Was filled last December. I can see Fumi convincing James to take that job (at her Alma mater) even for a pay cut.
What a missed opportunity for all parties.
What a missed opportunity for all parties.
It’s unfortunate the Washington State job..
- Thread starter Nittering Nabob
- Start date
Someone on this board mentioned a few years ago that James would step down if he thinks he can't get the program to the top. I think it's actually reasonable, we know he is extremely prideful and thinned skinned. Things are about to get very uncomfortable for James and Kraft needs to be at the ready to give him a soft fall and a golden parachute, albeit not the full $56M, for when James decides he doesn't love this pressure anymore.
But Franklin would never admit he couldn’t get the program to the top. So he would never leave.
BTW, in spite of some flaws, I am not in the “fire Franklin” camp. There is no guarantee that the alternative would be better. Only GA, with Smart replacing Richt, would up with a better result. That is because Smart brought the “Alabama Way” for better or for worse to Athens. With a Nearly level financial playing field, that advantage is mostly gone. We need to live with what we have and hope Franklin gets assistants who can compensate for his weaknesses.
I'm certainly not anti-Franklin nor am I asking that he leave, but it is unrealistic to think he would do so at this point. He is so well compensated that he can't leave and not do so at a financial loss. At some point, that might change, but with the reputation for not winning the big one, who would pay him more to come to their institution. It's called wearing the golden handcuffs.
It’s very easy to arrive at the belief that says, “if they want me gone, then they can pay me to leave.”
Penn State dug this financial hole when they green lighted a 10-year guaranteed contract with a 100% buy-out.
They deserve whatever financial grief that comes their way.