Penn State HC James Franklin revealed how Nick Saban reacted to Franklin endorsing him to be the first commissioner of college football.
He said that Saban “wasn’t real happy” based on a recent call the two were on.
Now, whether or not Saban was actually upset or moreso yanking Franklin’s chain is unknown to people who weren’t on the call.
Saban did make a joke about Franklin’s claim when interviewing him New Year’s Day hours after the team’s Fiesta Bowl/College Football Playoff quarterfinal win over Boise State, so perhaps there wasn’t any legitimate anger.
In any case, Franklin hasn’t backed down from his feelings that college football needs a commissioner, and Saban isn’t the only person he feels would be right for the job.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.WHAT JAMES SAID
GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 30: Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin speaks to the crowd after the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl college football game between the Washington Huskies and the Penn State Nittany Lions on December 30, 2017, at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ. The Nittany Lions defeated the Huskies 35-28. (Photo by Carlos Herrera/Icon Sportswire)
“I think we need that (a commissioner) Franklin said. “I think we need somebody that is looking at it from a big-picture perspective. Whether that’s Nick Saban or whether that is Chris Peterson or whether that is Dave Clawson, who I think is a really, really smart football guy, I think having somebody in that position would be valuable for our sport and for our student-athletes.
COULD PETERSON OR CLAWSON BE THE GUY?
Both Chris Peterson and Dave Clawson, who Franklin mentioned along with Saban as quality choices to be the first commissioner of college football, have been winers. Peterson turned Boise State into a prominent name when he was there from 2006-2013 and then brought Washington back to prominence– and into the College Football Playoff— when he was there from 2014-19 before resigning. Clawson spent more than a decade at the FCS/Group of 5 level before spending 11 seasons at Wake Forest, highlighted by making the ACC Championship Game in 2021. He retired after this past season.
No. 6 Penn State takes on No. 7 Notre Dame at 7:30 on ESPN Thursday with a trip to the national title game on the line.
