... Sherman.

Not Mike Leach.  I didn't see this one coming, not for miles, but Texas A&M has apparently replaced its embattled former HC Dennis Franchione with former Green Bay HC Mike Sherman.

From the AP article (obtained via SI.com):

Former Green Bay Packers coach Mike Sherman was hired as Texas A&M's coach Monday, three days after Dennis Franchione resigned.
Sherman's current job is as the Houston Texans' offensive coordinator under Gary Kubiak, a former quarterback and assistant for the Aggies.

Sherman was A&M's offensive line coach from 1989-93 and then in 1995-96 under R.C Slocum.    

OK, so the Aggies are keeping it in the family.  At least they're getting someone who has been a head coach SOMEWHERE.

More from the article:

The 52-year-old Sherman hasn't coached in college since leaving A&M to become an assistant in Green Bay in 1996. He'll coach the remainder of the season for the Texans (5-6).

Sherman became the Packers' head coach in 2000, and Green Bay went 59-43 and won three NFC North titles in his six seasons. The Packers also produced two of the four highest-scoring seasons in franchise history under Sherman.

Sherman joined Kubiak's Texans staff after he was fired by Green Bay last year. He became the offensive coordinator this season, after Troy Calhoun left to become the coach at Air Force.

A&M went 32-28 in five seasons under Franchione and couldn't gain ground on the Big 12's elite teams, going 3-12 against Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech. The Aggies haven't won the Big 12 since 1998.

Of course, even AP is picking up on all the well-documented examples of taking a pro coach down to the NCAA level with a skid and a thump:

Few coaches have made successful transitions recently from the pros to college.

Former Raiders coach Bill Callahan was fired Saturday after four mediocre years at Nebraska. Former Bears and Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt has struggled at Pittsburgh.

Former Cowboys coach Chan Gailey was fired Monday after six seasons at Georgia Tech. After two strong seasons under former Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, Notre Dame set a school record for losses this year.

Our fellow SBN Blog, The 12th Manchild, is already up, and, probably wisely, recommending withholding judgment until Sherman gets his OC and DC in place.  One comment refers to an EDSBS piece which said A&M couldn't/ woudln't handle the $6M buyout that Tuberville ahd at Auburn, thus leading them to Sherman for a reportedly 5-year, $9.0M deal.

As for us, well...  I think this means three things:

(1)  Mike Leach may still be "on the board" for fans; no telling if he's on DG's short list.

(2)  No telling if Chris Peterson was ever being considered.

(3)  If the $1.8M annual figure holds up for the football-driven school, we may have to look in the $1.4M to $2.0M annual range to lock somebody down.

M