack,

What charges exactly? What law is broken when someone verbalizes ethnic slurs?

[jra]

In defense of Slocum, the beginning of the discipline problems coincided with Fran's arrival...

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Franchione disturbed by A&M players' arrests(9 so far-Just Win, Baby!)

Only 9? They better step it up. Don't they have the "eye of the tiger'? (Heck, Miami's recruited one guy who can top that all on his own.)

[cynicom]

Recruit criminals to "play" sports, they do criminal things.

[DrewsDad]

Police were called to the restaurant just before 1 a.m. when two white men began shouting racial slurs at black passengers in a car in front of them, according to court records.

Kinda gives new meaning to offensive lineman, eh?

Just looks like college kids getting drunk and doing stupid things. It was fortunate that they did not hurt anyone while driving drunk.

[TexanByBirth]

In defense of Slocum, the beginning of the discipline problems coincided with Fran's arrival...

Don't bring your Franchione hating self over here!
He left a probation-riddled program at Alabama for Texas A&M.
Deal with it!

Franchione has gotten rid of some dead wood left over from R.C. Slocum. IMHO, he needs to get rid of some more including these two jerks.

[AgentEcho]

...followed a sport utility vehicle driven by A&M football player ...

Damn SUVs will get you in trouble every time.

Æ

[oyez]

Kinda gives new meaning to offensive lineman, eh? </>

Athletes can be as offensive as they want to be. (Some have even got away with murder.) The A&M staff consider these guys to be an investment. If they go into court, they will come out with a suspended or cream puff sentence. They will make a little apology and their little sport careers will go no uninterrupted.

[6ppc]

Who cares...Francione is probably already shopping his resume around anyway!

[jra]

My opinions of Fran aren't the point...the point is that these discipline problems began when Fran arrived.

DEAL WITH IT!

LOL

[Kakaze]

" They will make a little apology and their little sport careers will go no uninterrupted. "

More than likely in our screwed up world, they will get in more trouble for "hate speech" , than dui.

Their possible racist thinking will weigh more in court than their actual physical breaking of the law and endangerment of the public.

[TexanByBirth]

My opinions of Fran aren't the point...the point is that these discipline problems began when Fran arrived.

The point is the discipline problems with the A&M program began a long time before Franchione came to Aggieland. They were present in the A&M program before Franchione left TCU to go to your beloved Alabama. Dante Hall is one name from the past that comes to mind.

If you were a A&M grad and follow Aggie sports, like myself, you would know that for a fact.

I don't talk about Alabama sports, which I shouldn't, because I know nothing about them. Please return the favor.

[Hat-Trick]

What is Franchione waiting for. NOW is the time to hire Gary Barnett as Defensive Coordinator and Rick Neuheisel as Offensive Coordinator!

[commish]

So A&M has had twice as many arrests (9) as wins (4) in the Franchione era.

[jra]

I didn't bring up Bama, my friend, you did--beyond that, you said you aren't qualified to discuss Alabama, so perhaps you should take your own advice.

THESE discipline problems can't be pawned off on Slocum--NINE PLAYERS have been arrested in only a few months time--ALL on Fran's watch.

LOL

[jra]

Freaking hilarious.

77-0.