While it was a couple of postgame “issues” that grabbed most of the headlines, it’s what James Franklin‘s Vanderbilt team accomplished in the 60 minutes between kickoff and the final gun that’s put the Commodores’ head coach in line for a significant tweaking of his contract.
Vandy Vice Chancellor of Athletics David Williams confirmed to the Nashville Tennessean Sunday that talks are already underway that would both extend Franklin’s current deal for an unnamed number of years as well as give the first-year coach an undetermined bump in pay. It’s also believed Franklin will be seeking improved football facilities as well as raises for his assistants in the revamped deal.
No timeline was given on when a new deal would be completed.
“I think we both want to get this done,” Williams told the paper. “We’re working as hard as we can to get something done as a quick as we can to solidify what is an already great situation.
“My message to the Vandy fans is we will do everything we can to keep our coach. My message to those who have to play against Vandy is beware, because we will do everything we can to keep our coach. And I would say to the Vandy fans, do everything you can to help us at all times.”
In his first-year at Vandy, Franklin led the ‘Dores to a 6-6 record. With a win in the bowl game -- Vandy will be playing in just its fifth bowl game in school history -- Franklin will tie the best record at the school since 1982 and would mark just the seventh time since 1951 the program had won at least seven games in a single season.