James Franklin’s firing from Penn State has caused significant discussions across college football. Coaches Nick Saban and Ryan Day have added their voices to the conversation, highlighting the unfair nature of Franklin’s dismissal, especially after leading the Nittany Lions to significant achievements, including a Rose Bowl and a place in the College Football Playoff.

Saban’s Reaction

Nick Saban stated during College GameDay, “It’s unfair as hell. For you to go to the Rose Bowl, the Fiesta Bowl, get in the final four, come out and being ranked No. 1 this year … an expectation you created, by which you accomplished at Penn State. And for those people not to show enough appreciation for that and gratitude for all the hard work that you did, I’m saying, it’s unfair.”

Translation: Saban believes the expectations set for Franklin were unreasonable and not properly appreciated, contributing to the perception of unfair treatment in his firing.

Saban further questioned Franklin about whether the high expectations affected his team’s performance, to which Franklin agreed, pointing out the pressure that comes from both praise and criticism.

Day’s Perspective

Ohio State’s Ryan Day, who has had a competitive record against Franklin, discussed how the financial investments in coaching affect the expectations and pressures they face in their roles. He emphasized the importance of focusing on the well-being of the players and coaching staff amid the intense pressure to perform.

Translation: Day noted that the financial stakes and expectations in college football have tremendous implications for coaching strategies and player welfare.