James Franklin asks College Soccer Commissioner with Coaching, media experience

Through a wave of change in university sports, some have asked that university football specifically have a commissioner. Penn status coach James Franklin It is among those voices.

Franklin detailed what he would like to see in a possible university football commissioner during an appearance in Siriusxm College Sports Radio. He suggested someone with training and media experience, arguing that this would bring the ability to see sport from a wide angle lens.

Based on conversations during AFCA Meetings during his career, Franklin said a commissioner would be someone who would do the best for sport. He also made a political comparison to make his point.

“I think we need someone in that position that has a very good experience in field coaching, maybe now in the media.” Franklin said. “Because the media offer some opportunities to get behind the scene in other programs and be able to compare and contrast. Therefore, there is a lot of value there. I think that a university football commissioner would be good … We used very different opinions and are supposed to do our best for the opinions of the university.

“It is difficult to do that, to take off your hat and say: ‘This is the best thing you can do for university football’, not for the program you are representing at that time. We see the same in politics in our country. People vote in terms of what is best for their state and not always necessarily what is best in the best. [interest] of our country. “

Nick Saban: ‘I don’t want to be in that heather patch’

Like some around the sport, the idea of ​​a university football commissioner floats, former Alabama coach Nick Saban It is one of the first names that arise. The legendary coach also has experience in the media when he enters his second season at ESPN’s College Gameday. Saban also won an Emmy for his performance in his year of debut in the program.

However, speaking with AP last month, Saban knocked that idea. While he wants to play a role in the landscape solution if he can, he does not want the work of being the “commissioner” of sport.

“I don’t want to be in that Briar patch of being commissioned,” Saban told him AP. “But I want to do everything possible to do it well.”

While a commissioner is not yet a real position in university football, sport has been at the forefront of the changing landscape in recent years. Notably, post-House v. NCAA liquidation, the University Sports Commission It is in its place as the new application arm, specifically related to key terms such as the Nil Go Liquidation limits and list.