PonyFans.com

I don't know who could do it, but I have started following Vanderbilt after taking over at Vanderbilt and I honestly do not think there is a better example than what he is doing there. He understands where Vanderbilt was when he took over and where they are in the SEC and he wants to do anything and everything he can to make Vanderbilt the best school they can possibly be. After today they are 7-4 in the SEC and going bowling for the 2nd straight year. If they can do it in the SEC, then there is no reason we can't in C-USA or the Big East. All you need to do is see one clip of him over the past few years and see how not only the players but the school as a whole respond to him. Watch this and tell me you would not be fired up to have this guy as your coach.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fp7Z7LNBkPo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyQJRV-JJKA

Franklin is a heck of a coach. Embraces tradition. Enthusiastic.

"The one thing that Vanderbilt always does... is focus on being 1-0 this week." -- James Franklin on the Commodores' 41-18 rout of Tennessee.

i've been saying that we need a coach like Franklin for a year and a half now. Brother went to Vandy and can't stop raving about their football team and the new direction he's taken them in

just look at their recruiting class for the last 2 years.. unbelievable

I watched those videos. He distinctly reminds me of Shaka Smart (successful VCU basketball coach).

I am so impressed by his embracing of Vanderbilt's traditions. I have been put off from the get-go about JJ refusal to do so at SMU and even trying to alter ours (Send those awful, silly geldings back to T. Boone's wife when JJ goes..or sooner!). I wish we had an energetic, enthusiastic coach who LOVES SMU history and traditions.

I know a player on this current Vandy team. He was recruited by the previous coach, but he loves Franklin. Franklin won't allow them to be mediocre. He goes all around the south selling players on the traditions of Vandy and the value of that Vandy degree. People in Nashville are sticking their chests out now about the 'dores. Franklin is not afraid to go against Alabama, Tennessee or Georgia for star players. He also bad mouths our program when recruiting Dallas in his private jet that he requested for that purpose. He is not afraid to compete for the kids that he wants in his program.

LOL he'll get canned in 3 years.

maybe we could save him some stress and bring him here 3yrs early (like now)

jkflamebo wrote:LOL he'll get canned in 3 years.

They've given far worse coaches more rope than that.

Yeah, James Franklin is a legit coach. I wonder how committed he is to Vandy, as I imagine he'll have better offers in the very near future.

better - like SMU maybe? we can porbably get him a raise.

Vandy needs to sit him down NOW and give him a new contract (assuming that he didn't get an extension and raise at the end of last year).

gostangs wrote:better - like SMU maybe? we can porbably get him a raise.

No. I think he already makes $2m at Vandy. I expect Arkansas, Tennessee, and Auburn to all gauge his interest. He's proven himself to be a legit coach/recruiter at the most difficult program to coach at in the SEC

leopold wrote:Vandy needs to sit him down NOW and give him a new contract (assuming that he didn't get an extension and raise at the end of last year).

It's been reported by some Tennessee papers that he received an extension after last season that pays him in the neighborhood of 3 million dollars a season.