I'd rather have Franklin than a lot of the other names floating around. All these people saying he's no good are morons. Just a week ago, there were a few people saying he was "the same as Dooley." The truth is that some fans can't ignore their emotional biases to see that Franklin is an excellent coach.
He's winning at Vanderbilt. F@#$ing Vanderbilt! It's not like he's at Alabama going 7-4, with a 5-3 record in the conference. That wouldn't even be that bad at 'Bama or Auburn, but at frickin' Vanderbilt?! Vanderbilt is where coaches go to die.
Even Bobby Johnson, who was a great coach btw, only got Vandy to one 7-win season his entire tenure there. Franklin now has Vandy in its second bowl game in two seasons. He has a chance for an 8- or 9- win season at Vandy. That's a Steve Spurrier at Duke-like achievement if he pulls it off.
Would you rather have this:
Franklin pre-games
Or Dooley's constant excuse-making?
Other than Gruden or another successful NFL coach, I'd put Franklin as the next best person out there. Those that can't see are crazy. James Franklin is a much better hire than Chris Petersen (who might be dramatically overrated --- see Dan Hawkins at Colorado.)
Franklin has the #21 recruiting class right now --- at F#@$ing Vanderbilt! He's outrecruiting Tennessee! How many times has that happened in the past five decades?
You want to know where Vandy's recruiting classes were before? In 2010, around #54. In 2009, at #72. In 2008, at #74. In 2011, #49.
Really? Are people so blind they can't see how this guy has completely turned the least resourceful program in the entire SEC into a winner?
I'm not saying he should be our first target, but he should definitely be on the list.