Phoenix— Penn State coach James Franklin made it clear earlier this month that he wants college football to have a commissioner.
But he didn’t initially mention who he thinks should have the job.
In Arizona Sunday, Dec. 29, Franklin endorsed his man.
For Franklin, that man is none other than Nicholas Lou Saban Jr. Saban’s credentials are obvious. He is the man many feel is the greatest college football coach who ever lived. The Alabama legend coached his teams to seven national titles over a career than spanned more than three decades.
Yep, pretty good.
Now, Saban is a panelist on ESPN’s College GameDay. But would he want to leave TV and become an administrator?
WHAT JAMES SAID
TAMPA, FL – SEPTEMBER 16: Alabama Crimson Tide Head Coach Nick Saban watches the action on the field during the College Football game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the South Florida Bulls on September 16, 2023 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire)
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.“I think one of the most important things we can do is, let’s get a commissioner of college football that is waking up every single morning and going to bed every single night making decisions that’s in the best interest of college football,” Franklin said. “I think Nick Saban would be the obvious choice if we made that decision. Now, Nick will probably call me tonight and say, ‘Don’t do this,’ but I think he’s the obvious choice, right?”
‘NICKY SATAN’
January 04, 2014: Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin after the 2014 BBVA Compass Bowl between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Houston Cougars. Vanderbilt defeated Houston by the score of 41-24 at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama.
Franklin and Saban have a history that dates back more than a decade. Before he was the Penn State boss, Franklin spent three seasons as the head coach at Vanderbilt, which meant he shared a conference with Saban and Alabama.
(I was) really talking about the work ethic that he has a reputation for, and that we’re going to outwork them. I made a joke. And in today’s society with all the media and social media and people with tape recorders and things like that, that doesn’t come off that way. I know people have tremendous pride in Alabama, and their fans are fanatical. So I understand. But it was a joke and I didn’t mean to offend anybody.”
“He’s got a lot on his plate right now with recruiting,” Franklin said. “I have a lot on my plate right now with recruiting. We spoke briefly. He said, ‘Coach, I have a lot of respect for what you guys are doing up there at Vanderbilt.’ I said, ‘Coach, I’ve got tremendous respect for what you’re doing.’ And that was it. Got off the phone and that was it.”
Penn State takes on Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl, scheduled for 7:30 New Year’s Eve night on ESPN.
