Ad Disclosure
Paul Finebaum goes scorched earth on James Franklin after latest top-10 defeat
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Paul Finebaum does not believe the suspension of Jim Harbaugh made much of a difference in the top-10 showdown between Michigan and Penn State. It has everything to do with the head coach who was on the opposite sideline of the Wolverines.
Of course, that coach is James Franklin who suffered another loss in a big-time matchup while with the Nittany Lions. During Sunday’s broadcast of ESPN’s “SportsCenter,” Finebaum admitted Harbaugh’s absence was “negligible” because Sherrone Moore called the game the same way his head coach would have.
As for Franklin, Finebaum torched Penn State’s leader as among “the most unimaginative big-game coaches” in college football history:
“Well, I think it was a negligible loss, really. I’m not sure what difference Harbaugh would have made really. He would have called the same plays, he would have operated the game in the same manner. It doesn’t look great but Michigan really didn’t have to do anything for one reason: James Franklin is one of the most unimaginative big-game coaches in the history of the game,” said Finebaum. “I don’t know what he was trying to do, it didn’t look to me like he was trying to win the game, and that’s what you’re supposed to do.
“His record in these big games against Ohio State and Michigan is abysmal, and I think that’s one reason why Michigan played it close to the vest and won fairly easily.”
Michigan will prepare for a legal battle to try and get Harbaugh back on the sidelines this week. But, for now, Penn State is stuck with Franklin moving forward.
Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.